She Sins at Midnight (10 page)

Jilly didn’t heed her friend’s advice and nearly got whiplash as she swung around to see. “How do you like that? Miss Popular Bentley High has just walked back into our lives. I feel a little sick to my stomach.”

Jessica Bowman was the girl who ruled their graduating class. She was the one who decided which kids would be popular and which wouldn’t. She did this by starting rumors and making up nicknames. Lila and Jilly always wondered how a class of three-hundred-and forty-seven kids could relinquish so much control to one person.

In grade school, Jessica started calling Lila and Jilly, Looney Lila and Silly Jilly. The names stuck until they were sophomores in high school. At least their names weren’t overly mean like some. Poor Pat Brady was known as Fat Pat until their graduating day.

Jilly whispered, “She must be back for the reunion.”

Completely annoyed, Lila commented, “The reunion isn’t for three more weeks. What’s she doing back so soon?” Then she realized how funny that question was because there she was, back so soon herself.

Jilly didn’t see the correlation, “Let’s sneak out of here before she notices us. I’m going to drop the kids off with my Mom tomorrow so I can go shopping and get my hair done. Hopefully a new outfit and some highlights will give me the courage I need to face Jessica.”

Lila donned her sunglasses so Jessica wouldn’t recognize her and then became Jilly’s body shield so that they could sneak out of the dining room undetected. The mission was a success. The friends collected the boys from their “Little Fishies” swim class and then proceeded to the parking lot. Lila helped strap the kids into their car seats before parting ways until the next day’s shopping excursion.

When everyone was good to go, Lila consoled, “Don’t worry Jilly, by the time we’re done with you, Jessica will think that you’re Miss America.”

Jilly laughed, “I’d settle for her thinking that I’m not Miss Dumpy House Frau of the World.” With those parting words, she put her seat belt on and pulled out of the parking lot.

Lila waved and wondered if anyone’s life had turned out the way they had planned. When she got home, she found her mother dead-heading flowers in the front yard. Bitsy saw her daughter and smiled, “They’re so fucking vibrant, aren’t they?”

Lila didn’t know if she was to respond, “Goddamn right they are!” or perhaps, “Absofuckinglutley!!!” So she opted for, “They’re gorgeous, Mom.”

Lila discovered that they were going back to the club for dinner that night when Bitsy relayed that they had 6:30 reservations for the fish fry. She had completely forgotten that Monday nights were the fish fry and the thought perked her right up. She realized that she had just eaten lunch but with the whole book fiasco, the man at the pool and now Jessica Bowman? Lila was sure that food was the only thing that would restore balance to her dwindling sanity.

As much as she didn’t want to think about the RITA awards, Lila still wanted to keep reading
She Sins at Midnight
. After all, she had never read it as a New York Times Bestseller before.

As she filled her claw-footed tub, she wondered at the alarming changes in her mother. Of course that was just one more situation that she had no control over so she opted to just slip into the bubbles and escape.

Vivian couldn’t believe how thrilling it was to dance in Julius’ arms. She felt light-headed when she remembered they had met just the week before. Julius had been about to ravish her in full sight of the garden party when his mother came scurrying over and interrupted. She helped Vivian off her son’s lap and exclaimed, “Good lord, Julius, you’re nothing but a libertine.”

Julius stood up and brushed off his pants, “My dear lady, I was only going to enjoy the gift you sent me.”

Amelia, Viscountess Hedgeworth, smacked her son on the arm with her fan and demanded, “What in the world are you talking about?”

Eyeing Vivian like he wanted to devour her for lunch, Julius answered, “Why Madam, I assumed that the reason I was excused from all further social engagements this season was because you had set up a rather special introduction for me.” Indicating Vivian he continued, “And once this delectable morsel landed on my lap, I concluded that she was the one you trapped in your matrimonial snare.”

Vivian tried to excuse herself from the family squabble when the Viscountess grabbed her arm to halt her escape. Eyeing her son she continued, “As if Martin Ashwood would ever let you have anything to do with his daughter. I assure you the Duke of Wentworth has better sense than to allow his precious offspring to become associated with a scoundrel like you.”

Julius took Vivian’s hand and crooned, “Ah, so this is Wentworth’s chit…” He leaned over her hand and proceeded to give it the most sinfully inappropriate kiss. He even managed to lick her palm. Vivian was sure she was about to swoon when Julius held out his arm in invitation and inquired, “My dear, may I be allowed to escort you to lunch?”

At that moment, Vivian’s nerve endings were tingling in anticipation of spending any time with the glorious man next to her; so much so that she would have happily followed him into the pit of hell had his mother not intervened.

Amelia slapped her son’s hand away from Vivian and declared, “You’ll not touch her, you fiend! The only kind of man this dear girl is going to spend time with will be a man suitable to be her husband. And you, son of mine, are sadly not up to snuff in that department.”

With those words, Amelia grabbed Vivian’s hand and nearly dragged her away from her son’s grasp. That was the last time she had seen Julius, until that night at the Winthrop’s ball, where she danced in his arms and felt like she was floating through the night sky on winged feet.

M
elinda was thoroughly enjoying her time in Bentley. Aside from going to lunch, she hadn’t left her hotel room once. Her book was getting so hot she wished she didn’t have to go to dinner with her lawyer at all. Rolling over in bed, she once again lost herself in
She Sins at Midnight
.

Julius had to give the Countess her due. She managed to wear a ball gown all the while giving the impression that she was quite naked. He had no idea how her nipples remained contained in what was ostensibly the bodice of her gown. While he contemplated the science of it all, Isabelle managed to lead him right out of the ballroom and onto the terrace. Once they escaped the crush, she lured him toward a secluded bench in the garden, where she pushed him down.

Julius smiled, “Goodness, my dear, one would think you were about to conduct a seduction.”

The Countess gave him one of her smoldering looks and instead of answering, she reached down her bodice and proceeded to liberate her plentiful breasts from their paltry confines. Then she slid toward him and stepped between his open legs, pressing her abundance into his face.

Julius had always been a big fan of breasts and generally speaking, the bigger the better. Yet as he sat and watched the Countess perform her seduction, he couldn’t seem to get the smaller, more pert bosom of Vivan Ashwood out of his mind. Of course Vivian’s bounty was not the current feast in front of him. As he leaned forward to inhale Isabelle’s essence, he was alarmed to discover a very familiar scent.

“Madam, I hate to comment on something so gauche, but it would seem that you have already shared your charms with another man this evening. While I am not looking for an exclusive love affair, I do require that the women I’m involved with at least bathe between encounters.”

The Countess was indignant, “Excuse me Viscount Hedgeworth, but I bathed two days ago! You wouldn’t want me to take a chill and get ill would you?”

Julius pushed Isabelle away from him and stood up to readjust his clothing. “My dear Madam, I assure you that a little soap and water will not kill you.” Remembering Vivian’s fresh rose scent, he added, “Now, if you don’t mind, I think I’ll return to the ball.”

With her magnificent bosom bared, Isabelle demanded, “What about us?”

Julius turned around and offered, “Why don’t you come see me after you’ve bathed.” As an afterthought he added, “But before you visit anyone else. Perhaps we can further our acquaintance then.”

As Julius walked away, the Countess of Trent fumed. Who did he think he was turning down her offer? Men lined up to be with her! As she lifted her breasts to fit them back into her bodice, Isabelle heard a rustling sound in the bushes. Just as she was about to investigate, the portly form of Baron Bratwin appeared.

The Baron was not elevated enough in the ton that Isabelle had ever considered bedding him before. But there he stood in front of her holding his pathetic erection in his hand. As she was already half undressed and more than a little worked up by the thought of seducing Julius, she eyed him and decided, “Why not?”

Poor Isabelle! Melinda knew what it was like to be involved with more that one man in the same day. She found herself in a similar situation one night at a director’s house in Malibu. She had spent the afternoon in bed with her co-star and didn’t have time to bathe before the party. She solved the problem by pulling the director into the bathroom and telling him that she wanted to do it in the shower. She couldn’t even imagine the kind of fun Isabelle could have had with proper plumbing.

Melinda looked at the clock and dragged herself off the bed. She did not want to go to dinner with some stuffy lawyer. But the sooner she met Oscar’s attorney, the sooner she could get on a plane and go home. At first she thought she would like being back in the Midwest, but not one person had asked her for her autograph. In fact, they acted like they didn’t even know who she was. It was like Bentley was on another planet and she couldn’t wait to catch the first space shuttle home. After all, people in L.A. knew how famous she was and they worshipped her for it.

Melinda dressed carefully for dinner in a conservative summer skirt and blouse, careful not to show too much skin. Oscar warned her that it was important to look innocent. After checking herself in the mirror one last time, she grabbed her purse and headed for the lobby. It was fifteen minutes after she was supposed to be there but she had no intention of arriving first. Movie stars of her fame did not wait.

Melinda finally glided into the lobby in search of her idea of a Hollywood lawyer. While looking for a doughy, balding man in his fifties, her eyes were drawn to an Adonis who looked exactly like Julius, Viscount Hedgeworth, and he was coming right toward her. For a moment, Melinda lost her bearings and almost swooned like one of the heroines in her romance novels.

Creigh strode right up to Melinda and put his hand out, “Melinda Forrester, I presume?”

Melinda grabbed his hand and asked, “Julius?”

“No, I’m sorry. My name is Creighton Ashwood. Were you told that you were to meet someone named Julius?”

Stumbling over her words, Melinda replied, “Oh no, not at all. So you’re Oscar’s lawyer then?”

Creigh inclined his head, “At your service.” He led her toward the front door, “I’m parked out front.” Creigh opened the passenger door and explained that the vintage Mustang was his car from high school.

Melinda flirtatiously coaxed, “I bet you were very popular in high school.”

Uncomfortably, Creigh responded, “Miss Forrester, I understand that there are several aspects of your case we need to straighten out this evening so that you are able to return to Los Angeles tomorrow.”

No longer in a rush to leave Bentley, Melinda ran her hand up Creigh’s arm and purred, “Who said I was leaving tomorrow?”

Creigh and Melinda pulled up to the North Hills Country Club at 6 p.m. on the nose. Surprisingly, the parking lot was already full. Creigh suddenly remembered that Monday night was the fish fry. And here he thought that the club would be a nice private place to talk to his client. While that was not destined to be the case, his mouth started to water at the thought of beer battered fish and chips.

Creigh finally found a parking spot on the outskirts of the lot. Turning off the ignition, he got out of the car. He noticed that Melinda didn’t make any move to do the same. He didn’t know why that bothered him so much as he always opened the car door for his dates. But this was no date and he didn’t feel like extending such courtesies to the spoiled movie star who was invading his time at home. When he opened her door, Melinda grabbed his arm like he was rescuing her from the Titanic. None too subtly, Creigh disengaged himself and stepped several feet away from her, keeping his distance until they were safely inside the club.

The dining room manager was so delighted to see Creigh that he came around the podium to give him a big hug. “Creigh, you look wonderful, son!” He then put his arm around the younger man’s shoulder and softly added, “We all miss your mother so much, but we’re glad to have you home.”

Creigh had to keep himself from tearing up. Johnny had been the dining room manager since he was a boy. Creigh’s father died when he was just two and Johnny had always felt like a sort of surrogate parent. He was one of the few people who had been a constant in his life. Hugging his friend back, he acknowledged, “Thanks, Johnny. You know mom always thought the world of you too.”

Melinda chose that moment to step forward and clear her throat. Creigh introduced her but instead of taking Johnny’s proffered hand, she simply stated, “We’re ready to be seated.”

Johnny didn’t so much as flinch in response but Creigh was infuriated. He wanted to demand that Melinda apologize but he realized how futile that would be, so he ignored her. He asked, “So, how are the grandkids? Still just the two?”

Johnny looked between the two young people and quickly ascertained the situation before answering, “No, we have three now. Marianne finally decided to do her duty and give us the granddaughter we’d been hoping for.”

Creigh asked a couple more questions and Melinda became more and more irritated at being ignored. She finally asked Johnny where the ladies’ room was as she decided to go freshen up instead of standing around like a fifth wheel.

While Creigh continued to chat with his friend, Lila walked in the front door with her parents. Creigh noticed her immediately and stopped talking mid-sentence. He was drawn to her as though he was being pulled by an invisible string. Lila didn’t see him until he was practically standing on top of her. He flirtatiously drawled, “Hello again.”