Twisted Hunger

by Marilyn Campbell

  He stopped two steps above her, so that she had to look up at him for a change. He looked relieved to see her.

  “Is something wrong?” she asked, struggling to calm herself.

  “I was about to ask you the same thing,” he said. “I buzzed your desk, and your secretary said you’d come down here yourself instead of sending someone. When you didn’t return immediately, I had the most awful premonition that something had happened to you. Ms. Oliver needed to take a call, so I took advantage of that to come check on you. I wouldn’t normally have worried, but knowing how you prefer to take the stairs… well, as long as you’re all right.”

  She should have felt appreciative for his concern, but something wasn’t right about his explanation, and he had that strange glazed look in his eyes again. “I’m fine, really. I, uh, stopped in the ladies room before I came down here.” She forced a smile. “You know how it is when we girls get to talking.”

  “Who were you talking with?”

  Her heart beat faster. He couldn’t possibly know about Brevowski… could he? “Pardon me?” His lips curved into a smile, but it didn’t make her relax. She wanted to get out of the stairwell, but he was standing directly in her path with no apparent desire to move.

  “You said you were talking with someone,” he explained in a whispery voice. “I was just curious about who it was.”

  She took a shaky breath. “Oh. Yes. In the ladies room. Actually, I don’t even know her name. It was just a female thing. You know how it is.” Why did he keep looking at her like he wondered what she was up to? Or was it only her guilty conscience that had her thinking that? Suddenly she remembered why she had gone down to the garage in the first place and handed the wallet to him. “It was on the floor, under the passenger seat.”

  “Thank you,” he said, slipping it into his back pocket. “But it really wasn’t necessary for you to come down here yourself, especially considering your… little problem.”

  It wasn’t just her guilty conscience. He was definitely acting peculiar.

  “Or is it only being enclosed in an elevator that disturbs you?” he asked.

  A silent alarm went off in her head, but she made herself respond in a casual tone. “How did you know about that?”

  His smile broadened, showing more teeth, and it brought back the memory of Teddy’s surprising smile. “I’m a very observant fellow, Miss Winters. I thought you’d realized that by now.” He narrowed his eyes and cocked his head as though studying her. “Although I must admit to not having noticed something very interesting until now…” He cupped her chin firmly in his hand and turned her head to one side then the other while he scanned her features.

  God help me, she prayed. Don’t let him see anything that reminds him of my mother.

  “You have quite remarkable eyes. Classic facial bone structure too. How interesting. Have you ever studied anthropology, Miss Winters?” Like a blind man he started examining her face with his fingertips.

  She swallowed hard. He was no longer acting a little peculiar—he was now giving her the full-on creeps. “Uh, only a basic course in college.” The walls were rapidly closing in on her and she had a strong urge to slap his hand away from her face. “We’d better get back to the office before they think we’ve both disappeared.”

  He hesitated just long enough to make her have to swallow noticeably again before moving to one side to make room for her. Rather than letting her pass however, he grasped her elbow as though to support her. She told herself he was just being a gentleman, but it felt more like he was pulling her along.

  The instant Ellery stepped into the hallway on their floor she deeply inhaled the open air with a tremendous surge of relief. She had the distinct impression that she had just gotten a peek at whatever her mother had sensed was strange about Senator Jones.

  As he turned toward the private entrance to his office, Ellery remembered what he’d said when he first came down the stairs. “You said you buzzed me for something. What did you need?”

  He smiled and waved his hand. “It’s all right. Your secretary took care of it.”

  Curious, she stopped at her secretary’s desk and asked her about it, but she claimed that she hadn’t spoken to the senator at all. Ellery supposed he could have talked to someone else, but it wasn’t like him to make that kind of mistake.

  She desperately needed a few quiet minutes to put everything that had happened in the last half hour into perspective before she would be able to review the encounter objectively. Unfortunately, another surprise prevented her from taking those minutes immediately upon returning to her office.

  Vivian Jones was sitting in her executive chair, looking through one of the desk drawers.

  “Mrs. Jones. I’m sorry. I thought our appointment was at four, and that I was coming to you.”

  She smiled and closed the drawer as though she hadn’t just been caught snooping. “It was, and you were, but I got back earlier than expected and thought we could move our appointment up. I’ve really been looking forward to the opportunity to get to know you better, which should begin by my telling you that I would prefer that you call me Vivian. Do you go by Ellery or a shortened version?”

  Ellery made herself smile back. “Ellery’s fine. Can I get you a cup of coffee or tea?”

  “Tea would be lovely. With a few drops of milk, please.”

  Ellery was glad to have an excuse to walk away for a moment to organize her thoughts. There was something very different about Mrs. Jones today. She couldn’t help but wonder what prompted this sudden show of friendliness. On the few occasions they’d spoken, the senator’s wife had been polite yet rather cool, and she had never simply dropped in at the office. It was almost like the mountain coming to Mohammed.

  Her body language seemed different too, especially her smile. It usually looked so… forced. Today it seemed to be real, as though she was truly delighted to see Ellery.

  As she returned with Vivian’s tea, she thought perhaps the difference had something to do with the beautiful pink suit she was wearing. “I love that suit… Vivian. I wish I could wear pink so well, but with my coloring it makes me look ill.”

  “I can’t believe any color would make you look bad,” she countered. “But thank you. This is one of Abraham’s favorites. He says it makes me look like I have an hourglass figure. What do you think?” She stood up and turned around.

  Ellery wondered if she had accidentally walked through Alice’s looking glass. “I… I think it’s absolutely stunning, and the cut of the jacket is very… flattering.”

  “It’s an Armani,” Vivian supplied and sat down again. “I had to say a few words at the Downtown Beautification Committee brunch this morning, and I thought this was the perfect outfit.”

  It occurred to Ellery that they may have been serving alcoholic beverages at brunch. There was no telltale odor on Vivian’s breath, but her eyes seemed just a bit unfocused and one or two of her words sounded slightly slurred.

  To be fair, she probably would have been pleased that Mrs. Jones had finally decided to treat her as an equal if it hadn’t occurred right on top of her husband’s strange behavior in the stairwell. And why hadn’t he mentioned that his wife was here?

  Vivian spent several more minutes describing what some of the other women wore to the brunch, before Ellery decided it was time to tactfully change the subject. Since Vivian showed no signs of vacating her chair, Ellery sat down in one of the chairs on the other side of the desk. “The senator said you wanted to go over the plans for the private dinner party you’re having next weekend.”

  “Oh yes. I’m using a new caterer, and I wanted you to take a look at the menu.” She pulled several folded sheets of paper out of her purse and handed them to Ellery. “I was playing with the idea of giving the whole party a theme, including the food and costumed wait staff. Their best suggestion is to make it a Summer Solstice celebration. I mean, honestly, what would people think if it appeared we were acknowledging a pagan holiday! Anyw
ay, you strike me as a very creative person, but with an understanding of the political world. So I’d like you to put on your thinking cap for me.”

  Ellery was again taken by surprise when Vivian Jones walked around the desk and moved another chair so that she could sit right next to her. She was so close, Ellery had to fight the urge to move her own chair away. With Vivian’s breath wafting over her arm, Ellery read over the plans and was able to offer a few incidental suggestions, but her nerves were terribly frazzled and her brain wasn’t as clear as it needed to be.

  Not only was Vivian’s nearness making her feel a bit claustrophobic, she couldn’t help but notice that the woman’s attention didn’t seem to be on the plans or her suggestions. Each time Ellery glanced at her to make a comment, she caught her staring at her legs or her mouth or scanning the length in between. And several times, as Vivian shifted in her seat, some part of her body came in contact with Ellery’s.

  She kept telling herself she was being ridiculous, but her instincts were shouting that the touches were not accidental. If Vivian were a man, she would know exactly what kind of game he was playing.

  “What is that exotic scent you’re wearing?” Vivian asked, then leaned close to Ellery’s neck and deeply inhaled.

  Ellery flinched and moved away. What was going on today? She tried to smile to hide how uncomfortable she felt. “It’s just a vanilla body spray. I prefer it to flowery perfumes.” She had intended to try to wangle an invitation to the dinner for herself, but she was too distracted by Vivian’s personal interest in her. She didn’t want to give her any wrong ideas. “Was there anything else you wanted me to look at?”

  “Yes. I’d appreciate your taking a glance at the guest list as well. Make sure I haven’t overlooked anyone vital and give me your thoughts on seating arrangements. If you come up with any ideas about the theme, do give me a call as soon as possible. This evening will be terribly important to Abraham’s future and I want everyone to be impressed.”

  Ellery waited for her to get up and leave, but instead, she simply sat back in her chair as though she were planning to stay awhile.

  “Abraham told me how that young man I had you dance with Saturday night showed up here yesterday. I must admit to being very envious of you—having such handsome young men like him and Brandon Ross pursuing you all the time.”

  “I can’t imagine why you would be envious of me. Senator Jones is a very handsome man, to say nothing for his character.”

  She chuckled and patted Ellery’s thigh… a little too high up for it to be a gesture of reassurance. “Oh I know how lucky I am, dear. Don’t get me wrong. I wouldn’t trade him for two of your young men put together, but there was no pursuing involved in our courtship. It was more of a match made in politics, which, fortunately, turned out extremely well.”

  She gave Ellery’s thigh another pat and a squeeze, then leaned back and tightly crossed her legs. “I am curious though. Did Mr. Madigan simply walk in and admit he was smitten or did he use another approach?”

  Ellery had the feeling that Vivian was trying to be casual about her question, but that the answer was actually quite important to her.

  To her enormous relief, Ellery was spared from having to decide how best to respond to Vivian when Diane and the senator emerged from his office.

  “Vivian, my darling!” Abraham declared brightly. “What a wonderful surprise. I was just speaking of you to Ms. Oliver. She’s accepted your invitation to dine with us this evening. Diane Oliver, may I present my wife, Vivian.”

  Diane offered her hand and a soft smile. “It’s my pleasure. Thank you for the invitation.”

  Vivian stood up, shook Diane’s hand and smiled, but Ellery noticed that her body language had instantly reverted to political correctness.

  Turning to her husband, Vivian said, “Abraham, if you have a moment…”

  “Of course, love, come in.” His gaze darted to Ellery with an unspoken question.

  “You have almost five whole minutes before Congressman Holtz arrives for his appointment.”

  “Just let me know when he gets here.”

  When the connecting door clicked shut, Diane said to Ellery, “As you heard, I’m afraid I’ll have to take a rain check on the movie.” Her expression was regretful. “Under the circumstances…”

  Ellery clucked her tongue. “Don’t think twice about it. A girl’s gotta do what a girl’s gotta do.”

  Diane grinned. “Ain’t that the truth. Maybe tomorrow night?”

  “I’ll let you know how my day looks when you come in.”

  A few minutes after Diane left, Jones buzzed to let her know his wife had left, and she could send the congressman in whenever he arrived.

  Now that she had all her own space back again and could almost breathe normally, she was certain her imagination had gone overboard about Vivian. She had to have been mistaken about what she thought was going on. Vivian was just trying to be friendly. She was probably one of those people who touched a lot when she liked someone and didn’t realize that she had been crowding her. Undoubtedly, it was only the feeling of being closed in that had Ellery thinking that the senator’s wife was looking at her like—

  She didn’t even want to finish that sentence in the privacy of her own mind.

  She switched her thoughts to Jones and how honestly sweet his expression was when he saw his wife. He really must love her.

  As to her impression that the senator seemed to be suspicious of her, she decided to go back to the explanation that her guilty conscience was at fault. Senator Jones was simply too nice a man to be spied on… unlike certain other men she’d recently met.

  Abruptly she realized what Diane’s cancellation meant. She had a free evening again. She could go to the movie alone. Or she could do laundry, go grocery shopping or rent a movie and veg out in bed with a pizza.

  Or you could do what Brevowski suggested you do. Call Luke and take him up on his challenge.

  As soon as she considered it, the uncomfortable feeling he’d caused yesterday returned. Immediately she found herself comparing that feeling with what Vivian had made her feel and decided they were very different kinds of uncomfortable.

  There was no doubt in her mind that she would be safer far, far away from Luke Madigan, but as she’d told Diane, sometimes a girl’s just gotta do what a girl’s gotta do.

  * * *

  Since no one knew he was there, Luke was startled when the phone rang. He was completely stunned when he realized who was calling him.

  “My plans for this evening were canceled,” Ellery said without identifying herself by name. “If you would still like to go another round, meet me at Chez Max at seven-thirty. The reservations will be in my name, but you can pick up the check… just to prove I’m not a snob.”

  Luke barely managed an affirmative response before she hung up. I’ll be damned, he thought. She was neurotic enough to fall for it twice.

  Chapter 13

  Ellery made a face at her reflection in the glass window as she entered Chez Max. When she called Luke earlier, she thought she’d have plenty of time to go home, take a quick shower and dress for an evening out at a fancy restaurant. Since she didn’t get out of the office until seven, however, going home was out of the question. The only thing she had freshened up was her lipstick.

  It wasn’t that her business suit was inappropriate for Chez Max, it was just that she had wanted to give Luke the impression that she was thinking of this as a date… even if she wasn’t.

  Luke walked in as she was giving her name to the maitre d’, and, lucky for him, he did not look at all disappointed in her appearance.

  “Hi,” he said with that quirky smile of his and held her gaze until she had to look away.

  “He said our table will be ready in a minute.” Why am I so nervous? She made herself meet his eyes again. “Did you have any trouble finding this place?”

  “No.”

  “I would have given you directions, but the senator walked
in and I had to hang up.”

  “Uh-huh.”

  She noticed the nice suit and tie he was wearing. And he smelled so… clean. “If I had known I wasn’t going to have a chance to go home and change, I would have suggested somewhere less dressy.” Oh my God. I’m babbling. Why doesn’t he say something? How the hell long does it take to clear a table?

  Finally, the maitre d’ took them to their table and handed them menus. Ellery gave Luke several minutes to look over his options before she made another attempt to get a conversation going. “Was the material I gave you sufficient?”

  “Yes. Thanks.”

  Ellery set down her menu and frowned at him. Something told her to practice her patience, but she simply could not stand it a moment longer. “Is there any particular reason why you’re not responding in full sentences?”

  He closed his menu and made a thoughtful face. “Maybe I’m still in shock from getting your phone call earlier. Or maybe I just haven’t figured out whether it would be best to tell you how beautiful you look and how glad I am that you called, or if I should goad you with loaded insults again.”

  “And you would consider goading me because…”

  His lips parted in a slow smile, far too sexy for any woman’s good. “Because you’re so damned gorgeous when you’re flustered.”

  Since she had no idea how to respond to that without sounding more flustered, she picked up her menu again and pretended it was more interesting than he was. Naturally, he found that amusing as well.

  She held out until the waiter took their orders, then she gave in. “Okay. I’m sorry. I was a little rude to you yesterday and when I called you today. Maybe I do deserve some rudeness in return, but do you intend to punish me throughout dinner or can we call a truce?”

  “That depends on whether you agree to my terms of surrender.”

  She felt herself about to step on a landmine but couldn’t seem to stop herself. “All right. I’ll play. What are your terms?”