She didn’t answer right away, and he wondered what he’d said that had upset her. “We can stay longer if you like, I don’t want to rush you.”
Cleo turned to look at him. For the first time, her smile looked false. “No, like you say, let’s save that for another day.” Her voice was husky, and he frowned.
“Just as well—since 911, it takes forever to get inside because of security. Matt managed to get us landing clearance because he comes here frequently.”
Of course he couldn’t mention that he was working on the solar farm in conjunction with the Hoover Dam Authorities, or that some of his engineers were looking at ways to access underground aquifers to increase the volume of Lake Mead. Chippendale dancers didn’t moonlight as CEOs, and he wasn’t ready to tell her the truth just yet. He knew he’d have to soon, but he was afraid his hasty lie last night would cause a rift between them. Could he keep his secret until he returned from Wales?
She moved away from him to take more pictures. An elderly couple approached her, and when she took their camera, he realized they’d asked her to snap their photo. He watched her take a few shots of the two. What would it be like to grow old with her? When she finished her quick conversation with the strangers, she walked back to him, a wistful smile on her beautiful face. Even in sunglasses, she’d make a lousy poker player. Her emotions were always on the surface where anyone could see them.
“This is their second honeymoon trip. They’ve been together fifty years.”
There was a longing in her voice almost as if she never expected to find a long-lasting love like that. She turned and stared out at Lake Mead. Sam put his arms around her and pulled her close. He went back into his tour guide mode, as she’d called it, hoping to diffuse the melancholy he sensed in her.
“You know, Lake Mead isn’t anywhere near as full as it should be. The lower water level affects the amount of power the plant can produce. A couple of years ago, they had to move some of the marinas because the water was so low, the boats were sitting on the sand. Do you see that white rim? They call it the bathtub ring. It shouldn’t be visible. Some days, the water’s so low you can see what appear to be islands in the reservoir.”
“That’s awful. What’s going to happen?”
“LJS Enterprises is working with the state government to find a solution. As much as I’d love to show you more, we’ve got to go. We’ll come back in the fall when the weather’s cooler. We can bring a lunch and picnic on the lakeshore.”
She smiled, still a little sadly he thought, and nodded. “You’re the boss. But can I just get another picture of you?”
“No.” Sam stopped the man walking beside him.
“Can you take a picture of us?” He handed him the camera and walked over to Cleo, removed her hat and sunglasses, bent down, and kissed her nose. “Smile pretty.”
He removed his own glasses. “Take three or four in case one doesn’t turn out.” As if any pictures of her wouldn’t be perfect.
As soon as the man had taken the photographs, Sam handed him his cell phone. “Can you take one with this? I want a picture right away.”
The stranger laughed. “If she were mine, buddy, I’d want a picture too.”
Sam watched Cleo blush again and thanked the man.
“Come on. Time’s up and there are still all kinds of things I want to show you today.”
He led her back to the chopper where Matt stood talking to one of the other pilots who’d landed.
“How did you like that?” Matt asked as they approached.
“It’s fascinating. I didn’t get to see everything I’d hoped to see, but I’ll definitely come back again.”
Her answer struck a nerve. It sounded to him as if she were planning to come back alone, although he’d mentioned returning later in the year. Was that why she was subdued? Did she believe the weekend was all they’d ever have? He couldn’t let that happen. He wanted to get to know her and give this attraction between them a chance to grow. He sobered. Unless he was willing to tell her the truth, that might be impossible, but if he told her who he was, he might never know whether it was himself or his money that had kept her by his side.
Chapter Ten
Cleo unbuckled her seat belt and sat back to admire the scenery all around her. For a moment back at the dam, she’d played what-if, but impossible dreams were for children. Sam had suggested coming back in the fall, and it had been hard to keep the sadness off her face to answer him. He’d been quiet since they’d gotten back in the air, as if something was bothering him. She was a lousy liar, so maybe he’d seen through her false smile. She sipped the ice-filled champagne spritzer he’d just given her and was searching for something to say to lighten his mood when the phone rang.
“Yeah, Matt.” Sam answered. “What’s up?”
Cleo observed the play of emotions on his handsome face. Whatever news he was getting concerned him. Maybe this was what had him so preoccupied.
“Keep an ear open. Let me know when you get an update … Yeah, I know. Thanks.” He hung up.
“Is something wrong?” she asked when he joined her in the chair.
“Not really, at least I hope not. When we got back, Matt mentioned some of the other chopper pilots at the dam had heard there was bad weather brewing. I asked him to check with the weather service. There are severe storm cells building in the mountains to the west, but we’ll be fine. We’re flying east to the Hualapai Reservation and the Skywalk. We might have to adjust our plans for later. Desert storms can be deadly. We’ll see.” He put his arm around her. “Now, I want to know everything there is to know about Cleopatra Jones. How about a game of Twenty Questions?”
Cleo laughed softly, trying to keep her concern hidden and praying she was relaxed enough to keep the adrenaline rush that colored her skin at bay. She blushed when she was embarrassed, when she lied, when she was aroused—maybe that surgery wasn’t such a bad idea.
“Okay, but for every question you ask, I get to ask one too.”
“That’s only fair. Let’s start with the easy ones. Favorite color?”
“Yellow. It reminds me of the sun. You?”
“As of yesterday, green. Before that I’d have said orange, but I don’t really have a reason. I just like it. Favorite food?”
“Just about everything, but cheesecake—any flavor—has always been my weakness. Your turn.”
“Steak, rare, cooked on the grill. What won’t you eat?”
“That’s easy—raw oysters. Let’s just say the texture gets in the way of my enjoyment. What won’t you order?”
Sam made a face, a look of absolute horror that made Cleo giggle. “Liver and other organ meats. There’s just something about them.”
“They’re good for you—full of iron and other nutrients.”
“That’s what vitamins are for. Okay, next question before the thought spoils my appetite. Favorite beverage?”
Cleo was glad to see his melancholy had gone. He was teasing and playful, much the way he’d been earlier. “Well, until this weekend, it was iced tea or a light beer. I’ll go back to the tea come Monday. I think I’ve had enough alcohol to last me a while.”
“Ahh, but champagne isn’t alcohol,” he winked. “I like Scotch myself and a liqueur called Glayva, It’s Scotch-based. I got into it the last time I was in Scotland.”
“You travel a lot—you’ve mentioned Hawaii, Alaska, and now Scotland. I’ve hardly been anywhere—Los Angeles, Catalina, Mexico, Vancouver—that’s it. My dad used to travel as part of his job, but not anymore.”
“You haven’t told me where you live. So, where does Cleo Jones call home?”
Cleo focused on the landscape unfolding around her. Thinking about herself in the third person might make it easier, but she hated people who talked that way. She’d worried about answering this question, but Mitch was right, half-truths were better than lies and would probably make her far harder to find in the long run.
“I’m from Hidden Valley, Alberta. I
live with my dad. I told you a little about him last night.” In for a penny, in for a pound.
“You’re Canadian? You don’t sound like any of the Canuks I’ve met before.”
She rolled her eyes. “It’s a big country. Not every American sounds the same either.”
“Touché. So whereabouts in Alberta? I’ve been there a few times.”
“Between High River and Vulcan, south of Calgary.” And that was almost the truth. She’d been born in Calgary while her dad had been there on a three year teaching exchange. It was where he and her mother had met. She still had Lemay cousins on her mother’s side in High River.
“Vulcan?” He raised his eyebrows. “As in the planet from Star Trek?”
“As a matter of fact, yes, but the town was there long before the television series, although they’ve done their best to capitalize on it—murals, themed buildings, spaced-based activities, lots of memorabilia, and a monument shaped like the U. S. S. Enterprise. In 2011, they were officially given the honor of being the Star Trek Capital of Canada. People like those who attend these conventions flock there every year. Mitch loves the place, as you can imagine. It’s not unusual to see people dressed like Klingons, Ferengi, Andorians, you name it, at any time of the year. You won’t see many Orion slave girls in winter though. Canadian prairie winters can be brutal. It’s also the highest spot on the prairies and home to the Big Sky Observatory.” Thank God Mitch had talked about this last month. She was working on her next book and planned to spend some time there later this month. “Vulcan was founded in 1910 and was actually named after the Roman god of the underworld. So, what about you?”
“I’m a California boy, born and raised in San Francisco. I still spend a lot of time there when I can. It’s a beautiful city. There are all kinds of things to see and do. I’d like to take you out to the Rock someday.”
“Being born near the ocean probably explains why you like it so much. I’ve read a lot about San Francisco, but I’ve never been there. Alcatraz must have been a terrible place. My dad talks about the big earthquake during the World Series. It’s one of his sports moments. I’ve seen tons of pictures of the Golden Gate Bridge; it gets destroyed in just about every disaster movie—I’d hate to get caught on it.”
“Believe it or not, suspension bridges are among the safest kind of bridge. Have you been camping?”
Cleo nodded. She had—she’d slept in a tent at her uncle’s cottage with a couple of cousins when she’d been seven.
“Great, I’ll have to take you to the Golden Gate National Recreation Area. It’s a terrific place to camp with its giant Sequoia trees. Most people don’t realize it, but Golden Gate Park, in the center of the city, is bigger than Central Park in New York City. I love my hometown. So, tell me, is there a bunch of Jones brothers and sisters back home?”
I wish. Having a brother or sister might ease the pressure now.
“Nope, I’m one of a kind. Dad used to call me his little miracle. Mom and Dad met in their late-thirties and were amazed when I came along. I know you have two sisters, do you have other family?”
“No. I’m the eldest, Jane’s next, and Liz is the baby. Our parents were killed in a plane crash twelve years ago—no aunts and uncles, so I looked after the girls.”
“I’m so sorry. That must have been rough. I can’t imagine what it would be like to lose both parents at the same time.” Losing Mom was hard enough, but to lose Dad, too …
“Well, I learned to appreciate the value of money and hard work. I was in school, Liz had just started Hotel Management at college, and Jane was in her second year of Nursing. Everything was mortgaged to the hilt. It took a long time to climb out of debt. ”
“But you’re good now. I mean you don’t wine and dine a girl like you did last night if you’re almost broke?” At least she hoped he didn’t. Money might not be the be all and end all of things for her, but she didn’t like people who threw it around when they couldn’t afford to either. That had been another problem with Dave. He’d always been trying to live above their means, and the credit card debt he’d had was one of the reasons they hadn’t married right after graduation. When he’d inherited all the money, he’d paid off the debts, but there had been new problems to contend with.
“Money’s not a problem now, but you never know. The economy’s been on life support a few times lately, and all business is tied to the economy one way or the other. You can’t take it for granted.”
His words echoed those Dave had spoken six years ago, the day she’d broken their engagement, and she swallowed the lump in her throat. It was just as well their relationship had no future. She wouldn’t get involved with a man who made money the main priority in his life.
Sam continued. “I worked my ass off to be where I am today. I still work long hours. I don’t want to go back to the lean times.”
“Is that why you became an … entertainer—not that there’s anything wrong with that—but … well, you’re really smart. You could do lots of other things. You’d make a terrific teacher. Teachers don’t make a fortune, but it’s a decent wage.”
She hoped her comment wouldn’t anger him, but it really mattered to her. She thought if she could find a loophole, she might be able to see him again. She watched his face. He’d frowned momentarily, but now that wonderful smile she loved was back.
“The entertaining is only a hobby now. Since I’m getting older, I’ll give it up soon. I also work occasionally as an architect. My specialty is renovating old homes.”
Cleo relaxed, releasing some of the tension she’d been trying to hide all morning, pleased at the idea he was something other than a boy-toy. If he could be persuaded to give up the dancing …
“Do you design houses, too?”
“I do. Sometimes I even design entire neighborhoods.”
“That must give you an amazing sense of achievement, seeing something you put on paper become a reality. Who do you work for?”
“I work for LJS Enterprises just like Matt does.” There was pride in his voice.
“Well, your boss must really like you if he lets you use his expensive toys.”
“We go way back. So what do you do when you’re not painted green and piling up books?”
She concentrated on the vista before her and hoped she could pull off the subterfuge she’d planned. The first part had been easy. It was going to get harder from now on. Part of her hated the lying. It went against everything she believed, but Mitch was right. Nothing good could come of this relationship.
“This and that, certainly nothing as exciting as designing neighborhoods. I’m a proofreader/reviewer and I take pictures.” She had gotten paid for that photo she’d taken of the moon rising over the desert.
“You work for Mitch’s publisher?” His arm was around her shoulder and his hand caressed her upper arm, sending delicious sensations through her, confusing her. Her body wanted this man and even though her brain said no, her body was winning the battle. If she were a cat, she’d purr. She swallowed the lump of need in her throat. She didn’t want to lie anymore, so she skipped over a direct answer.
“I get to read books before they’re released. I check them for typos, repeated words, missing punctuation, and then send them back to be formatted for e-books and print.”
Of course, she worked directly for Mitch, and the only books she proofread and reviewed were hers, but that was beside the point. Mitch’s editor had offered her full-time work if she ever wanted it.
“Why isn’t a gorgeous woman like you involved with someone or married? Are all the men in Hidden Valley blind?”
“There aren’t that many. It’s a small town, population five thousand. I know just about everyone there, and there isn’t anyone I’m ready to hitch my wagon to, as they say. I was engaged once. It didn’t work out. We had similar dreams and ambitions at first, and then he changed. What I wanted wasn’t good enough anymore. He met someone else.” And slept with her while he was still with me. She had money and
social position; I was a nobody. Money changes people. “Since then I’ve kept busy with work and taking pictures and of course, I look after Dad and the house.” That was all true.
“What did you want that your fiancé didn’t?” There was compassion and curiosity in Sam’s eyes.
“Simple things, really. I may enjoy expensive champagne once in a while, but I wouldn’t want to live on it. I’m really more of a beer and pretzel girl. I wanted a good job, a house, a dog or cat, and a couple of kids. I didn’t care about fancy cars, jewelry, and trips around the world. Money’s nice. It can improve your quality of life, but I’ve seen it change people. I didn’t want that. I wanted what mom and dad had—a forever kind of love.” If that doesn’t scare him away …
“You said wanted—what about now?”
She smiled ruefully. “I still want it.” She needed to change the subject, if only for a few minutes. “Is this going to be Jane’s first baby?”
“Yeah. She’s pretty excited about it too. I think Liz is envious, but she’s a career woman, dedicated to the job, although the latest whale at the casino, a British lord, is giving her ideas.”
“What about you, Sam. What do you want?”
“Right now? You.” He leaned forward and kissed her sweetly, the sweetness giving way to the tightly controlled passion she sensed in him, passion mirrored in her.
• • •
Sam pulled away from her. Kissing her was torture when he wanted to do so many other things to her delectable body, but this was neither the time nor the place. Everything he’d learned about her made him want to know more. So far, he’d only lied being a Chippendale, but from what she’d said, discovering he was Sam Mason, multimillionaire real estate developer, might not be a whole lot better for him. He must have put his foot in it when he’d told her he never wanted to be broke again. He had to show her the good things money could do.
He hadn’t lied about being broke. When Mom and Dad had been killed, the firm had been up to its eyeballs in debt. Dad had made a few bad investments, and the company assets were in danger of foreclosure. Money had been tight, and he’d sacrificed a lot to keep the girls from feeling the pinch. He’d used insurance money to leverage funds and had built his first neighborhood in Southeast San Francisco. He hadn’t looked back. His corporate offices were there, but he had a satellite office in New York as well as in London. Money didn’t mean the world to him, but he never wanted to be on the edge of bankruptcy like he’d been.
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