The Heartbreaker

by Vicki Lewis Thompson

  “As it happens, Chicago’s in the middle of a heat wave. I know what that’s like after living there for thirty-four years. I don’t know what summer in Bisbee is like. People in Tucson say it’s milder here at four thousand feet”

  “Not that mild. And not everyone has air-conditioning, either.”

  “If I didn’t know better, I’d say you’re trying to discourage me from staying.”

  “Colby, if you want to spend your vacation here, it’s fine with me.” Fortunately he didn’t know her well enough to accuse her of lying through her teeth. One look at her flushed cheeks, and Mike would have done exactly that.

  “Then I think I will spend my vacation here, thank you. Now, shall we go have that dinner we talked about?”

  “But...but we didn’t finalize the deal”

  He smiled again. “Now I would be some sort of louse if I backed out of dinner because you didn’t put your name on the dotted line. Of course I’m still taking you to dinner.”

  “Well, Colby, this is a little awkward.” She glanced down at the counter. “I knew I wouldn’t be signing the lease agreement, and I thought under those circumstances you wouldn’t want to have dinner, so I made other arrangements.”

  “So Tremayne not only snatched that lease agreement from under my nose, he stole my dinner partner, too.”

  She glanced up. “What makes you think that?”

  “I saw the way he looked at you last night. I don’t know what your history is with the guy, but I know what he’d like his immediate future to be when it comes to you. The cutter’s just an excuse to put him in constant contact”

  Beth lifted her chin. “Although this really isn’t your business, as I said, Mike is doing this for his father, not for me.”

  “And who told you that?”

  “Mike did.”

  “And you believed him?”

  “Yes.” But come to think of it, she hadn’t spoken to Ernie to confirm that the plan was his idea. It was slightly possible that this whole scheme had been cooked up by Mike. Probably not, but there was that outside chance and she shouldn’t be lulled into trusting Mike’s word too quickly.

  “I can see by the expression on that lovely face that I’ve started you thinking, at least.” Colby picked up his briefcase from the counter. “I can take a rain check on that dinner. Tomorrow night?”

  “I’ll be driving into Tucson to see Ernie tomorrow night.”

  “I see.” Colby’s glance swept over her. “Well, I always did like a challenge. I’ll drop by tomorrow to say hello.”

  “Fine.”

  Colby started toward the door. When his hand was on the knob, he turned back to her. “And when you see Ernie, I’d ask a few pointed questions, if I were you. This cutter is too important to your financial future to allow Mike Tremayne to use it as a pawn for his romantic conquests.”

  Beth chose not to answer him.

  He left with a two-fingered salute in her direction.

  As he drove away in his rental car Beth made a decision. Before dinner, she and Mike were going to use the phone at the art gallery next door to the restaurant and make a friendly call to Ernie’s hospital room. Mike couldn’t object to the two of them wishing his father a pleasant night. And in the process, she just might learn a few things. She didn’t intend to wait twenty-four hours to find out whether Mike was still the double-dealing rogue he’d been eight years ago.

  5

  AFTER SETTING THE SECURITY system alarm, Beth left the studio by the front door and stepped out into the kind of summer night that always reminded her of Alana’s wedding rehearsal dinner...and Mike. The temperature had dropped to about eighty degrees, and a slight breeze stirred the jasmine-scented air. Decorative lights strung across Main Street for a wine festival the previous weekend were still up, and some town official had decided to turn them on tonight, a typically spontaneous gesture in Bisbee.

  She’d tried all afternoon to be nonchalant about her dinner with Mike, but she hadn’t succeeded. Anticipation bubbled within her as she walked down the uneven sidewalk toward the restaurant. When she was a teenager madly in love with him, she’d often fantasized about nights like this. She remembered watching with envy from her bedroom window as Mike and Alana had left, arms around each other, to share a table at one of the local restaurants. Alone in her room, she’d mentally recreated the entire scene as she’d imagined it taking place—the softly lit romantic atmosphere, the hands clasped across the table, the fond looks, the good-night kiss.

  Of course she’d pictured herself as Mike’s date instead of Alana. Perhaps that’s why she’d been unable to resist his invitation for tonight. Not that she would allow hands clasped across the table or fond looks, and the good-night kiss was definitely out, but she could sit with Mike for one special meal and live at least a portion of her teenage fantasy. Café Roca had some of the best romantic atmosphere in town.

  First, however, she intended to make that call to Ernie, with Mike right by her side. If it turned out that Ernie knew nothing of Mike’s plan to manufacture the cutters for her, then the evening might not be quite as peaceful as she’d been envisioning.

  She opened the door of the restaurant and spotted Mike immediately at a quiet corner table. He sat facing the door, his attention on everyone who walked in. When he saw her and smiled, her pulse leaped in response. She was definitely playing with fire to have even agreed to this dinner, she realized. But she was here, and she had a mission—to find out whether Ernie had suggested this alternate plan for her cutter—or Mike. She crossed to the table.

  “You look terrific,” he said.

  “Thanks.” She had to admit she enjoyed his admiration of her outfit almost as much as she’d hated Colby’s.

  “Did you get rid of the sleaze from Chicago?”

  “I’ll tell you about that in a minute. But I have an idea. Before visiting hours are over at TMC, why don’t we give your dad a call and see how he’s doing? I’m sure Janice over at the art gallery will let us use the phone, and I’ll just settle the charges with her later.”

  “I called him before I walked down here. He’s doing fine.”

  “Oh.” She hadn’t counted on Mike being so dutiful.

  “But you’re welcome to call him before we order, if you want.”

  “Maybe...maybe I will. Do you happen to have the number handy?” She could call without arousing his suspicion, she decided. After all, she was practically a daughter to Ernie.

  “Sure. I carry it around with me these days.” He took his wallet from his back pocket, pulled a slip of paper from it and handed it to her.

  “Thanks,” she said. “I’ll be right back.”

  “How about if I order us a bottle of wine while I’m waiting for you?”

  “Okay.” She couldn’t very well tell him not to. He had a right to drink wine with his meal if he wanted. But she’d be wise not to have more than a small glass of it herself, especially after seeing that telltale circle imprinted on the leather of his wallet. Maybe he always carried condoms. Maybe this particular one had nothing to do with their dinner date. But she wasn’t taking any chances.

  “What do you like?” he asked.

  “I’ve become partial to a good merlot.”

  He grinned at her. “I’d be willing to splurge on champagne.”

  “Not on your life.” Her heart beat faster at his teasing reference to the champagne punch they’d both been drinking the night of the rehearsal dinner. “It’s nearly eight. I’d better go call.”

  “Go ahead. The merlot and I will be waiting.”

  Damned if he wasn’t flirting with her, she thought as she left the restaurant and walked next door to the art gallery. And damned if she didn’t like it far too much. -

  Janice was busy with an older couple when Beth entered the gallery, but she looked up long enough for Beth to pantomime using the phone. Janice nodded and Beth went back into the gallery’s small office. Janice kept the gallery open on summer evenings to entice whatev
er tourists were in town, and she’d advised Beth to do the same with her gift shop. So far Beth had resisted because she used her evenings to create new designs and she needed solitude for that.

  She consulted the number written in Mike’s angular handwriting and dialed.

  Ernie picked up the phone on the second ring. “Hello?” He sounded completely worn-out.

  Remorse washed over her at the thought that she’d woken him up. “It’s Beth. I hope you weren’t asleep.”

  “Who can sleep in a place like this?” His tone brightened considerably. “Where’re you calling from, sweetpeach?”

  “Janice’s gallery. Mike’s next door at Café Roca. We’re having dinner together.”

  “Are you? That rascal didn’t mention you two were having dinner. That’s nice, Beth. Real nice. Is that why you called? To tell me that?”

  “Not exactly. I just wanted to wish you a good night’s rest,” she said, “and let you know that Mike seems to think he’ll be able to start on the cutter manufacturing tomorrow.”

  “That’s great.”

  She didn’t notice any hesitation in his reply, so maybe it had been Ernie’s idea to throw Mike into the breach. “I was surprised he agreed to do it, to be honest. Won’t he get bored after a while?”

  “He might, but he has more grit than you give him credit for. I wouldn’t have asked him if I thought he’d up and leave in the middle. He’ll stick it out, Beth. It wouldn’t hurt for you to give him some encouragement now and then, a’course.”

  “What sort of encouragement?”

  “You know. Just let him know he’s doin’ a good job. He seems to think you don’t have a very good opinion of his abilities. You mean a lot to him. Always have.”

  Her heart beat faster. “He told you that?”

  “In a manner of speakin’. And, Beth, don’t be biting’ him no more, okay? Anybody’d think you two were still kids, actin’ that way.”

  “Ernie!” She thanked heaven she was in a secluded office where no one could see the color of her face.

  “Just had to say,my piece, since your dad ain’t here to say it. Now go back and enjoy your dinner. They gave me somethin’ to help me sleep, and it’s startin’ to kick in.”

  Beth took a shaky breath. “Sleep well, Ernie. Good night.” She hung up the phone and leaned against the desk. So now Ernie knew that she’d been close enough to Mike to bite him on the lip. She put her hands to her hot cheeks. With luck, she, Ernie and Mike would be the only people in the world who would ever know that.

  ERNIE LAY BACK on the pillow and closed his eyes against the pain. He was trying to get by on fewer injections, and it wasn’t easy. But he wanted to stay sharp, and the damned injections turned his brain to mush. Mike and Beth would never know what it cost him to act as if he was feeling great whenever either of them came to visit. He even had his favorite nurse Judy fooled a little bit. But he hated being treated as if he were a sick old man.

  He took a long, shaky breath that hurt like hell. “You there, Pete?”

  Yeah, I’m here, you macho idiot. Call the nurse and get yourself a shot. You aren’t proving anything to anybody.

  “Look, who’s handling this crisis, you or me?”

  Handling, hell. You’re white as a sheet. You can’t be any help to those kids if you’re doubled up in pain.

  “Never mind that. Do you think I did the right thing, bringing up that biting business?”

  Laughter filled the room. If you must know, it took me back to the old days. I’d forgotten that Beth was the biter in the crowd. Alana and Mike were the hitters, but Beth couldn’t hit worth a damn, especially when she was only four and they were both six, so she’d latch onto one of them with her teeth if she thought it was called for.

  “Well, it appears she’s still doin’ it.”

  Maybe Mike deserved it.

  “Aw, you always did stick up for those girls. They were as tough as my boy, let me tell you. Anybody who claims girls are the weaker sex should’ve seen those two in action.”

  And it’s still a battle of wills, apparently.

  “We’ll see. They’re out to dinner. Maybe it’ll turn out nice for them.”

  I can’t believe it’ll be that easy. One dinner isn’t going to change everything.

  “Yeah, I know. That’s why I gotta cut down on those injections. When the time comes that they’re at sixes and sevens with each other, I gotta be alert, Pete.”

  Tell you what. I’ll see what I can do. Maybe, if I pull a few strings up here, the people in charge will let me talk to my girls.

  “They ain’t ever let you before, right?”

  Right.

  “Then don’t strain yourself. You’re supposed to be retired, now. I’ve got everything under control.”

  I wish I could be there, buddy.

  “I wish you could, too, Pete.” Ernie sighed. “I wish you could, too.”

  BETH RETURNED TO THE TABLE and slid into her chair opposite Mike. A glass of wine sat at her place and she took a gulp of it.

  He watched her with amusement. “Thirsty?”

  She stared at the glass in her hand and remembered she’d planned to have very little of the wine. “I guess so.” She put down the goblet and picked up her ice water. “Which means I should be drinking this, instead”

  “Don’t hold back. We have a whole bottle.”

  “The water tastes good.” She held the glass to her cheek as she darted a glance at his lower lip. Sure enough, she could still see the darkened area where she’d bitten him the night before. And Ernie had noticed it, obviously.

  “You look flushed,” he said. “Everything okay?”

  “Sure.” She took the glass away again and set it down. She was giving Mike far too many clues about her mental state. “It’s just a little warm in here. Ernie’s just fine, as you said. He’s glad we’re having dinner together.”

  “So you told him?”

  “Yes, I told him. Why wouldn’t I?”

  “Because you seemed so unenthusiastic about this dinner I thought you wouldn’t want to advertise the fact that you agreed to share a meal with a bum like me.” His off-center smile didn’t quite counteract the uncertainty in his eyes.

  She thought how easily she’d adopted Colby’s evaluation of Mike, which she’d just proven to be false with her phone call to Ernie. Besides that, for two years she’d assumed Mike was indifferent to her father’s death, when in fact he’d stayed away in order to spare her and Alana more heartache. Ever since that fateful night eight years ago, she’d been willing to believe the worst about Mike Tremayne, yet except for that incident, he’d never given her reason.

  “I don’t think you’re a bum,” she said softly.

  “That’s—” Mike paused as the waitress arrived to take their order. He glanced at Beth. “Do you know what you want?”

  Good question, she thought. I want you, but I don’t want you. It’s very confusing. “The shrimp’s my favorite.”

  “Two of those,” Mike said to the waitress as he handed over the menus.

  After she left, Mike lifted his glass. “Here’s to the Nightingale Cutter. And ridding the town of that analretentive jerk from Chicago.”

  “Uh, he’s not gone.”

  Mike put his glass down. “What do you mean? Didn’t you get the two-week extension?”

  “Oh, I got that, all right.” Beth took a sip of her wine.

  “But he decided to spend a week of his vacation time in Bisbee. He’s staying at a bed-and-breakfast and says he wants to explore the area.”

  Mike’s gaze narrowed. “Huxford’s about as likely to vacation in Bisbee as I am to take a job on Wall Street. Either he thinks he can pressure you into changing your mind, or...”

  “Or what?”

  Mike paused to pick up his wineglass. “Or he’s taken a personal interest in you.” He drained the glass and set it on the table again. “It’s probably both.”

  “Funny, but he said a similar thing about you.” />
  “Is that right?”

  “He said that your...interest in me was the only reason you agreed to manufacture the cutter. I told him you were doing it as a favor to your father.”

  He reached across the table to take her hand. “Then I might as well admit right now that I’m not doing it entirely as a favor for my father.”

  She foolishly allowed him to keep her hand in his, and the contact zinged up her arm and through her body as if it were wildfire. “Well, of course it’s not just for Ernie. You’re also doing it to help me launch this new venture, and I appreciate that.”

  “Okay, I’m doing it for that reason, too, but even that’s not all of it.” His voice was a low caress. “I’m also doing it because I’ve been obsessed with you for eight years, and now that I have an excuse to hang around, I’m shamelessly taking advantage of it.”

  Excitement curled in her stomach, even as a warning voice told her she should pull her hand away and leave the restaurant while she still could resist the temptation he offered. “But I’ve told you that nothing will happen between us, so you’re just wasting your time.”

  “Could be, and you’re probably smart to think that way.” He traced the veins on the inside of her wrist with one finger. “There’s no guarantee I’ll ever be the kind of man you need.” He glanced up at her, his eyes warm with desire.

  She trembled in reaction to his touch and the look in his eyes. “I know you’re not the kind of man I need,” she said, although her body was telling her something else.

  “You’re not willing to consider that I might change?”

  She struggled to keep her mental balance. “Mike, reason tells me that you’re reacting this way because you need someone familiar around right now, someone to give you a sense of security.”

  “Do you really believe that’s all it is?”

  Passion licked at her skin. She swallowed. “This isn’t fair.”

  “I know. I have a hell of a nerve, when I can’t promise not to take off the minute my father is out of danger. I’ve been telling myself all afternoon to find the strength to stay away from you.” He looked down at her hand clasped in his, then back up into her eyes. “I can’t seem to do it.”