That Boston Man

by Janet Dailey

  It was just as well, she convinced herself. She wasn't interested in having Rome acknowledge her presence—she had had enough of that. There was one good thing about his attendance at the dinner—she had forgotten about Mac's noisy meal in the interim. Now it was concluded with only the paper remains stained with ketchup and mustard to remind her.

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  Chapter Five

  WHEN THE DINNER and speechmaking were finished people began mingling and the atmosphere became informal. Mac, who had a facility for remembering faces, was snapping shots of the noteworthy persons in attendance. Lexie had cornered one of the mayor's aides and was pinning him down about the mayor's stand on a current tax issue.

  There had been a time when she was first starting out that it had been difficult to get people to talk seriously to her, although being so strikingly attractive, she had never been overlooked. Even now there were times when her questions were answered with indulgence instead of being taken seriously. But more and more people were beginning to respect the reputation she was building for herself. The mayor's aide was quite anxious that she understand the mayor's position.

  He had her undivided attention until she happened to catch a glimpse of Rome Lockwood over the man's shoulder. Rome was talking to two men whom Lexie recognized as being politically active in the state. She also noticed that Stella Van Wyck was with him, and a second woman, a brunette, also seemed a part of the group.

  Unfortunately, as far as Lexie was concerned, Stella chose that moment to glance in her direction. She felt the blonde's gaze narrow on her. Then with a melodic laugh that carried to Lexie's ears, Stella turned back to Rome, catching at his arm and nodding toward Lexie.

  "Look, darling," she said, "there's that smart redheaded reporter you were with the other night. Is she here to check up on you?"

  Rome turned, a white smile flashing across his tanned features. Despite the distance between them Lexie felt the magnetic power of his charm as his dark gaze caught her look and held it. Then he said something to the others, something her hearing couldn't catch. The others laughed, all eyes focusing on her.

  Her cheeks burned as she quickly tore her gaze from his. It required all her strength to center her attention on the man standing before her, talking earnestly.

  "It's a confusing issue," he was saying, "with points on both sides. But the mayor feels his stand is the best for the community as a whole. You do understand?"

  Lexie glanced at her notes. They were sheer gibberish. She hadn't heard a single word the man had said, except for the last few sentences. She had missed it all. How could she lose her concentration like that, simply because Rome Lockwood looked at her?

  "Yes, of course, I understand," she lied. "Thank you for explaining it."

  "My pleasure, Lexie." He used her Christian name but for the life of her she couldn't remember his.

  "Excuse me." Smiling, she moved away, her steps taking her in the opposite direction to both the aide and Rome Lockwood.

  Her throat felt dry. She slipped her notepad and pen into her shoulder bag and headed toward the massive coffee urn sitting on one of the long tables. She poured herself a cup of coffee and turned. Rome was standing in front of her.

  "Hello, Lexie," he said quietly, a warm pleasant smile lifting the corners of his mouth.

  "Goodbye." She pivoted at a right angle to walk away from him.

  "Hey!" Rome laughed. "Not so fast. I came over here to talk to you."

  Blue fire flamed in her eyes. "Don't you think I've provided enough laughs for you and your friends?"

  He tipped his head to the side, indulgently curious. "Did you think we were laughing at you a minute ago?"

  "Weren't you?" she countered.

  The overhead lights made his hair seem darker than ebony. "No," said Rome, "but I can see you aren't going to believe that."

  "I'm not."

  "I've been thinking about you." There was a quiet intimate quality to the low-toned remark.

  "I'm not impressed," Lexie rejected the message. "Why don't you go back to Stella?"

  "Jealous?" Rome mocked, impish lights dancing in his dark eyes.

  "Of course not!" she snapped.

  "Good, because if it was Stella I was interested in I'd be over there talking to her now. Since I'm here, it should be obvious that it's you I'm interested in."

  "And I told you last time I saw you that I wasn't interested in you. I thought I'd made that plain," she retorted.

  "That's what you told me," he conceded, "but your kiss said something different."

  Lexie averted her head. "I wouldn't put too much stock in a kiss, Mr. Lockwood. A girl has to kiss a lot of toads before she finds the prince."

  Rome chuckled. "You enjoy trying to put me down, don't you?"

  "Yes."

  "Why? Are you envious? Is that what made you become a feminist?"

  "What?" She glared at him, angered by his implication.

  "However unfair it may be, it's true that if a single girl leads the kind of life that some bachelors do she would sacrifice her good name. It's the old double standard that you resent so much."

  With that teasing gleam in his eye Lexie couldn't tell whether he actually believed what he was saying or if he was saying it just to bait her. Before she could make up her mind, Lexie's temper snapped at the lure.

  "Do you honestly think that I would want to be a…a—" for a reporter, she had an extraordinary amount of difficulty finding the appropriate word "—a philanderer like you?" Lexie winced inwardly at her choice. Its meaning was accurate but it was hopelessly outmoded.

  It drew a smile as she had known it would. "Lexie Templeton, a philanderer," repeated Rome. "That's a provocative thought, isn't it?"

  "Go away!" Lexie cried softly in a burst of impatience.

  "Hey, Lexie, there you are!" Mac came up on her unexpectedly. "I've been looking all over for you."

  "I stopped for a cup of coffee," she defended her presence away from the mainstream of activity.

  "Listen, I gotta cut. I have all the pictures Mike's gonna need," he said, lifting his camera as if she could see them in the black box. "If I'm late getting home again tonight the old lady's going to have my hide. I know I promised to give you a ride, but you can find somebody else to take you home, can't you? Or catch a cab maybe? Mike will be good for the fare."

  Lexie opened her mouth to say she was ready to leave now, but Rome stepped forward, "I'll see that Lexie gets home."

  Mac wasn't even surprised to see Rome with her—not after all the gossip that had gone through the office. "Swell, Mr. Lockwood!" he declared with relief, and started moving away. "See you tomorrow, Lex!"

  He was gone, trotting off toward the exit door. Lexie would have had to run to catch, up with him. She glanced angrily at Rome. Why did he have to butt in?

  "Whenever you're ready to leave, let me know," he said. "I'll be somewhere around."

  She started to tell him that she wasn't interested in having him take her home, but immediately she thought better of arguing.

  "Thanks," Lexie said instead, and was rewarded by the glimmer of surprise in his look. "There's a couple of other people I want to interview before I leave, so it will be awhile yet. I'll find you when I'm ready."

  "All right." Rome moved away.

  Lexie finished her coffee, waiting until she saw where Rome had stopped, then she began mingling with the various reporters and dignitaries on the opposite side of the room. She picked up pertinent bits and pieces from various sources but when her opportunity came to slip out a side door, she took off.

  She hurried down the deserted hallway toward the main entrance of the building. There were always plenty of cabs in this vicinity; with luck, she would find one waiting outside. As the large doors came into view, she saw Rome standing beside them. Her steps slowed at the knowing light in his dark eyes.

  "Ready?" he asked when she reached him.

  "Yes." Not for anything would Lexie admit that she
had been trying to slip away from him.

  "My car is just outside." He reached for the door, holding it open for her.

  Thwarted in her attempt to escape, she took pains to conceal her frustration as she accompanied Rome to his car. Inside the luxury sedan she gave him her address and relaxed against the cushioned seat upholstered in a rich gold velour. Maybe if she ignored him…The thought formed hopefully.

  "I expected more of an argument," Rome commented as the car purred into the traffic.

  "About what?" Lexie deliberately pretended ignorance at his meaning.

  "About letting me drive you home." His sidelong look said she knew very well what he meant.

  "Why should I?" She ran a caressing hand over the velvety-textured seat cushion. "Talk about the lap of luxury, I'm riding in it." She laughed with a trace of sardonicism.

  "You mean a person like myself does have his uses?" taunted Rome.

  "On occasions." Lexie gazed out through the windshield, pretending an indifference to him that she was far from feeling. "I was surprised to see you at the dinner tonight. I didn't think you attended such functions as a rule."

  "As a rule, I don't," he admitted.

  "Why did you tonight? Are you planning to become involved in politics? Offer your support to one of the candidates or the Party?" she questioned, feeling safe behind the shield of a reporter.

  "No, my family has made it a practice not to be actively involved in the political mechanics of government," Rome answered.

  "Then why were you there?" Lexie repeated her first question.

  "I know you'll find this hard to believe, considering how frivolous you think I am, but I'm interested in finding out about the men who might be representing me in government, local, state or federal."

  "You were just being a public-spirited citizen, is that it?"

  "See?" He swung a lazy glance to her. "I told you you'd find it hard to believe, coming from someone like me. Is that why you accepted the ride? To discover my motives?"

  Lexie shrugged and stared out of the side window. "Your name is always news. If Rome Lockwood is behind a particular candidate it's even bigger news." If that was what he wanted to believe, that suited her.

  "Will you have dinner with me on Saturday night?"

  Her first startled reaction was "What?" followed immediately by "No."

  "Why not?" Rome spared a glance from the traffic, his manner calm and expectant.

  "Because I don't like you. I've told you that before," Lexie answered flatly. "You're only interested in me because I haven't fallen at your feet like every other female you've come across. It's a case of wanting the unattainable, the beckoning of green grass. It's your ego surfacing again, wanting every woman to adore you. Sorry, but that's not me. We're two different people."

  "You're probably right," he conceded unexpectedly. "We would make an unlikely pair, a feminist and a philanderer."

  "I'm glad you see it." Lexie was horrified by the disappointment she felt that Rome had not pursued her acceptance of his invitation.

  "By, the way, what happened to your car?" he said, switching the subject with disgusting ease. "Or did you arrange to ride with the photographer to economize?"

  "My car is in the shop being repaired, I hope," Lexie tried to follow the change just as fluidly. "It refused to start tonight and I had to call Mac to pick me up for the dinner."

  "Is it anything major?"

  "I hope not. I couldn't afford a big repair bill." That slipped out before Lexie could stop it, her mind immediately flitting to the expensive evening with Rome. "The mechanic didn't think so," she qualified.

  "What are you doing for a car in the meantime?"

  "I can ride back and forth with Ginger, my roommate. She works for the paper, too." Lexie was determined to make light of the problem.

  "What about your assignments?"

  "Until I get my car back I'll simply have to hope Mike will send a photographer along and I'll be able to go in his car. If not, I can probably persuade him to stretch my expenses to a cab fare."

  "You're welcome to use one of my cars," Rome offered.

  "No, thank you. I'll manage," Lexie refused.

  "Sure?"

  "I'm sure," she nodded. "My father taught me never to owe anybody favors."

  "In case you don't want to pay what they want to collect?"

  "That' s the idea," she admitted.

  "So you're afraid that if you accept the loan of my car you might not like the favor I would ask from you in return?" He was laughing at her, however silently.

  "Do you blame me?" countered Lexie. "Considering your reputation?"

  "Oh, no." This time Rome chuckled aloud. "After all, I'm a dastardly fellow."

  "Stop it!" She was suddenly impatient with the way he was constantly making fun of her wariness.

  "Seriously," he tried again, controlling the amusement in his voice, "if you find yourself in need of transportation, don't be afraid to accept my offer. You can borrow my car with no strings attached, I promise."

  "It wouldn't make any difference," she protested. "I would still feel obligated."

  "We may never be lovers, Lexie, but I'd like to think we could be friends," Rome argued gently. "They say opposites attract. Who could be more opposite than you and I?"

  "Lovers," "attract"—they were heady words, the kind that disrupted Lexie's pulse. The car turned a street corner onto the block where her apartment building stood and she was saved from having to make a response.

  "It's the second building on the right," she directed him. "You can park in front." When he had stopped the car, she shifted the strap of her shoulder bag a little higher and reached for the door handle. "Thanks for the ride," she offered as she pushed the door open and stepped quickly out.

  Before she could swing the door shut Rome was turning off the engine and sliding out from behind the wheel. Their gazes locked across the top of the car.

  "It isn't necessary," Lexie started to protest.

  "No self-respecting man would let a girl walk to the door alone," he reminded her, the grooves deepening around his mouth.

  With a sigh of resignation she turned away from the car. Rome's long strides soon brought him beside her. Lexie was supremely conscious of the last date and the parting kiss. Even now the imprint of his mouth was on her lips and she couldn't shake away the memory. Damn his attraction! And damn her susceptibility to it!

  In the narrow and dimly lit hallway outside the door, she was aware of her breath coming quickly. She rummaged frantically through her bag for the key, trying not to show how desperate she was. Rome would wait there until she had it in her hand, an inner sense told her that. At last she came up with the key ring, but Rome took it from her and inserted the key in the lock, turned it.

  He didn't open the door nor did he move out of her way. A dangerous feeling of intimacy raced through her, yet there was nothing seductive or threatening in Rome's manner. It was just his innate charm having its effect on her.

  "Are you going to invite me in for coffee?" He held the keys in his hand, his gaze teasing.

  "No," it came out abruptly. "It's late and my roommate is probably asleep."

  "It wouldn't be a good idea anyway, would it?" It seemed more of a statement than a question, accompanied by an easygoing smile.

  "No." Lexie agreed, and held out her hand. "My keys."

  "You won't reconsider about dinner on Saturday?" Rome continued to retain possession of her key ring.

  "No." She didn't trust herself to say more than that.

  Her legs were beginning to feel shaky. He was much too close, overpowering her with his sensual attraction. He offered her the keys and she took them, but before she could draw her hand away his had closed around it.

  "It's my turn to make the move," he said.

  Her mind protested but her body had a will of its own, pliantly allowing her to be drawn into his embrace, her head tipping back to receive his kiss. Her arms wound around his neck, as she was caught
in the enchantment of his warm mouth.

  Surrender quivered through her limbs, igniting a thousand fires whose heat seemed to melt her bones. His mouth hardened in its claim on hers, seeking and demanding in its utter ravishment. Lexie knew she should have felt shame or disgust at her abandon, but there was only the heady glory of his kiss.

  Weightless in his arms, she had a curious floating sensation, yet his lean muscular body was real. So were the strong hands that forced her softer shape to fit the hard contours of his male form. The pressure of his mouth was exquisitely demanding, taking, seeking and finding. His caresses aroused and inflamed her, a hand sliding up to her arm to draw it tighter around his neck. Her fingers curled into the sensual thickness of his black hair.

  The deafening roar of her heartbeat echoed wildly sweet through her veins; flesh pulsed in the pagan tempo. On its downward glide from her arm, his hand hesitated on her rib cage, then lightly curved itself to the swell of her breast. Lexie trembled at the intimacy, inflamed by it. She didn't want to react this way, to respond this way, but a stronger, more primeval instinct was directing her.

  Rome seemed driven by it, too, but he was stronger than she. Or maybe it was a part of the dark spell he cast on her; Lexie only knew she was helpless against the soul-destroying fire of his embrace. Tears moistened her lashes. It was so beautiful, and so wrong.

  When Rome released her lips to press his mouth to her cheek, his breath was as ragged and disturbed as her own. Her lips throbbed with the passion he had made them feel and give. Her heart seemed lodged in her throat and she could not even gulp it down.

  "You're a witch," Rome accused, and returned to take a mouthful of her parted lips offered in sacrifice. "A fiery enchantress."

  No, it was the other way around, her mind insisted. He was the enchanter, but she could say nothing as he took short, punishing tastes of her lips.

  "Have dinner with me on Saturday," he commanded. Lexie felt the flexing of his muscles, his male power being branded forever onto her flesh. "At my place." His hand completed its encirclement of her breast, cupping its ripeness. "I'll cook the meal if that will satisfy your feminist heart."