A Lasting Love (23 page)

"Don't worry about it, Reid. I understand." She
smiled in the dark.

His hand reached for her arm. "Hey, hey, lady
lawyer, when you get rolling, you really churn. You know just what
to say when everyone else is hysterical. I'll admit you handled us
all very well. Especially
Lupe."

"Thank you, Reid. I've seen these cases before,
unfortunately."

"Have you seen this before?" He pulled her against
him, kissing her thoroughly.

"Yes," she whispered. "But I'm not sure how to handle
it."

"I have some suggestions. You're invited into my
guest room, unless, of course, I'm invited back into my own
bedroom."

She gazed into his darkly passionate eyes and
shook her head. "Not tonight, Reid.
Lupe
may need me."

"Lupe?
What about me?"

"Lupe's been through a disturbing experience,
today.
Surely you understand."

"So have I. I've seen my lady lawyer in action,
and I'm
still reeling. Whatever happened to the young
girl I carried
up to that antique brass bed on Prince
Street?"

Loren rose to tiptoe and kissed his lips
quickly. "She
grew up. Did I thank you for taking me
to Bisbee? It was
a lovely day, Reid."

"When are you going to thank me properly?"

With a mysterious smile she disappeared behind
Lupe's
door, hugging the blanket and thinking of
Reid's warm
body that she was refusing.

The last few days in Arizona were a whirlwind
of activity. Loren assumed direction of the varied activities
while
Reid assisted and watched her in amazement. What
else
could he do? She was damned right and damned
efficient.
She was remarkable.

By the time they packed to leave,
Lupe
said a
tearful goodbuy, and Raul puffed
up like a frog. His
smile was tight. Even the aging Senator
Mecina, who
had only been with her for a few days, was
sad to see
the whirlwind of energy, this Loren of Reid's
past,
take off over the saguaro shadows. Everyone feared
the
same thing . . . that they would never see her again.
So did Reid.

Chapter Twelve

"You're right, Loren," Reid admitted as he
reached for his gin and tonic. "There is nothing quite like this
in
Tucson. There is a feeling here, an electricity in
the air,
that's hard to explain."

The waitress, elegantly gowned in black, flowed
away
from them. Her dress swayed to the jazz beat from
the
grand piano. The Jockey Club. Cosmopolitan.
Plush.
Elite. Polished wood and oriental style.
Sophisticated.

"Of course, Tucson has its own special beauty,
Reid.
The Westward Look was lovely, overlooking the
city. And
the view from your veranda when the sun sets
behind the
Tucson Mountains is absolutely
unsurpassed." Loren's
face lit up with pleasure. She
was in her element, and Reid knew it. She looked so much a natural
part of the sophisti
cation of the place—oriental rugs,
overstuffed chairs, jazz
tinkling from the ivory keys
of a distant piano . . . and
Loren. Beautiful Loren,
with her bluebonnet-colored eyes,
her tawny hair
falling softly to her shoulders, her slender
figure
embellished by the folds of a silky, cream-colored gown with a
daring slit that revealed a portion of gorgeous
leg.
God, how he loved her. How he wanted her with him.

"All that can be yours, Loren," he offered
seriously.

She sipped her drink with style.. "I feel very
lucky to
have had a chance to visit Arizona. I
received a call today
from Silvie Tanner in Window
Rock. The check came last week along with a letter of apology from
the State Department and a merit of commendation for Benjamin
Walker from the Marines." Loren smiled warmly. "She says that
Emmaline values the letters more than the Silver Star."

"She would." Reid nodded with a smile.

"Apparently everyone is settled and happy in their
new home. She and Emmaline are weaving and making pots like crazy
in preparation for the spring and summer tourist seasons next year.
And Tracy and the baby are happily reunited with Paul." There was a
glow of satisfaction and pride on her face.

"So everyone is living happily ever after," Reid
muttered, sounding more bitter than he had intended. He didn't
begrudge these most deserving of people some bit of happiness in
their lives. All he wanted in the world was her.

Loren flashed instantly. "They are living in harmony
with themselves and what they want to do with their lives. That's
most important to me."

His hand covered hers affectionately. "You're
right, Loren. I know that you made a large contribution to that
happiness they are now experiencing. I'm proud of you. In the same
way, the people in my household owe you a debt of gratitude. For
such a damned mess, you left things running pretty smoothly at the
hacienda. Dad is extremely happy to have
Lupe
so close. And now that she's had
time to think, she has decided to file for divorce. I'm relieved
just to know that she and her family are living at
Casa
del
Oro.
They're safe.
The kids are having a ball. Roberto is working with Raul on the
ranch after school and making a little money. Lupe's girls get to
swim daily in the pool, and are very happy with their new living
quarters."

"Wonderful. You did say you wanted children running
all over the ranch, didn't you, Reid?" Loren reminded him with a
grin.

His dark eyes reflected something deeper. "I meant my
own children, not Lupe's."

Loren chose not to pursue his statement. "How
is
Lupe?"

"Her face has almost healed, and she is doing fine.
You were right to leave her be—another brilliant solution by my
lady lawyer. I'll admit it; I was ready to tear the bastard limb
from limb when I found that he had hit her. I don't remember when
I've ever been so angry."

Loren nodded, recalling the chaos of that night. "I
know. But it wouldn't have solved anything to have you in jail for
assault."

"Perhaps it wouldn't have helped
Lupe,"
he
acknowledged. "But, it would have made me feel a hell of a lot
better."

"There are other, better ways, to deal with your
aggression, Reid." Loren smiled seductively.

His finger made slow circles along her wrist. "Would
you help me deal with my aggression, lady lawyer?"

"Later." She chuckled low. "Right now I would like to
have dinner. I'm starved. I was so busy today, I skipped lunch
altogether."

"You work too hard," he assessed seriously.

"There's so much to do."

"You can't do it all, Loren. Can't solve everyone's
problems."

"I know." She smiled wistfully, thinking that
she couldn't even solve her own. "Tonight is just beautiful, Reid.
I enjoy this relaxing atmosphere so much, I could sit here all
night and listen to that gorgeous man in the corner make love to
that piano! Have you ever heard such
fantastic jazz
renditions?" Loren's eyes were dreamy as
she swayed to
a few bars of the song.

Reid pulled her to her feet. "I would rather
make love
to you."

"Dinner first," she teased.

"Promise? Or do I have to worry about running
into
Mark? I have horrible visions of someday hiding
in your
closet, boots in hand, dressed in very
embarrassing attire."

Loren laughed at the mental picture he painted.
"Don't worry. There's not a chance. My relationship with
Mark
is definitely over. He was none too happy with my
trip to
Arizona. And spending time with
you."

They were escorted to a cozy corner, where
they
resumed the conversation privately. Loren
requested oys
ters Rockefeller. Reid ordered steak,
rare.

"So Mark was displeased with the fact that you
spent
a week with me in Arizona?" Reid quipped. "I
can't imag
ine why that would upset him."

"I returned the engagement ring." The visible
symbol of another man in her life was gone. Now, again, it
was
just the two of them.

Reid's hand covered hers in a reflexive
gesture. His dark
eyes explored her face. "How do you
feel about it?"

"Relieved." She smiled faintly.

"Me too." His fingertips caressed the place
where the
ring had been. It was as if that was one
place on her body
that he had never touched, and he
had to make sure it was
free. "What was Mark's
reaction?"

"Actually I think he expected it. Ours wasn't
an intimate association. He raised hell because I failed to
take
care of business."

"What business?"

"He gave me a couple of names of people
connected with his copper mine. I was to look them up while I
was
in Tucson. He wanted me to visit the mine and
personally see how things were going. Honestly, Reid, I forgot all
about it. I tried to tell him about how busy I was with
Lupe
and your
father and the Navajo women, but he wouldn't listen. He didn't feel
that they were important. The mine, and whatever money he's making
or losing on the damn thing, are foremost to him."

Reid shook his head. "I must say, Loren, Mark has
been a wealth of information for me. His connections have been
invaluable. He has pushed this water bill. In fact, he's partly
responsible for my opportunity tomorrow to testify before the
Interior Committee. Plus, it was his idea to change our
tactics."

"How's that?" Loren couldn't believe that Mark had
been so helpful to Reid. Actually, though, she shouldn't be
surprised. He had his reasons.

"Well, we've divided up the various aspects that were
included in the original bill. We're going after each problem
separately, instead of tacking on additional requests that the
committee may feel will cost too much in federal funds. The other
way gives them any number of reasons to vote it down. Now they can
consider each bill, with its specific legislation, separately."

"And that was Mark's idea?"

"Yes, and it only makes sense. You see, when the bill
was first drafted we added a few extra items that we knew would be
good for the state. I mean, we figured to take advantage when we
had the chance. Mark pointed out the fallacy in that thinking, at
least in these tight economic times."

"So you're making a presentation to the Interior
Committee tomorrow?"

"I'll be presenting my case in the morning and
fielding questions along with the governor in the afternoon. After
that..." He shrugged, and they both knew what was after
that.
He would be leaving Washington.

Loren didn't want to think of it. She smiled a false
smile as the elegantly attired waiter brought their dinner. They
were together on borrowed time, and they both knew it. They would
be forced apart again. And soon.

The next day Loren came home from work early, after
meeting with a client near Alexandria. She had been extremely
nervous and edgy in the few weeks since returning from Arizona.
Even Althea, her partner, commented that she hadn't returned from
the trip rested at all. But Loren knew what was gnawing at her
insides, waking her up at dawn, plaguing her every time she looked
at Reid. Just as she walked in the door, the phone rang.

"Hello?" Her tone was tired.

Loren was instantly alert as an anxious voice
with a Mexican accent related events at
Casa
del
Oro.
The most feared, the worst, the
dreaded inevitable—they had all known it would happen. But now? So
soon? Why, oh, why? The age-old questions that accompany sorrow
surged forth.

"Oh, Lupe,
noooo." She sank into her chair. She listened and
advised
Lupe
to be strong, that Reid needed her to be. Yes, she would get
in touch with Reid as soon as possible. When she cradled the phone,
Loren buried her face in her hands. There were no tears, but she
was grieving just the same. They were losing the senator . . . and
she was losing Reid. Loren was doubly grieved.

Hours later, his knock was hard and sharp. Almost
before he let himself in the door, Loren had wrapped herself around
him, her arms encircling his waist, her heart pressed fervently to
his.

"Hey, is this all I get for congratulations?
The hearing
was very positive. Have you seen the news
yet? The bill is
a shoe-in with all the backers we
need. Come on, Loren.
You need to change. We're
meeting the governor in an
hour for
dinner."

"Oh, Reid." She buried the words against him,
not
caring about anything at the moment but
him.

"Loren?" His large hands grasped her shoulders
and
tried to pry her from the tight clasp. "Hey, baby,
what's wrong?" One hand slid around taut shoulders and under
her hair.