“By the way, I will have Lydia transfer all our things to the suite across the hall temporarily while the indoctrination room is being renovated. I wouldn’t want you exposed to any excess dust or construction fall-out.”
“Guess Lydia will be shocked to discover there is a secret room next to our bedroom. What if she asks me about it, Ivan?”
“She won’t. There you go again, worrying. You need to stop that or you’ll deliver a baby with a permanent frown on his face,” he teased.
Snuggling against him, feeling secure again, Andrea surprised him with her question.
“Ivan, why don’t you ever talk about your family? Will I ever meet them?”
His tone was bitter as he confided, “Someday I suppose. My father is deceased. I think I told you that. He was the only one I was actually fairly close to, or at least I tried to be.
“At one time, when we were very young, I was close to my brother, Alan. Remember I told you before that I don’t know where he is now though, and since mother is the CEO of Myerson Oil and several oversees subsidiary companies, as well, she’s kept busy traveling a great deal, so I can’t say when we might get together with her.
“Tell you what though, if she doesn’t decide to come to Vegas before the baby is born or when he is born, perhaps we’ll take a trip to Connecticut afterward for a visit with her. But I warn you, don’t expect a warm, fuzzy grandmotherly reaction because that’s not Claudia’s style.”
“You make her sound—well—distant and cold.”
“Add unapproachable, self centered and the total opposite of altruistic and you will have an accurate description of Claudia Myerson Littlefield.”
“Oh, Ivan, I hope our son won't describe me that way someday,” she mused sadly.
Flinching, Ivan suddenly hated the picture he had unwittingly painted of his mother. But most of all, he hated that it was true.
“So, I assume from what you said before about hiring a nanny, that you and your brother had nannies.”
“Yes. We had nannies when we were very small and governesses when we grew older—any living body mother could employ to ensure we kept our distance from her.”
Andrea recognized the flash of pain on Ivan’s face.
“Ivan, I’m sorry.”
“For what?”
“For bringing up bad memories. Guess in a strange way, we’ve both had to deal with wayward parents, huh? Your mother obviously deserted you as much as Benton deserted me. In different ways, but the effect was the same. Showering a child with money and possessions isn’t a replacement for love and affection.”
Ivan studied her serious face, thinking how intuitive she was for one so young.
“That’s enough morbid talk. We have a lot of good things to talk about; to think about.”
“Maybe you should try to find out where your brother is, Ivan, mend those fences and tell him he’s about to become an uncle.”
“I tried to find him for years. He evidently doesn’t want to be found. The only communication I’ve had from him was when he was in the Army, a card I got on my twenty-eighth birthday.”
“You mean he didn’t write those years in between?”
“No. He didn’t want to be found and I suppose he realized if he wrote it might give away his location.”
“What happened between you two, Ivan? I mean, you said you were close when he was very young, so something must have happened, if you don’t mind my asking.”
Ivan sighed and shrugged. “I don’t mind, Andrea. I wish I had a definitive answer but I don’t really. A lot of things, most of them stemming from the fact that there wasn’t enough love or even congeniality in the Littlefield household to draw from so we co-existed and both pretty much went our own ways.
“When he was little he looked up to me; followed me everywhere. But from the time Alan reached puberty, he and I always seemed to be butting heads. We were both headstrong and determined to carry our points, I suppose. That’s no doubt an inherited intractable Myerson characteristic.
“And then there was the age difference. But I suspect the biggest problem was we were both raised as silver spoon freaks, incapable of expressing or giving love like normal people.”
“Ivan, please don’t think of yourself or your brother that way. There are all kinds of ways to love or be loved. I’m sure your brother knew you loved him.”
Ivan drew a deep breath, exhaling with the admission, “And I’m just as sure he didn’t. But the point I’m trying to make is that I’m just a regular guy, Andrea, with the same dysfunctional family background that most people have to endure and rise above. The only difference might be that our money and prestige and the barrage of lawyers mother always retained, for the most part, kept our idiosyncrasies from being exploited by the tabloids. But behind closed Littlefield doors a lot of sordid drama was being played out, believe me.”
Andrea shook her head. “Comparing you to a regular guy is like comparing water to fire, Ivan.”
“Is that a fact? And which am I, my pet?”
“Fire, of course,” she answered without hesitation. “You’re like an eternal flame that burns brighter and hotter each day.”
Ivan laughed. “I’ll consider that a compliment.”
“You should. Ivan, I’m so happy all of a sudden. I—I feel close to you again and I’ve missed that. I’ve missed that more than I can tell you. Haven’t you missed the closeness we’d begun to have before—before my stupid mistake?”
In answer to that, Ivan claimed her mouth in the most gentle, tender kiss he’d ever given her, his hand rubbing her stomach lovingly.
“What say we never mention that mistake again? Consider it forgotten. Now let’s celebrate the good news of our baby-to-be by gentle lovemaking. Guess you’ll have to forego the spankings you enjoy so much, until after our child is born. We wouldn’t want to jar the seed loose, now would we? I don’t know if that’s possible but I don’t want to take the chance.
“I recall you said once that you didn’t think you could come without having your pretty ass whipped, so I’m sorry I can’t oblige you while you’re pregnant.”
“The truth is I nearly come anytime you’re near me, Ivan,” Andrea admitted as she hugged him.
Ivan laughed. “Really? And why is that?”
In her mind she said, because I love you that much.
Out loud she said, “Because I remember how good you are at satisfying me. When I think of making love, I think only of you.”
Ivan steeled his emotions, not wanting her to know how deeply she had just touched his heart.
“Remember we established that fucking and making love are two different things.”
“That wasn’t established to me,” she said emphatically, her green eyes wide and fixed on him, her heart pounding as she realized it was the closest thing to saying that she loved him she had ever dared to voice.
Studying her face, Ivan wondered if he had heard it that way only because he wanted to.
Is she saying she’s beginning to love me?
He kissed her tenderly once again, thinking, not to me, either, but he didn’t voice it.
Then they made love in a prolonged coupling, their bodies comfortably joined in a gentle rocking motion, Ivan’s mind centered only on pleasing her while protecting the seed of his loins that had begun to grow in her belly.
Ivan stroked gently and even at the moment of climax, maintained control, wanting more to pleasure his wife and the soon-to-be-mother of his child than himself.
Chapter 23
That Fate Thing
Carl Cothane chuckled to himself as he watched Alan Littlefield lose yet again. He’d been watching him ever since Earl had informed him who he was, which he’d found out when Alan had requested a line of credit.
As Carl studied him over the monitor in his office, he realized the Littlefield resemblance was undeniable.
What luck that Ivan Littlefield’s little brother would wander into his club.
A plan was already formulating
in his mind. Now that the hook was set, Carl went downstairs and made his way to the roulette wheel. When he came abreast of him, Alan turned and Carl introduced himself.
“Hello. I’m Carl Cothane, owner of the Roman Spa. Tell me, would you happen to be Ivan Littlefield’s brother?”
“Nice to meet you. Nice casino you have here. And yes, Ivan is my older brother. I just got into Vegas and thought maybe when I saw Ivan again I’d have hit myself a jackpot. You know, kind of make my own small splash in his big pond?”
Alan laughed, but it was a hollow sound and Cothane saw through it, reading the unrest he saw on Alan’s face.
The thought came to him that maybe there was bad blood between the brothers and he could definitely use that to his advantage.
It was all Cothane could do to hide his elation as Alan said, “I just meant to spend the hundred dollars I came in with, but I went through that right off. Yet I feel my luck is about to change.”
Carl recognized an addicted gambler when he met one. He quickly sized up Alan Littlefield. He was dressed casually and wore his hair long. He was thinner than Ivan, but just as tall and had the same aristocratic Littlefield air about him, and the same astonishing gray eyes.
In fact, this kid is better looking than Ivan.
Noticing the guitar case Alan had placed beside him on the floor, Carl asked, “You good with that?”
“Yes, I am,” Alan admitted with a grin. “I’ve played and sung in a few clubs, the most recent being in Palm Springs, California, at the #41 Club. Have you heard of it?”
“Can’t say as I have.”
“Actually it just opened. I was the opening act.”
“So, you're an entertainer?”
“I have been, off and on, since I left the army.”
As the idea solidified in Carl’s head, he felt a sense of euphoria.
He definitely could attract the ladies. All I have to do is reel him in and set the hook! God! To have Ivan Littlefield’s little brother in my grasp is more than I could have hoped for.
“I sure see the resemblance between you and your brother. Bet the ladies climb all over you too, huh, kid? Damn good genes you and your brother inherited.”
Alan shrugged self consciously.
“How long has it been since you’ve seen Ivan?”
“Been about ten years.”
“Ten years? You must’ve struck out on your own when you were just a kid then. Damn, ten years is a long time,” Carl said, chuckling. “Too bad the way families can drift apart and lose touch. And it’s too bad you’re on such a losing streak. I figure the brother of Ivan Littlefield is good for a marker, so I will advance you five G’s.”
“Great. Actually, I’ve never really gambled before, but it’s kind of addicting, isn’t it?”
“So they tell me.”
“Think I’ll give blackjack a try for awhile.”
“Sure thing. Hope you win,” Carl said jovially.
Two hours later, after another extended five grand, Alan had not pulled out of the unlucky slump. He’d lost it all.
Carl, continuing to watch him on the monitor, laughed out loud. He sent word to Earl via Albert to escort Alan upstairs and when they came in, he said, “Take a seat, Alan.”
Alan slouched in the chair, nervously checking out Earl and Albert who had stepped to the back of him, both posturing menacingly.
“Looks like you left your good luck back wherever you came from, kid. And well now, it’s like this, being a businessman I can’t see throwing good money after bad so I can’t extend any more credit. When a man hits a losing streak as bad as yours, he just has to walk away. It appears to me you have a problem doing that. Now your problem has become my problem, Alan.
“Ordinarily I wouldn’t have allowed you to be on the cuff for as much as you are, or even at all since I don’t know you, but seeing as how you’re Ivan’s brother, well, I was feeling generous. But I’m afraid I’ve gone the limit with you.
“Now let me get this straight. Never let it be said that Carl Cothane is not a fair man. Seems to me you can’t secure the ten grand you’ve lost, is that right? No collateral whatsoever? Car? Property? Not even a job. Just that guitar. Am I right?”
Alan nodded with a dejected sigh.
“How old are you, Alan?”
“Twenty-three.”
“Huh. Just twenty-three and you’ve already been in and out of the army? You were in a hurry to grow up, huh? Let me guess. You ran away from home? So there’s some friction there? Between you and your brother, I mean.”
Alan didn’t answer, but the way he dropped his gaze told Carl what he wanted to know.
“You do know that your brother is rolling in the dough, don’t you? I’m surprised you aren’t flush yourself, being the grandson of Cyrus Myerson. Didn’t you inherit your share of those billions?”
“My inheritance hasn’t kicked in yet.”
Their eyes met, both knowing what the other was thinking. Carl grinned at him.
“Well, kid, looks like you might have to touch up big brother for a loan.”
Alan squirmed. “I sure don’t want to do that.”
“Bad blood between you two?”
Alan shrugged. “No, not really. It’s just, well, we had a kind of blow up before I took off all those years back and we haven’t really reconnected. That’s why I came to Vegas. I haven’t even seen Ivan yet, so I can just imagine how he’ll react to my showing up out of the blue and asking him to pay off a gambling debt. Damn! I can’t believe I ran up a debt here. I can almost hear Ivan say, ‘what the hell were you thinking?’”
“Yeah, I can imagine that myself,” Carl said, pretending to give the matter serious thought while trying to maintain a poker face.
“You believe in fate, Alan? I do, and I think my club is the exact place you were fated to stop at tonight. You see, your brother Ivan and I had our own blow-up a few months back and when the dust settled, I was out a lounge singer. I’ve since hired a guy from Nashville and he’s done an okay job, but he doesn’t have your looks, and I think you would be a bigger draw. You’d have the ladies flocking in here by the droves. How about you sing me a song and let me see how well you play that guitar.”
“I don’t understand. Are you offering me a job?”
“Maybe. Let me hear you sing.”
Alan took the guitar out of the case and began playing.
Carl and his men listened, surprised and impressed when he finished the song and asked, “Well?”
“You have a great voice and can play the hell out of that damned guitar. Think you could put a Vegas show together, charm the ladies with those bedroom eyes you got?”
Alan flushed, “I believe I could, if you let me do it my way. I mean, with a medley of songs and a kind of laid-back presentation.”
“Well, I’d like to see what you have in mind and then we’ll discuss it. If you don’t want to incorporate the showgirls too much, they could just initially come out and then present you to the audience. How does that sound?”
“Sounds good.”
“I’ll give my present singer the boot and give you the gig, if you think you can handle it.
“I hate to think I caused some guy to lose his job.”
Carl shrugged, “Don’t worry. Jared wants to cut out anyway. You know what? I believe this was meant to be, seeing as how it was your brother who got rid of the best lounge singer I ever had.”
“What do you mean, got rid of?”
“I’ll let your brother explain that to you. Ask him about it later. Anyway, it seems only fair I should replace him now with you, and with your looks, you can get the twits’ hearts fluttering like Dalton did. Just promise them things in your songs, bat them gray eyes at them and make them cream their panties.
“The way I see it, the showgirls come on first and show a lot of T&A, part and there you’ll be, in all your Littlefield glory. How does that sound?
“Get the joint filled again, kid, and I’ll make it worth your w
hile. And if you wanta keep playing the tables, I can deduct some of your wages each payday to pay back the casino your losses. How does that sound?”
Alan sat up straighter, eyeing Carl with enthusiasm.
“Mr. Cothane, I don’t know what to say. I—ah—wasn’t planning on staying in Vegas too long. I just mainly wanted to get back in touch with Ivan, but under the circumstances, it seems the perfect solution, at least temporarily. But I won’t be playing the tables anymore. I’ve learned my lesson about that.”
It was all Carl could do to keep a straight face.
“Uh huh. Well, we’ll see.”
Earl and Albert exchanged knowing glances. They didn’t know Carl’s long-range plan, but already they thought it pure genius.
As Carl ushered Alan out to show him the lounge area, Earl said to Albert, “Helluva thing, Ivan Littlefield’s brother wandering in and getting hooked into replacing Roger Dalton. If that ain’t enough to make a guy believe in that fate thing the boss was talking about, I don’t know what is. Whatever the boss has planned for him, you can bet your ass it won’t set well with Ivan Littlefield. Beats all I’ve ever seen.”
“You got that right,” Albert snickered.
Chapter 24
Two Days Later—The Biggest Mistake
Ivan and Andrea strolled down the street on their second shopping spree, talking animatedly about their plans for remodeling the indoctrination room. Sean and Marty walked discreetly behind them while Ned followed in the limo, also keeping a close watch and glad to/ see them getting back on solid ground with each other again.
When he saw Ivan take hold of Andrea’s hand, Ned smiled, relieved that finally the tension between them was gone. Admittedly, Ivan was a different man when he was with Andrea and things were going well.
Now, watching them reconnect, Ned thought, Ivan’s been like a bear punched awake before his hibernation ended with him and Andrea on the outs. God, I’m glad that’s over.
Ned’s reverie was interrupted when he saw Ivan’s abrupt stop, his eyes riveted on the man approaching them.
Andrea frowned at him. “What’s wrong, Ivan? You look like you’ve seen a ghost.”
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