Bedroom Diplomacy

by Michelle Celmer

  “He’s not an easy man to like.” Betty rose to her feet and cupped Rowena’s face. “You, on the other hand, are sweet and generous and kind, and stronger than you’ve ever given yourself credit for.”

  She bit her lip and sniffed. “Keep saying nice things to me and I’m going to start crying and my mascara is going to run.”

  Betty kissed her cheek. “I love you, honey. Have fun at the party.”

  “I’ll try.”

  Trembling with nerves, she let herself out of her suite and carefully picked her way down the stairs. It had been years since she wore heels. She didn’t want to make her grand reentry into society tumbling down the stairs and landing on her ass. As she descended, she looked for Colin, but he was nowhere in sight.

  “Rowena!” someone said as her foot hit the marble foyer floor, and she looked up to see an old friend of her father’s.

  “Congressman Richards, hello,” she said, offering a cheek for him to kiss. “So good to see you again.”

  “You look stunning. Must be that Southern California sun.”

  “It must be.”

  “Your father told us you weren’t feeling well.”

  “I’m much better now.”

  “Do you remember my wife, Carole?” he said, gesturing her over.

  “Of course I do,” she said, air-kissing his wife, a woman she had never been very fond of. “So nice to see you.”

  “Rowena, you look breathtaking!” she said. “And how is that precious son of yours? He must be getting so big!”

  Okay, so maybe she wasn’t so bad after all. “He’s wonderful, thanks for asking. He’s two and a half.”

  “They grow so fast.”

  Too fast.

  “Do you remember my friend Susie?” she asked, taking Rowena by the arm to introduce her.

  For the next fifteen minutes or so, she was passed around from person to person. Many she knew; some were new to the senator’s inner circle. And the weird thing was, everyone seemed genuinely happy to see her. There were no snickers, no whispers behind her back. She felt as if…well…she belonged. But the one person she really wanted to see wasn’t around.

  The foyer and parlor were nearly filled to capacity with the senator’s supporters. Politicians, actors, producers, studio execs, musicians—the royalty of California. All beautiful and exquisitely put together.

  A shower of twinkling lights blanketed the parlor, and waitstaff carried trays full of gourmet appetizers and expensive champagne. Droves of guests surrounded the two bars set up at each end of the room, which she had no doubt served only the finest liquor. And it flowed freely. When it came to schmoozing his supporters, the senator spared no expense. A party like this could bring in millions for his campaign.

  “Hello, beautiful,” someone said quietly from behind her, and her heart lifted so fast it stole her breath. She turned to Colin and it took every bit of restraint not to throw herself into his arms. In a tux that was custom fit, his hair combed and his face cleanly shaven, he looked every bit the earl that he was.

  “Mr. Middlebury,” she said, nodding politely, offering her hand. “You look very handsome.”

  He took her hand, but instead of shaking it he kissed the back, saying softly, “And you look amazing.”

  “I guess I clean up all right.”

  Suddenly the air in the room shifted, then went ice cold, as if the ghost of Rowena past had just brushed by her, and she knew without looking her father was approaching.

  She took a deep breath and thought, Okay, here we go.

  “Rowena, sweetheart, what are you doing down here?”

  She turned to him. His voice was perfectly pleasant, but his eyes asked, What the hell do think you’re doing?

  “Hi, Daddy,” she said in the same sticky-sweet tone he used with her, and she hoped he didn’t hear the nervous waver. At least here, in front of all these people, he couldn’t read her the riot act. Not that he wouldn’t do it later. “I just couldn’t stand the idea of missing another one of your parties.”

  She tried not to flinch as he kissed her cheek, and when he wrapped his hand around her forearm, the fingers digging into her flesh were a silent warning.

  “Rowena, honey, you should really be in bed.”

  “You know, I feel just fine now,” she said, gently pulling her arm back, the smile never leaving her face. “I guess I just had a headache.”

  “I was just telling your daughter how beautiful she looks tonight,” Colin said, and for effect, Rowena shot him a look of hostility.

  “As opposed to every other day when I look like a troll?”

  “Rowena,” the senator said.

  Colin just laughed. “It’s okay, senator. It’s a game we play. I compliment her, and she flings barbs. It’s rather entertaining.”

  She shot him a look that said she didn’t find it entertaining in the least.

  “Would you care to dance, Rowena?” Colin asked, and before she could even open her mouth to answer, her father said, “She would love to.”

  He said it for one reason, and one reason only, because he knew she didn’t want to. Or thought she didn’t. It was just another way to put her in her place, show her who had the upper hand.

  Cutting off his nose to spite his face.

  Colin held out his arm, wearing a dashing smile whose edges dripped with arrogance. “Shall we?”

  She hesitantly took his arm, when in reality she couldn’t wait to touch him, to feel his arms around her. Hadn’t she been looking forward to this all day?

  He led her onto the dance floor. She tried to appear stiff and uneasy as he pulled her closer, when what she really wanted to do was melt against him, wrap her arms around his neck, pull his head down and kiss him.

  He bent close to her ear and said, “You’re good. Even I’m convinced you abhor me.”

  “I do hate stooping to his level, though, playing his game.”

  “Yes, but you’re so good at it.”

  “That’s kind of what scares me. I don’t want to be like him.”

  “For what it’s worth, you’ve left him in the dust.”

  “Until later when he blows a gasket.”

  “The question is, how do you feel now? Are you enjoying yourself? Are you happy?”

  “Actually, yes, I am.”

  “That’s all that matters, then.” He glanced down at her arm, where her father’s hand had been, letting a sliver of anger slip though the facade. “Your arm is red where he grabbed you.”

  “I’m fair-skinned. It turns red easily.”

  “He’s a bully.”

  “That, too. Maybe next time I should throw my drink in his face.”

  “You don’t drink.”

  “And ginger ale just doesn’t have the same effect, huh?” She gazed up at him, and despite herself, she smiled. “You make me feel good.”

  At his raised brow, she added, “About myself.”

  “You should. You’re an extraordinary woman. I see it. Your friends see it. The only ones who don’t are you and your father. What does that tell you?”

  That maybe she’d been listening to him a bit too long.

  “Do you think anyone would notice if I nibbled your ear?” he asked. “Squeezed your bum?”

  “Probably, but I know someplace they wouldn’t.”

  She could tell she’d piqued his interest.

  “Those doors across the room lead to the balcony. There’s a dark corner at the far right, behind this enormous potted plant. Meet me there in five minutes?”

  “Hell yes.”

  Sixteen

  As they parted, Rowena nodded stiffly, as if she could barely stand to be civilized. Colin wasn’t sure if her father could see or not, but she kept the charade up. What he found utterly amazing was the way men followed her with their eyes, how women burned with envy when she was close by and Rowena was clueless to it. Her self-esteem was so dragged down and beaten up, he wondered if she could ever heal, but tonight, when she told him he made her fee
l good about herself, he knew she was savable. And he wished he was the man who could help, who could be there for what he knew would be a very long and painful journey. But honestly, she deserved better.

  And considering his recent experiences with the senator and his Jekyll-and-Hyde personality, Colin was half tempted to tell the man to get stuffed. He knew the treaty was important, but nothing shy of life or death was that important. Not important enough to pander to such an immoral, imperious son of a bitch.

  But he wouldn’t just be hurting his family. It would be his entire bloody country. They were the ones who wanted—and would benefit from—the treaty.

  Colin walked to the bar and asked for a ginger ale. He’d sworn that as long as he was seeing Rowena, out of respect for her, he wouldn’t touch a drop of alcohol. Though he was far from an alcoholic himself, it was still tough to say no when asked if he wanted a drink. He enjoyed drinking socially, although he rarely ever had enough to become intoxicated. But he couldn’t imagine how hard it must have been for Rowena, especially in a setting like this when everyone he could see seemed to have a drink in their hand.

  He tugged at his collar, as if he were warm, then walked out the door to the balcony. There was a chill in the air, so not many people were out there. He walked casually along the railing, looking down at the gardens below. He could see the day-care center down the hill, the back of the pool house to the right. He edged farther down until he reached the potted plant to which Rowena had referred, but it was so dark, he couldn’t see if she was there or not. Then a slender arm shot out and a hand locked around his arm, pulling him behind the plant.

  “Anyone see you?” Rowena asked.

  “I don’t think so.”

  “Good.”

  He couldn’t see her face, but he could hear her smile, sense the urgency in her touch when she slid her arms around his neck and kissed him.

  He set his drink down on the railing and scooped her up. With her father home tonight, they would be limited on their alone time, but he would think of something.

  “I probably shouldn’t mention this,” she murmured against his lips, “but I’m not wearing panties.”

  He groaned and cupped her behind in his palms, ground against her. They would definitely have to find somewhere to sneak off to.

  “Am I interrupting something?” someone said from behind them, and they darted apart. It was clear from the voice and large outline of the individual, it was the senator.

  Colin cursed under his breath.

  “As a matter of fact, you are,” Rowena said in a voice and a tone that Colin barely recognized as hers. “Do you mind?”

  “Not again, Rowena,” he said, his voice dripping with disdain.

  “Senator,” Colin said, stepping out into the light. Clearly the jig was up, and he refused to let him think badly of Rowena. This had been his idea, and a bad one at that. “Let me explain….”

  “You just can’t stop your jaws from flapping,” Rowena said, and he was stunned to realize she was talking to him. “You Brits are all alike. All talk and no action.” She looked down at his crotch. “No action at all. I guess some people can’t hold their liquor.”

  What the heck was she doing? “Rowena?”

  “You weren’t even worth the trouble.”

  She started to walk away, and her father grabbed her by the wrist. “You didn’t honestly think I would allow you at my party without assigning someone to keep an eye on you?”

  Bloody hell. Colin hadn’t anticipated that.

  “I can’t say I’m surprised by your behavior,” her father said.

  “I guess I get points for consistency.”

  She grabbed the ginger ale and started to walk past him, but he grabbed her upper arm. Colin saw her wince and could tell he was holding on tight.

  “Should I be expecting another illegitimate grandchild?”

  Colin’s temper shot into the red zone and he was two seconds from belting the great Senator Tate when Rowena very calmly, and very gracefully, tossed her drink in his face.

  The senator grabbed a handkerchief from his jacket pocket, sputtering and cursing under his breath, looking behind them to see if anyone had witnessed his humiliation, and unfortunately, no one had.

  Rowena started to walk away, then she paused and turned back to him, saying, “In case you didn’t catch it, that was a no.”

  When she was gone, the senator turned to Colin, shaking his head, wiping the ginger ale from his face. “I’m so sorry you had to witness that. As you can see, my daughter is completely out of control.”

  “Senator, I am—”

  “You don’t have to apologize. None of this is your fault. She’s very manipulative.”

  It was finally clear to Colin what she had done. Rowena had taken all the attention off him and placed it on herself, so that the senator wouldn’t blame Colin and put the treaty in peril.

  “Senator, we need to talk—”

  “Tomorrow, son,” he said, giving Dylan’s shoulder a pat as if they were mates. The fact that he called Colin son made him sick to his stomach. “I have guests, and I need to go upstairs and change. We’ll talk tomorrow. I have some good news regarding the investigation.”

  Amazing how quickly the man could switch gears. How he could take his own boorish behavior, turn it around and make Rowena look like the bad guy. He truly was a master of manipulation, and Colin had reached his breaking point.

  He dashed upstairs to Rowena’s suite and knocked. Betty answered.

  “Well, hello, Colin! How’s the party?”

  She didn’t know? “Where is Rowena?”

  Looking puzzled, she said, “Downstairs. Isn’t she?”

  “I’m not sure where she is. I’d assumed she would come up here.”

  “Did something happen?”

  “She and her father had a bit of a disagreement.”

  Betty laid a hand over her heart. “Oh, dear.”

  “It ended with her father slinging accusations and Rowena tossing a glass of ginger ale in his face.”

  His arrogant face.

  Betty’s eyes went wide and she sucked in a breath. “Oh, dear. What could possess her to do such a thing? Although I can’t deny I’m sorry I missed it.”

  “The senator caught us in a compromising position, and she offered herself up as sacrificial lamb to save my hide. She stormed off, and I assumed she came up here.”

  “I wonder where she could be. Maybe you should try her cell phone.”

  “Good idea.” He pulled his phone out and called her, but it went straight to voice mail. Then a minute later his phone chimed that he had a text.

  please ask B to watch D for the night

  Thx-R

  “She’d like you to watch Dylan for the night.”

  “Of course.”

  He texted back, B said ok. Where R U? we’ll talk in the a.m.

  He texted again asking if she was okay, but she didn’t answer. He needed to talk to her. To tell her that he didn’t need her protecting him. This entire mess was his fault. He had been the one to convince Rowena that she should go to the party. The one who thought it would be fun to manipulate the senator, although Rowena had been scary-good at it.

  “I’m going to go get some sleep,” he told Betty. Or at least try. “If you hear from her, call me immediately. I’ll leave my number on the icebox.”

  Betty nodded, looking exhausted. “I will.”

  Colin went back to his suite, aware of the sounds of the party drifting up from the floors below. The senator was down there enjoying himself, spending time with his friends as if nothing had happened, while two other lives had turned upside down.

  Colin finally fell asleep sometime after one. His phone woke him at eight the next morning. He hoped it would be Rowena, but it was her father.

  “It looks like we’re going to have to fly back to Washington and finish our work on the treaty there.”

  “Why?”

  “Obligations. I’d like you to fl
y back today and meet with the committee first thing tomorrow.”

  Obligations? Couldn’t he have come up with something more specific than that? Colin knew the real reason. The senator was trying to separate them. “I’ll arrange a flight.”

  “Already done. A car will pick you up in an hour. I’m sending someone to help you pack.”

  In other words, don’t let the door hit you on the way out. Just as long as he had a few minutes to straighten things out with Rowena. “I’ll be ready,” he told the senator. After he hung up he walked to Rowena’s suite, passing Betty in the hall.

  “Is she back?”

  “Sorry,” Betty said with an apologetic shrug. “You missed her.”

  “What? How?”

  “She was only here a few minutes, just long enough to grab some clothes for her and Dylan, and all his meds.”

  “Did she mention where she was going?”

  “Only that she’s staying with a friend.”

  “What friend?”

  Betty shrugged again. “I’m sorry, but I don’t know.”

  He had the distinct feeling she was lying, but he didn’t push her. It seemed that if there was one person who was unfailingly loyal to Rowena, it was Betty. He was walking back to his room to pack when he got an email on his phone from Rowena.

  Colin,

  I’m so sorry for what happened last night, and I know you probably don’t understand why I did what I did, but I had to. And I can’t deny that throwing that drink in his face was therapeutic. More productive than a year of counseling. I just want you to know that I don’t regret it at all.

  I also wanted to say thank you. If it wasn’t for you, I wouldn’t have had the courage to do what I did. I’ll always appreciate that. However, I think this is the end of the road for us. We both knew it was inevitable. But I had a really good time these past few weeks and I’ll miss you. So will Dylan. Thank you for being such a bright spot in our lives, and for helping me find the courage to move on.

  Fondly,

  Row