THE GREAT BETRAYAL (6 page)

Four hundred and fifty—times two.

Wow
, thought Dawn.

Wow.

After strolling and perusing the mall shops for another hour or so—with Leslie buying a pair of blue pumps to match the new top—they were finally back on the road, making their way to Dawn’s apartment.

When they arrived Leslie found a parking space; then, turning toward the backseat, she reached around and grabbed the Saks shopping bag.

Pulling out the blue blouse, she wrapped it securely in the tissue paper enclosed and tossed it—sans bag—onto the backseat.

Then she placed the shopping bag on Dawn’s lap.

“This one’s for you,” she said quietly. “Just to say thanks for accompanying me today on the apartment hunt.”

For a moment Dawn was speechless. She had a flashback of the price tag.

Now, while she’d had a rather comfortable upbringing, never in her life had she worn a four-hundred-dollar shirt! Never. She couldn’t accept it.

“Uh, Leslie…no. It was really no big deal. I was glad to go with you. I can’t accept this—I saw how much it costs!” Taking it off her lap, Dawn placed the bag between them, resting it on the emergency brake. “If you seriously bought it just for me, it’s awful sweet and generous, but please take it back. I could never accept such a—”

“Dawn.” Looking at her pointedly, Leslie put the bag back on her lap. “No arguments. I’ll take offense if you don’t accept it. Don’t you know some folks are funny that way? You can’t
not
accept a gift.” She chuckled, tucking a strand of red hair behind her ear. “It’s quite rude.”

Hesitant, Dawn looked down at the bag. She shook her head. “Oh, Leslie…this is so sweet of you, but no, I couldn’t. I just wouldn’t feel comfortable. It’s far too expensive a gift. And it was no trouble at all to ride around with you today. Really. I was happy to do it.”

“You liked the blouse, didn’t you? You preferred the green one, right? Well, it’s yours.” As Dawn opened her mouth again to protest, Leslie quickly raised her palm. “End of story.”

A few minutes later, after locking and engaging the chain on her front door, Dawn went over to the living room window. She peeked through the curtain in time to watch the taillights on Leslie Phillips’s red Celica as it cruised out of the parking lot.

She stared after the car long after it disappeared down the street.

Going into her bedroom, Dawn sat on the bed and took the blouse from the bag. For a moment she simply sat staring at the price tag. This was too much to keep to herself.

A $450 blouse
!

Grabbing the phone, she called Brenda.

Her sister answered on the third ring. “Hello?”

“
Bren! You are
not
gonna believe this.”

Chapter 11

Moving day arrived. Leslie enlisted the help of the HR gang from work, along with her boyfriend, Paul, who recruited a couple of his friends to help with the furniture.

Since she was the only one who drove a stick, Melanie drove the U-Haul Leslie had rented, while Shirley and Dawn followed behind in their jam-packed cars.

“Boy, you sure have a lot for one person,” Shirley had remarked when they began loading the cars with garbage bag after garbage bag. “No kids, no husband. Are you a pack rat or something? Can’t throw things away?”

Leslie had laughed, waving her off. “Leave me alone!”

Now as they arrived at Solidity Isles, they saw a crew of workmen installing a large, stylish granite water fountain just inside the entrance gate. It depicted three cherubs through which the water circulation flowed.

“Oh, that’s beautiful,” said Melanie, maneuvering the U-Haul around the bend that led to building seven. “Gives the place a nice serene feel.”

“Yeah, it looks great!” said Leslie, admiring it. “Hey, just drop me off right here. I still have to sign the lease and get the keys, so I’ll meet you guys over there. You remember where it is, right?”

“Sure,” replied Melanie, stopping.

Grabbing her purse, Leslie jumped from the truck and headed toward the leasing office.

Where she would meet Luke Cavanaugh for the very first time.

And her five-year-old façade would have its first crack of reality.

Luke Cavanaugh was exiting the office, having just met with the property manager about the fountain installation, when a young lady with a mass of red hair was strolling in. When their eyes met, she gasped—practically screeched—causing everyone to stop and look curiously toward the doorway.

Now, Luke Cavanaugh knew he was no ogre, but he’d certainly never had a woman look as though she were going into cardiac arrest from the mere sight of him either.

Chuckling, he stepped back through the doorway. “Um…what is it? You look like you’ve seen a ghost! Do I know you?”

The girl said nothing, just stood there, staring at him. Then, blinking, she seemed to regain her senses—quite slowly, at that.

She stammered, “I-I’m so sorry. I mistook you for someone else. Gosh—I’m so sorry.” Then she continued walking, as if nothing even remotely peculiar had happened at all.

Luke Cavanaugh decided to wait for the girl outside. Something was off, and his curiosity was piqued.

Shock. Clear and present.

For a moment, her eyes had registered total shock.

Twenty minutes later she emerged. She was stuffing papers into her purse, her head down. She nearly collided with him before she finally looked up.

“What happened in there a while ago?” Luke asked, eyeing her warily. “Have we met before or something? Do I know you?”

“Uh, no…I-I don’t think so.” She was visibly uncomfortable. “Like I said, for a minute I thought you were someone else; that’s all. I’m really sorry for the happening.” She started to walk away along the sidewalk.

Casting a glance toward the workmen, he fell into step beside her. “Well, judging from your reaction, the idea of seeing that ‘someone else’ again must really scare you. Do you mind if I ask who it was? I have two brothers and we do look alike…quite a bit, actually.”

“No, forget it. Truly. It’s no one from around here.” She tucked a mass of hair behind her ear and looked up at him. “Look…I feel so foolish. I don’t know what I was thinking. I really am sorry if I alarmed you, but don’t worry about it. I was mistaken; that’s all.”

Luke took her in. Her sun-kissed skin was smooth, her face delicate and sweet. She was wearing a grass green spaghetti-strap tank top that bared her midriff. It also matched her eyes. Her jeans were stonewashed, with rhinestone studs lining each pocket. They fit her well. Like a glove.

“You know,” Luke ventured, “I think I’d be more inclined to accept that apology if you’d agree to have a drink with me.”

She stopped walking. “A drink with you?”

“Yes. How about tonight? Do you already have plans?”

She hesitated, thinking of Paul. “Well, I’m moving in today, and you know how moving goes—it’s so draining. So tonight’s definitely out. Then, of course, I’ll be unpacking for days, if not weeks.”

Luke grinned. “In other words, not now and not ever? Is that it? Trying to cut me off at the pass?”

Tentatively, she grinned back. “Not to mention that I’m currently dating someone, so I guess you could say that I’m not too available right now.”

“My loss then.”

Their eyes met.

“Thanks for the compliment.”

“So, who’s moving your furniture? Could you use some help?”

Chapter 12

“
Leaving already?”

“
Yeah. Tomorrow’s an early one.”

“
Call me?”

“
Sure.”

Planting a parting kiss on her lips and disengaging her clammy body from his, Luke Cavanaugh threw back the covers and left Janet Hale’s bed. In the darkness of the bedroom he retrieved his briefs, jeans, and shirt, and dressed quickly.

Escape. He had to escape before the damn talking started.

She’d never quite caught on that he just wanted to knock off after sex. No chitchat. No gabbing. Just a nice, serene float into blissful slumber.

Out in the living room, Luke grabbed his keys and gently closed the front door behind him.

The following day, on his way to meet with city zoning officials, Luke decided it was time to break ties with Janet Hale.

Sure, she was a great lay, but as with most women, emotions were getting in the way. And if there was one thing Luke detested, it was a clingy woman who wanted to bond and engage in deep, meaningful conversations in bed. He was partial to a self-reliant woman. A woman rooted in her own wherewithal.

A Leslie Phillips kind of woman.

They’d gone out on a few dates since the day he and the guys had helped her with her furniture.

Granted, she hadn’t exactly been enthusiastic about going out with him at first, but she seemed comfortable enough now. He’d made subtle attempts at getting her to talk more about the way she’d reacted when they first met, but in those waters she remained reticent, very evasive and tight-lipped. If Luke knew nothing else about her, he certainly knew she was a master at changing the subject, expertly segueing into another.

Luke liked Leslie. He liked her very much. He welcomed the challenge she presented. He would enjoy discovering who Leslie Phillips was beneath the cool, polished exterior.

Oh, yes. It was definitely time to say good-bye to Janet Hale. He decided the “it’s not you, it’s me” parting line was in order. Maybe he could even throw in one last roll in the hay, just for good measure. Why burn the bridge?

Live from Tokyo. Pay-per-view.

The weekend of the much-anticipated Tyson fight had finally arrived. The atmosphere bristled with the sheer energy and excitement of it all. As usual, the anticipation was quite infectious, and all anyone talked about was how they were looking forward to Mike Tyson KO’ing James “Buster” Douglas by round three.

As with every boxing event, Luke and his brothers congregated at their parents’ home for the benefit of watching the action on the gigantic sixty-inch television screen.

“So, who’s buying the beer?” he asked his brother Evan later that evening.

“You are, dude. Isn’t it your turn?”

“Heck, no.” Luke laughed. “I supplied the beer last fight, when Tyson pummeled Williams. It’s not my turn.”

They finally agreed that George, their eldest brother, would be charged with bringing the cold stuff.

“I’ve also invited this new girl I’m seeing,” he told Evan. “Her name’s Leslie, Leslie Phillips. She’ll be bringing a friend.”

Luke’s family fell in love with Leslie, and everyone had a great time watching the fight, which became one of the biggest upsets in boxing history. Pure excitement, every moment live from Tokyo, Japan.

Millions around the world watched in jaw-dropping shock as “Iron” Mike Tyson was—in his first loss ever—knocked out, defeated in the tenth round by James “Buster” Douglas. For weeks thereafter, it was all anyone talked about…or heard about.

The day after the infamous fight, while out for lunch at Bailey’s Steakhouse, the HR gang was buzzing about the upset.

As they cackled away, Dawn casually mentioned Luke—that they’d watched the fight with the delicious-looking blond guy they met the day Leslie moved to Solidity Isles. He was interning with the architectural firm that designed and built the development.

Melanie was all over it. “I knew it. I knew it. I knew it,” she said, smacking the table with a knowing smile. “Stevie Wonder could’ve seen the chemistry flowing between the two of you!”

Shirley chimed in. “Yep. Sparks were flying all over the place.” She dipped a nacho in cheese and fanned her face. “What a hunk. Don’t you think he looks a lot like that guy Lorenzo Lamas? You know, Lance on
Falcon Crest
? Umm…hunkola!”

Leslie reached for her Pepsi with an awkward giggle. “Girls, can we not make a mountain out of it? We’ve only been out on a couple dates…” She proceeded to change the subject.

Dawn nibbled a french fry, watching Leslie. The vibes were obvious—she’d said too much.

Chapter 13

By the end of the day, Dawn had developed a pounding headache.

She wasn’t sure whether it could be attributed to number crunching or…something else.

Her earlier observation was confirmed later that evening when she got home from work. There was a message from Leslie on her answering machine: “Dawn, it’s me. We need to talk. Could you please call me at home when you get this? Talk to you soon. Bye.”

Taking a few aspirin, she waited until late evening to return the call. She lay across the bed wondering, with some degree of anxiety, what Leslie was going to say to her. Finally, when the headache had abated, she reached for the phone and dialed the number.