No Regrets (8 page)

The memory was bittersweet. “Just like Patsy Cline.”

“Yeah. I remember her once telling me how tragic it was that Patsy had died so young in that plane crash. And then she died too young, as well….

“I think that's why I turned wild for a while, until I met Reece,” Lena admitted. “Because I have this terrible fear I'm going to die young, too.” She dragged her
hand through her thick auburn hair. “I look just like her, don't I?”

Molly didn't like where this conversation was going. “I suppose there's some resemblance,” she hedged.

“I stole a picture the day the social worker took us away,” Lena revealed. “It was a snapshot of Mama in a bathing suit at the beach. I've kept it all these years. I look at that picture and it's like looking in a mirror….

“Then I look in the mirror and it's as if Mama's ghost is looking back at me. As if she's reminding me that I could die anytime, just like she did. Like Patsy did…

“Did you know that I'd planned my funeral when I was twelve?”

“You never said anything.”

“I wrote it all down. So you'd find it after I died. I still update it every year, but I'm always a little surprised when I don't make all that many changes. I've planned your funeral, too. And Reece's.”

“I didn't know that, either.” Molly reminded herself that she'd only been a child herself, that she'd done the best she could for her sister under the circumstances. Nevertheless she felt a familiar stab of guilt that she hadn't managed to provide Lena with the security she'd needed growing up.

“Of course you didn't. Because I never told you. But it seems as if I've spent my entire life waiting to die. Waiting for people I love to die. Which was why I was so terrified of loving Reece.

“If he was ten minutes late coming home, I knew he'd had an accident on the freeway. If I called here and he didn't answer his page, I was certain some crazed homicidal junkie had taken him hostage and was going
to kill him. I was so fixated on all those morbid thoughts that I was too afraid to enjoy life.”

“And now?” Molly asked carefully.

“I think it's finally sunk in that the secret to life may be living for the moment, but it's also important to make certain that the moment's worth living for.”

“And that's where Reece comes in.”

The thought of her husband was like a bright and comforting sun, burning away the gloomy clouds in Lena's mind. Her smile literally lit up the room. “Absolutely.”

 

Tessa was having no difficulty enjoying life.

“Well?” She twirled around, arms held out, showing off the beaded evening gown as a child might show off a new party dress. “What do you think?”

Jason Mathison sat in a gray suede chair, a pilsner of imported Australian beer in his hand as he gave her a slow, judicious look. “It's red.”

“Well, of course it is.” Tessa grinned. “You said you wanted me to look sexy for New Year's Eve. And this is definitely the sexiest dress so far.”

The strapless scarlet gown fit like a glove, plunged to below the waist in back and was slit high on both thighs.

“It's overkill.” He frowned and pulled a cigar out of the pocket of one of the Armani jackets he favored when off duty. Tessa still hadn't decided which look she found sexier—the starched blue uniform of authority or this aura of casual money.

The chic blond saleswoman clad in Armani gray herself, immediately leaned forward to light the cigar. “I
tried to suggest something a bit more subdued,” she murmured. “But your friend had her own ideas.”

“You should have explained my preferences.”

Tessa didn't like the way they were talking about her as if she wasn't there. “You said you liked my Christmas dress.”

“It had a certain gut-level masculine appeal.” The glint in his eyes made her think he was remembering the short skirt and low-scooped neckline. “But if you want to break into the business, we need to upgrade your image.”

“This is Hollywood.” If there was one thing the general had taught Tessa, it was not to surrender without a fight.

“Actually, it's Beverly Hills.” He puffed on the cigar, and although the noxious smell was bound to get into the fabric of the exquisite gowns displayed around the showroom of the famed Rodeo Drive boutique, Tessa noted the saleswoman didn't utter a word of complaint.

He turned to the statuesque blonde. “I want to see her in the Bill Blass.”

“Not that one?” Tessa had rejected the dark unadorned gown at first glance. “Why don't you just see if there's a nun's habit hidden away in the back room? Or perhaps some sackcloth and ashes?”

Jason laughed at that. “I'm beginning to understand how Henry Higgins must have felt when trying to turn Eliza Doolittle into a lady.”

When the saleswoman laughed, as well, Tessa became irritated again. “I
am
a lady.”

Although the smile didn't fade, his eyes suddenly
turned as hard as blue stones. “Then you should dress like one,” he said reasonably.

Realizing that she'd just run up against his professional cop intransigence, Tessa exhaled a deep dramatic sigh, snatched the dress from the woman's arms and stomped back into the marble-walled dressing room.

Damn him! The change was so dramatic, it took Tessa's breath away. She stared at her reflection in the three-way mirror, stunned by the sleek, sophisticated woman looking back at her. The black halter-necked gown, which had appeared so drab on the padded silk hanger, skimmed over her body like a jet waterfall and proved a startling foil for her fiery hair. Although she'd always regretted her pale skin, the unadorned black dress made it gleam like porcelain.

Jason instantly confirmed her appraisal. “Perfect. There won't be a woman in the room who'll be able to hold a candle to you.” He turned to the saleswoman. “She'll need gloves. Above the elbows. And those black silk pumps in the window.”

By the time he dropped her off at her apartment, Tessa was floating on air. “I feel like a fairy-tale princess. But it was all so expensive, and I know policemen don't make all that much money…”

“I told you not to worry about that.” He skimmed the back of his hand down her face. “Miles and I both inherited money from our grandfather.”

“But you still work.”

“Although I enjoy the ability to make a beautiful woman happy, I've never found the life of the idle rich to be appealing. I like being rich. And I like being a cop. This way I have the best of both worlds.”

He was leaning closer, his lips a whisper away from hers. All she'd have to do would be to go up on her toes, just the least little bit…

“Would you like to come in?” Her heart was in her voice. And in her wide green eyes.

“I'd love to. But duty calls.” As if reading her mind, he tipped forward and brushed his lips against hers in a light, friendly kiss that created a flare of heat that only left her wanting more. Much, much more. “I'll pick you up tomorrow night at seven.”

She tamped down her disappointment that the first kiss he'd given her was over so soon. She knew he found her attractive. Even an independently wealthy man didn't spend so much money on a woman unless he was interested. Telling herself that she should be grateful that he was proving to be the kind of gentleman she could actually take home to her strict father, Tessa vowed that it was time for things to change.

“I'll be ready,” she promised.

As she watched him walk back to the black Porsche, she pressed her fingers against her lips and decided that no matter how ladylike she looked tomorrow night, she was going to pull out all the stops to seduce this man she was falling in love with.

T
heodora Longworth hit Los Angeles like a hurricane. To Lena's vast relief, Reece's aunt insisted on staying at her favorite bungalow at the Beverly Hills Hotel. She did, however, manage to make her presence known, and although Lena was obviously intimidated by the fifty-year-old woman's powerful life force, Molly found her a welcome diversion from her own problems.

“Gin,” Theo announced as she put her cards on the table with a flourish. She'd ostensibly come over to the house to keep Molly company while Reece and Lena went out to a New Year's party with the hospital staff.

Although Molly had assured them that she was more than capable of spending the evening alone, she'd gotten the feeling that were it not for Theo's presence, Lena, who'd continued to hover over her like a mother hen, would have refused to go.

As she'd cut the new deck of playing cards earlier in
the evening, Theo had informed Molly that she never played for penny ante stakes, not in any part of her life, including card games. “However,” she'd stated, “given your unfortunate vow of poverty, I suppose I'd be willing—just this once—to play for chump change. So, how much can you afford to lose?”

“Twenty dollars.” Surely that should last all night.

After spending the next two hours getting thoroughly trounced, Molly decided she'd definitely been overly optimistic. “Did anyone ever happen to mention that cheating is a sin?”

Molly's dry tone flew right over Theo's head. “Good thing I'm a Baptist,” the older woman shot back as she deftly palmed a queen of hearts. “And for your information, Sister Molly, I was taught in the Healing Waters Sunday school that the Lord helps those who help themselves.”

“Then He should be extremely proud of you,” Molly muttered as she glared at the miserable hand Theo had dealt her.

“I have no doubt about it,” Theo said cheerfully as she laid down a five card straight of hearts.

Secretly, Molly was grateful Theo hadn't reined in her typically outrageous behavior on her account. Ever since the rape, everyone had been treating her with kid gloves. It was definitely a relief to have someone finally behaving as if Molly were a normal person.

Five minutes later, she'd lost another hand. “The Lord does love a cheerful giver,” Theo said encouragingly as Molly counted out the dimes and quarters.

“Well, you've cleaned me out. So I guess that leaves
us no choice but to tune in to Dick Clark's New Year's countdown at Times Square.”

“Now, let's not be in such a hurry.” Theo swept the change into her gold leather duffel bag. “How about I advance you a stake?”

“So I can lose even more?”

“You never know.” Theo shuffled the cards with a flair that would have put an old-time Mississippi riverboat gambler to shame. “Maybe you're about to get lucky.”

Molly knew, without a single doubt, that Theo was about to start cheating to let her win. Since that held scant appeal, she was trying to figure out a way to turn Reece's aunt down when the doorbell chimed.

Theo left the room and returned two minutes later with Alex Kovaleski in tow. “You're off the hook, kiddo,” she told Molly. “Gorgeous here has offered to take your place at the table.”

“Why do I feel like Wild Bill Hickok just before he drew that deadman's hand,” Alex drawled. He bent down and kissed Molly's cheek, kindly ignoring the way she involuntarily flinched at the male touch. “How you doin', sweetheart?”

Embarrassed by her behavior, Molly managed to smile up at him. “I'm a lot poorer than I was two hours ago. Theo cheats.”

“Hell, if the woman tries it with me, I'll arrest her. After all, gambling's still illegal in California.”

His gunmetal gray eyes sparkled with the amusement Molly had first seen directed Theodora's way at Lena and Reece's wedding. Although they were two totally dissimilar individuals, it was obvious they found each other more than a little entertaining.

“It figures you'd threaten me with that.” Theo folded her arms over her breasts. “Did I ever tell you that I'm not overly fond of authority figures?”

“Several times.” He folded his own arms. “Did I happen to mention that one of these days I'll win you over with my unrelenting charm?”

Theo snorted. “You did. And I recall telling you that better men have tried.”

“Other men perhaps,” he said with that same unshakable confidence that had once made him a good hostage negotiator. “But not better.”

His eyes warmed to pewter as they skimmed over her. Although she was staying home, she'd dressed for the evening in a colorful full skirt, white satin blouse and glittering beaded vest. Molly half expected her to break out a pair of castanets and start dancing at any moment.

“You really are looking better than ever, Theodora,” Alex said. “And although you looked great as a blonde, your new hairdo is dynamite. You remind me of Rita Hayworth in her prime.”

To Molly's amazement, Theo blushed to the roots of her newly dyed red hair like a schoolgirl. “Compliments like that will get you anywhere you like, Officer.”

Molly decided it was time to give the couple some privacy. “Well,” she said, pretending to stifle a yawn, “it's been a long day. I think I'll go upstairs to my room.”

“Don't you want to watch Dick Clark bring in the New Year?” Theo asked a bit too quickly.

Molly was greatly amused by the way she seemed suddenly nervous at the idea of being alone with Alex.

“Why bother? He's not going to look any different. And the ball will come down on time, the same way it always does. No, I'd rather get some sleep and be fresh to watch the parade tomorrow morning.”

“We haven't even popped the champagne yet. It's Cristal,” Theo coaxed.

“I'm not supposed to be drinking while I'm on medication,” Molly reminded her. “Why don't you share it with Alex?”

“I'd rather have a beer,” he said. “If you have one.”

Theo tossed her head in a way reminiscent of Hayworth's famed Gilda. “There you go, with that Mr. Macho routine again.”

“It's not a routine.” His grin was quick and wicked, and even Molly, who'd always considered this man the closest thing she'd ever known to a loving father, couldn't help noticing that it held considerable masculine charm. “And believe me, sweetheart, I'm just getting started.”

When Theo shot back that she hadn't left a glorious beach on Thebes to come all the way to California just to be hit on by some beer-drinking civil servant, Molly decided it was definitely time to call it a night.

She was not surprised when neither Alex nor Theodora noticed her departure.

 

High atop the Westin Bonaventure hotel, Lena swayed in her husband's arms, trying to get up her nerve for the conversation to come. She'd made the decision to put the past behind her, to begin the New Year with a clean slate, and that meant it was time—past time—to tell Reece about that long-ago Christmas Eve night.

His arms were wrapped loosely around her waist, his lips were nuzzling the sensitive flesh behind her ear. “You are,” he murmured, “the most beautiful woman in the room.”

“Flatterer.” She tilted her head back to allow his mouth access to her neck.

Reece readily obliged. “It's the truth.”

“What about her?” Lena asked as a vision in black swirled by.

Reece paid no attention to the stunning redhead. “She can't hold a candle to you.”

Even as she knew that wasn't the truth, Lena laughed softly with delight. “You're prejudiced.”

“You bet.” He drew her closer. “I'm mad about you, Lena Longworth. And if it wasn't for the unfortunate fact that the Chief of staff of Mercy Sam just happens to be dancing five feet away, I'd drag you beneath the dessert table and ravish you.”

The idea was deliciously wicked. And inviting. Tempted to put off the carefully planned conversation until tomorrow, Lena reluctantly reminded herself that she'd already waited far too long.

“Being ravished by the sexiest man in the room sounds wonderful,” she admitted breathlessly as he dragged her against him, inviting her to feel his erection. Her body warmed and softened in automatic feminine response. “But there are a few things I need to tell you.”

Although he'd been fantasizing about unzipping the froth of gilt-threaded ivory chiffon, then running his lips down her delicate spine, kissing each vertebrae in turn, something in his wife's tone garnered Reece's unwilling attention.

“Are you all right?” He knew she'd had an appointment with her gynecologist. “You told me that your exam went well.”

“I'm fine.” That was the truth, so far as it went. Yet another thing they'd have to discuss tonight, Lena thought. “Really,” she insisted when she viewed something that looked amazingly like fear in his eyes. “But we really do need to talk. I was hoping we could go downstairs to our room.”

Reece had been hoping the same thing. The irony was that when he'd booked the suite, he'd had a much more romantic scenario than talking in mind. “Whatever you want, darling.”

It was what he always said. But as they walked hand in hand across the dance floor, Lena wondered if Reece would still want her. Once he'd heard her story.

 

Tessa watched the attractive couple leave the ballroom. Although it was more than obvious that they were madly in love, something told her that the reason for their early departure was not a midnight tryst, but something far more serious. She'd watched their discussion, witnessed the concern, followed by resolve move across the man's handsome features.

“I'm beginning to feel ignored,” Jason murmured in her ear. “You've been watching that guy all night.”

“I'm sorry.” She smiled up at him. “Actually, I've been watching his date. She looks so familiar.” Of course that couldn't be, Tessa had been telling herself. After all, she'd only been in Los Angeles a week. “Do you know either of them?”

“I've never seen them before in my life.” He watched
the sway of the woman's hips in the full short skirt and knew he'd remember those long, wraparound legs.

“Perhaps she's an actress.” She was certainly attractive enough, Tessa thought. Her dark auburn hair glowed like autumn leaves highlighted by a benevolent sun and her green eyes tilted upward, catlike, at the corners. Perhaps the woman had been a bit player in some movie or television program she'd seen.

“She's good-looking enough to get work,” Jason agreed. He drew his head back and gave her a long assessing look. “But you are, without a doubt, the most ravishingly beautiful woman here tonight.”

The way he was looking down at her, as if she was a raw piece of clay he'd molded to his own personal preference, made her feel a bit uneasy. However, Tessa couldn't deny that the analogy definitely fit. Not only had he chosen her dress, he'd selected her jewelry—borrowed from Fred Hayman—her hairstyle and even her makeup, which had been applied by a woman who was alleged to have done Susan Sarandon's makeup in the movie
The Witches of Eastwick.

The dramatic makeover had not been in vain. From the looks she'd been getting all night, it was obvious his creation had met with instant approval.

“Hey, kid,” a voice behind her said, “how about giving me an opportunity to show Tessa which brother inherited the dancing talent?”

Jason grinned down at Tessa. “Whatever you do, don't flatter him. His head's already big enough.” Without asking if she wanted to change partners, he handed her over to his brother, leaving Tessa feeling once again like a piece of property.

 

It was a night made for romance. The glass wall in the hotel room provided a dazzling view of the city lights. A late-afternoon rain had washed away the smog, and the stars shone like diamonds in the midnight black sky.

“Would you like some champagne?” Reece had ordered a bottle of Dom Pérignon and caviar to be waiting when they arrived back at the suite. A splendid bouquet of long-stemmed red roses had been delivered, as well.

The story Lena was determined to tell Reese wasn't exactly a cause for celebration and she debated turning down the offer of champagne. Then decided that a little bottled courage might be in order, after all.

“Thank you. That sounds wonderful.”

Although the words fit the occasion, her expression reminded Reece of a condemned prisoner on the way to the electric chair. The fear he'd felt earlier rose again. Again he tamped it back down and concentrated on opening the wine. The cork came out of the dark green bottle with a discreet pop and a hiss of vapor.

“You do that very well,” Lena murmured. She looked at Reece, so handsome in his custom-tailored tux, marveled not for the first time at the easy sophistication of this man she'd married, and wondered why he hadn't chosen a sleek, elegant woman from his own world for his wife.

“It's all in the wrist.” He had no idea if that was the case. But he felt the need to say something to ease the strain building between them. He poured the sparkling wine into the flutes, then handed one to her.

“To the best wife any man could ever wish for,” he said, lifting his glass in a toast.

“To the best husband,” she corrected quietly.

Reece wished to hell she'd smiled when she'd said that. “How about a compromise? To us. And a New Year filled with love and laughter.”

Reece swore inwardly when he watched the suspicious sheen of moisture suddenly appear in her eyes.

“To us.” It was little more than a whisper. Lena took a sip. Although the sparkling wine danced like laughter on her tongue, her mood remained bleak. When the suffocating silence settled over them again, she began nervously rubbing a crimson rose petal between her thumb and index finger, releasing the blossom's sweet fragrance.

Never having been one for game playing, Reece decided that as much as he wanted to let Lena take her time with whatever it was she wanted to say, he'd go nuts if they didn't just cut to the chase.