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“You have a visitor, Mrs. Bodine,” Daniela’s voice replied.
“Now? Who is it?”
“A Miss Horton.”
“Amy? For heaven’s sake, send her in!”
Seconds later Amy burst through the door, her arms loaded with gaily wrapped packages, her face split by a huge grin.
“Surprise!” she said, and threw her bundles in a colored jumble onto the bed.
A
“I changed my mind. I broke up with Graham and I found myself with a free night, thought you wouldn’t mind if I just sort of turned up for the festivities.”
“How could I mind, you’re a lifesaver. You’ll be the only person at this party not co
“It looks like they’re cooking up quite a soiree out there. The house looks beautiful and so do you.”
“Thanks.”
“Where is Himself?”
“Not home yet.”
Amy sat on the edge of the bed and unbuttoned the light sweater she was wearing. “How is it going with him?”
A shadow crossed A
“But you love him, don’t you?” Amy asked.
A
“Any hope?”
“I doubt it. He’s just going to play this revenge game until he gets tired of me, but I think I can keep it going long enough to at least get Tim out of trouble. Heath enjoys displaying me as his wife, having me act as his hostess—Henry Talbot’s daughter on the arm of the self-made man. That’s very important to him but I’m sure the novelty of it will pale with time.”
“Then what happens to you?”
“I get discarded, like the first wives of most millionaires who move on I suppose.”
“It sounds like a raw deal for you.”
“It’s not so bad, except...”
“Except what?”
“Except that I do love him,” A
“How’s the sex?”
A
“I didn’t think it was. So, what’s the plan? What are you going to do?”
“Stick it out. I have no choice.”
“Well for tonight at least, I’m here to help you. I brought along a nifty little dress that should liven things up quite a bit once I slip into it. What time are the guests arriving?”
“Eight.”
“I’d better step lively then. Where’s the john?”
A
“What do you think?” she said to A
“You’re a show stopper.”
“Exactly the effect I’m trying to achieve. Darling, I hate to be a bore, but I drove three hours to get here and I’m starving. Do you think I could slip into the kitchen for a little something? Otherwise I will be drinking on an empty stomach, which is never a good idea in my case. They never serve anything to eat at these things until everybody is plastered.”
“Go ahead. I’ll call Daniela and tell her to make you a sandwich, okay?”
“Okay.”
Amy had just left when Heath walked into the bedroom, putting down his briefcase and pulling his tie loose from its knot. He surveyed her in silence.
“Is this outfit all right?” A
“Fine.”
“How does the house look?”
“Looks good.”
“Did you see the buffet table?”
“I saw it.”
A
“I saw her in the kitchen on the way in. I didn’t know that you had invited her.”
“Do you mind?”
He shrugged.
“She’s not an employee of Bimini Boat Works,” A
“I never said that you couldn’t have your friends here,” he replied, taking off his jacket.
“No, Heath, you never said that,” A
He turned and faced her. “You really think I’m a bully, don’t you?” he said quietly.
A
He unbuttoned his shirt and tossed it onto the bed. “I’m not a bully, Princess. I just have a long memory.” He went into the bathroom and turned on the shower.
A
* * * *
Several hours later, she was in the kitchen slicing a lemon when Amy sidled in behind her.
“Isn’t the caterer supposed to do that?” Amy asked.
“They ran out of lemons.”
“The party is a smash. You’re a hit.”
A
“You don’t seem very happy about it.”
Out on the terrace, the three-piece band switched from “Winter Wonderland” to “White Christmas.”
“No word from your lord and master about what a wonderful job you did?” Amy said.
“No.”
“He’s a jerk, A
“I guess he just regards my doing this as part of our deal. I didn’t actually cook the food or serve it, anyway. I just hired a bunch of people.”
“You’ve got, what, a hundred people out there? Just coordinating the whole event was a task. Doesn’t he know you were trying to please him?”
“I can’t imagine what he thinks. His mind is a closed book.” She sighed. “I used to know him so well.”
“Well, one thing hasn’t changed. He’s still the most gorgeous man I’ve ever seen. He makes every other guy at this party look three days dead.”
“That aspect of it doesn’t exactly help, Amy. It only makes me want him more and he’s very good at keeping me at a comfortable distance.”
“Comfortable for him.”
“Yes.”
“Working all the time?” Amy said.
“Yes.”
“Noncommittal when he’s at home?”
“You got it.”
“He sounds just like your father.”
A
The sliding door to the terrace opened and Joan Jensen stepped through it.
“Hi, sweetie,” she said to A
“I’ll just go check on those canapes,” Amy said, raising her brows, and A
“Heath must be very pleased,” Joan said brightly.
“I imagine so.”
“He hasn’t said anything?”
“Well, he’s been very busy. He’s the host, after all. I’ve hardly seen him.”
Joan looked around quickly and then stepped into the hall, sca
A
“Don’t give me that i
A
“I thought something was wrong at your wedding but Joe dismissed it. Now even he is begi
A
“How could I forget? I never saw two people more in love. Joe and I were just thrilled when the two of you got back together, that’s why I can’t understand this situation now. You’ve been given a second chance, why aren’t you taking advantage of it?”
“It’s a long story. What has Heath told you?”
“Nothing. He just called Joe one day and asked us to witness your wedding.”
“Then let’s keep it that way.”
Joan stood aside as A