Genuine Lies

twenty-year-old heart went into overdrive. He wore a tux with the casual grace that transmitted instantly into sex. CeeCee wondered if there was a woman alive who wouldn’t fantasize about loosening that tidy black tie.
    “Eve said you’d be prompt,” Paul said to Julia. She looked flustered. He’d already decided that was the way he liked her best.
    “I hadn’t realized you’d be going. I’d thought I’d be riding with Eve.”
    “She went with Drake. They had some business.” He gave her a slow smile. “It’s just you and me, Jules.”
    “I see.” The simple phrase had her tensing all over. “Brandon, bed at nine.” She crouched to kiss his cheek. “Remember, CeeCee’s word is law.”
    He grinned, thinking that gave him an opening to talk CeeCee into a nine-thirty bedtime. “You can stay out as long as you want. We don’t mind.”
    “Thank you very much.” She straightened. “Don’t let him lull you into complacency, CeeCee. He’s tricky.”
    “I’ve got his number. Have fun.” She gave a little sigh as they walked out the door.
    Things were not working out according to plan, Julia thought as she crossed to the narrow, graveled drive where Paul’s Studebaker was parked. First thing this morning she’d decided to spend a quiet evening working. Then she adjusted to the idea of going out, but actually to do a couple of hours of on-the-spot research, while keeping herself unobtrusively in some corner. Now she had an escort who would probably feel obliged to entertain her.
    “I’m sorry Eve imposed on you this way,” she began as he opened the car door for her.
    “What way?”
    “You might have had other plans for the evening.”
    He leaned on the open door, enjoying the way she slid into the car—one slim knee hooking out through the slit in the dress, shapely calves lifting, an unadored hand tucking the hem of the skirt inside. Very smooth.
    “Actually, I had planned to drink too much coffee, smoke too many cigarettes, and wrestle with chapter eighteen. But …”
    She glanced up, her eyes very serious in the lowering light. “I hate having my work time interrupted. You must feel the same way.”
    “Yes, I do.” Though, oddly enough, he wasn’t feeling that way tonight. “Then again, at times like this I have to remind myself it isn’t brain surgery. The patient will rest comfortably until tomorrow.” After closing the door, he rounded the hood to settle into the driver’s seat. “And Eve asks me for very little.”
    Julia let out a quick breath as the engine sprang to life. As Eve’s dress had, this car made her feel like someone else. This time a pampered, mink-wrapped debutante rushing down white marble steps to dash off with her favorite beau for a fast ride. That’ll be the day, Julia thought, then said, “I appreciate this. But it wasn’t really necessary. I don’t need an escort.”
    “No, I’m sure you don’t.” He steered the car down the drive that veered off from the main house. “You strike me asthe kind of woman who goes very competently single file. Has anyone told you it’s intimidating?”
    “No.” She ordered herself to relax. “Do people find your competence intimidating?”
    “Probably.” Idly, he switched the radio on low, more for the mood than the music. She was wearing that same scent— old-fashioned romance. The air whipping through the windows offered it to him like a gift. “But then, I enjoy keeping people off balance.” He shifted his head just long enough to flick her a glance. “Don’t you?”
    “I haven’t thought about it.” Imagining herself having that kind of power made her smile. A good six months out of every twelve she spent virtually alone with Brandon, divorced from people. “This affair tonight,” she continued. “Do you go to many of them?”
    “A few each year—usually at Eve’s instigation.”
    “Not because you enjoy them?”
    “Oh, they’re entertaining enough.”
    “But you’d go because she asked in any case?”
    Paul paused briefly, waiting for the gates of the estate to open. “Yes, I’d go for her.”
    Julia shifted to study his profile, seeing his father, seeing the little boy Eve had described. Seeing someone altogether different. “This morning Eve told me about the first time you met.”
    He grinned as he drove down the quiet, palm-lined street. “At the beach house in Malibu, over p.b. and j.’s.”
    “Will you share your first impressions of her?”
    His grin faded as he drew