Luxury Model Wife

by Downs,Adele

  Victoria smiled and patted Beverly’s hand. “I have to admit, I like the sound of that.”

  The women stood and moved toward the door. Steve put their glasses away to wash later.

  Before Victoria turned the doorknob, Beverly stopped her. “Hey, Vic. What was that dumb thing you did in college?”

  “I’d like to know, too,” Steve said, coming up behind them.

  Victoria shrugged a shoulder. “It wasn’t stupid, exactly. Reckless, maybe.”

  “Now I’m really curious,” Beverly chided. “I can’t imagine you being reckless about anything. Did you have a wild affair with a professor? Get caught smoking weed? Lead a protest?” She wagged a hand. “Give.”

  “Nothing like that,” Victoria replied. “But…if you really want to know…I took boxing lessons.”

  “Okaaaay,” Beverly replied. She was clearly hoping for something juicier.

  Steve couldn’t imagine Victoria with a bruised, swollen face and wondered why she’d subject herself to that kind of punishment. Still, he knew the sport attracted more women than it used to. “Why boxing?”

  Victoria took an audible breath and blew it out. “I wanted to learn how to kill a man.”

  “Wait a minute.” Steve cupped Victoria’s elbow to delay her before she and Beverly exited his office.

  Just then, the phone rang in the shop. “I’ll get it,” Beverly said. She flashed Victoria a knowing smile.

  When Beverly was out of sight, Steve pulled Victoria to him and wrapped his arms around her waist. “Are we good?”

  “Of course. I won’t hold your past against you, if you don’t hold mine against me.”

  “Deal.” His hands drifted up and down her sides, sending tingles through her. “What you said…about wanting to kill a man. Want to talk about it?”

  Victoria tipped her forehead against his chest. “My dad.” She leaned back. “Let’s not go into it now. I think we’ve had enough confessions for one day.”

  Steve kissed her lightly on the lips. “Whenever you’re ready.”

  She lifted her arms and wrapped them around his neck to kiss him again.

  His eyes flashed with desire as he lowered his mouth to hers and kissed her deeply. He dragged his lips to her cheekbone and then to her ear to nibble the edge.

  Victoria’s pulse jumped and her stomach fluttered like a kid in high school. She’d never known elation like this. Steve made her feel reckless, like she was free falling through clouds.

  “Do you own a pair of western boots?” he asked when they broke the kiss.

  “What?” She blinked at the unexpected question. After the serious discussion they’d had, and the delicious kisses they’d shared, boots would have never crossed her mind. She burst out laughing. “You’re joking, right? This is eastern Pennsylvania. To reach land even remotely pointing west we’d have to drive for hours.”

  “True. And if we kept driving, we’d reach Indiana, where most of my father’s family lives.”

  Victoria grinned. “I’m a Buckeye. You’re a Hoosier?”

  “By blood. Though I don’t see my dad’s folks often.”

  No wonder Steve was such a good-looking, All-American guy. They grew men right in the Corn Belt. Most of the time, anyway. “Why did your father move to Pennsylvania?”

  “My grandfather got a job at the steel mill in Coatesville when my dad was a kid. The work was tough but the wages were higher than those he could earn back home. He and my grandmother liked Pennsylvania and decided to stay.”

  “They must have missed their family terribly.” Victoria knew a lot about coming and going…and longing.

  Steve nodded. “My dad and I went out there a few months ago to see his aunts and uncles. I bought a very cool pair of hand-tooled boots from a local craftsman. I want to show them off to you.”

  “Isn’t cool and western boots an oxymoron?”

  “Smart-ass.” He grabbed the plump center of her butt and squeezed.

  Victoria swatted his hand. “Why would I need boots?”

  “So we can go country dancing Saturday night. I’d love to two-step with you.” He took her hands and spun her around. “You’re a member of a country club, aren’t you? I figure you’ve done lots of country dancing.”

  He dipped her quickly and righted her again before she could catch her breath. Victoria laughed as she pictured herself wearing a cowgirl hat and leather boots on a sawdust-strewn wooden floor. “Are you asking me out on a date?”

  “Why, yes ma’am, I most certainly am,” he replied in an imitation Midwestern drawl.

  “And why would I want to do that?” She egged him on.

  “Because I’m the best two-stepper this side of Chester County, and I’ve got a hankering for you.”

  His expression turned serious and he looked straight into Victoria’s eyes. He dropped the fake accent and his voice deepened. “Go out with me.”

  He drew her against him again and held her tight, saying nothing as her heart beat against his breastbone.

  “I guess I could go to the mall,” she murmured against his neck. He smelled like damp, crushed cotton stirred with citrus aftershave. The scents made her want to yank off his shirt and put her mouth on him until he begged for mercy.

  Steve looked down at her as they stepped apart. “Wear the boots for a day or two to break them in. I’ll pick you up Saturday night at nine o’ clock.”

  “I volunteer at the women’s shelter on Saturday. Guess I’ll show the boots off to the kids while I get used to the feel. That should be good for a few laughs.”

  “You’ll be the prettiest woman on the dance floor,” he said, stroking her face.

  “And the one most remembered for falling on her butt.”

  “I won’t let that happen. I think you’ll be surprised at how mainstream the country scene has become, and how much fun we’ll have.”

  A knock on the door interrupted their banter.

  “Beverly’s back,” he stage-whispered with a grin.

  Beverly stepped inside and then screeched to a halt. “Whoa.” She glanced from Victoria to Steve and her brow lifted. “Am I interrupting something?”

  Victoria didn’t embarrass easily, but blood pounded in her ears under the other woman’s scrutiny.

  Beverly eyed Victoria’s creased blouse. “Don’t need to be psychic to know what’s been going on in here,” she said with a laugh. “Sorry to barge in.” She looked over at Steve. “I wasn’t sure what time you were leaving for Boston.”

  “Yeah, gotta get going.”

  Beverly glanced from her boss to Victoria and cleared her throat. “Well, congratulations, you two. All I can say is I predicted you’d get together. I’m sensitive, after all.”

  “As a rhinoceros,” Steve shot back with a smirk.

  Beverly rolled her eyes. “Before you head to Bean Town, you have a visitor who wants to talk to you. Carlos Vega, the other half of your competition at Pinnacle, is here.”

  Victoria’s body went rigid. “I’ll go with you. It’s my consignment he’s angry about.” She brushed a hand down her clothes to smooth them and followed Steve through the open doorway.

  Chapter Eight

  “Carlos. What can I do for you, man?” Steve said.

  Victoria watched as Carlos Vega stood at the birdcage with Pirate. “Encantado. ¿Que tal?” he said to the cockatiel. Pirate made a great show of ignoring him and closing his eyes.

  The wiry antiques dealer tried again. “Encantado. ¿Que tal?”

  When Pirate continued to shut him out, Vega sighed. “I said, ‘It’s a pleasure to meet you. How are you?’ I tried to teach him the phrase when I visited Mrs. Van Orr’s house. He still doesn’t want to speak Spanish.”

  Steve held out his hand. Victoria stayed in the background to listen. Carlos hesitated, then pumped Steve’s arm with a quick handshake. “That bird doesn’t want to talk to me.”

  He pouted and inclined his head in Victoria’s direction. “Hola, Mrs. Van Orr.”

&n
bsp; Victoria nodded a greeting. “I’m sure it’s nothing personal, Mr. Vega.”

  Carlos glared back with flat, dark eyes. Any pretext of a social visit disappeared. “Everything is personal, Mrs. Van Orr.”

  Unease filled Victoria, putting her on the defensive—an emotional state she detested.

  He stepped closer to the cage and pointed. “This bird makes no bones about who he likes and who he wants to deal with. Not everyone is like that.”

  Carlos leveled a stare at Victoria that sent ice water down her back. His voice remained low. “Some people pretend one thing, and then do another. That is never a good idea. It hurts feelings and causes trouble. Big trouble.”

  “Spit it out, Vega.” Steve’s jaw clenched and his hands tightened into fists. He seemed to resist punching the other man’s face by sheer force of will. “What do you want?”

  Carlos turned and looked coolly at Steve. “You insulted my partner. His feelings are hurt, and that distresses me greatly.”

  “Bullshit,” Steve shot back. “This is about money. Mitchell was hoping I’d offer him the Lydia Van Orr doll collection at wholesale before the items went public. He’d keep what he wanted and sell off the rest at a profit to my customers who missed out. Everyone in town, and the trade, knows the Van Orr estate goods were consigned to Carlson’s.”

  “Bruce deserves to have that collection.” Vega thrust out his jaw. “To him, it means more than it ever could to someone else.”

  Victoria stepped in, hoping to smooth things over. “Mr. Vega, maybe we can find an amicable solution to this…misunderstanding.” She kept her tone reasonable, despite the agitation she felt. “Let’s try to work something out.”

  Vega’s eyes closed to glittering slits and his voice turned hard. He pointed a finger. “I thought we had an agreement, lady. I should have made you sign papers.”

  Victoria bristled. “No one makes me do anything, Mr. Vega. And I never promised I’d give you my business.”

  Carlos didn’t have a chance to say another word because Steve reached out and grabbed him by the throat. His other hand twisted the front of Vega’s shirt while he lifted the smaller man onto his toes. “Apologize to Mrs. Van Orr.”

  “Fuck you both.”

  Steve tossed Vega backwards against the front wall. The glass in the main door rattled with the reverberations and Victoria caught her breath.

  Carlos bounced off the wallboard and stumbled, his feet crisscrossing and flailing as he tried to right himself. When he regained his balance, he flew at Steve, but stopped short of fighting back. His features contorted with humiliation and rage.

  He spoke between his small, uneven teeth. “You’d better watch your back, Carlson.” He turned to Pirate. “And fuck you too, bird.” Carlos made his way to the door and slammed it closed behind him.

  “Shit.” Steve ran a hand through his hair and cradled the back of his head. “That didn’t go so well.”

  Victoria shouted, “Who does that little creep think he is, to threaten us? We should go to the police.”

  “I doubt they can do anything, but I’ll stop at the station on my way out of town to file a complaint. Let’s just hope Carlos doesn’t file an assault charge first.” His expression remained tight. “When I get back from Boston I’ll pay Jimmy that visit I promised. He can make this problem disappear.”

  “You think he’s behind the harassment?”

  “We’d better find out.” Steve reached for Victoria and hugged her close.

  The strength of his body put a stop to her trembling. Victoria hated confrontation of any kind and often experienced a physical reaction to violence. She’d taken boxing lessons in college to fight against her fear.

  Steve planted a kiss on her cheek. “Better now?”

  He nuzzled her ear until she relaxed. Victoria sighed. “Yes.”

  “I’ve known Bruce Mitchell and Carlos Vega a long time,” he said. “Their bark is usually worse than their bite. If I thought for one minute either of them would hurt you, I’d crush the life out of them. But to be on the safe side, I’ll cancel my business trip.”

  Victoria looked up at him. “No way. We can’t let them control us.” She patted his chest. “Go. I’ll see you in a few days. Beverly and I will keep each other company.”

  “You sure?” He didn’t look convinced.

  “I’ve faced worse than this. What can they possibly do?” She gave him a kiss. Steve pulled her into his arms, deepened the kiss, and then whispered against her ear. “Next time we’re together, you’ll be wearing your new boots.” A deep rumble issued from his throat. “I’ll try not to think about you wearing them, and nothing else, while I drive. I might wreck my car.”

  Victoria pressed the length of her body against his and wrapped her arms around his neck. “Country boys are sooo hot.”

  “You don’t know the half of it, darlin’,” he teased. “But I can hardly wait to show you.” He swiped the tip of his tongue along the fullness of her bottom lip and kissed her again.

  “See you Saturday night,” he whispered against her mouth.

  She ran her hands over his incredible butt. “I’ll be ready,” she promised.

  *****

  Victoria had just finished pressing her blouse in Beverly’s studio and returned to the shop when an imposing man in a blue suit and tie lumbered into the store. The subtle threat he posed with his pro-football size dissolved, though, when he opened his mouth to speak. The tension in Victoria’s muscles relaxed.

  “Excude me,” he sniffled. “I’m lost. Can you dell me how to get to the airport?” He pulled a tissue from his pocket and blew his nose.

  Victoria mentally calculated the three-day incubation period between exposure to a head cold and the onset of symptoms. Damn. She hoped the visitor didn’t infect her and ruin her first date with Steve.

  The dairy cows and grazing horses would have been dead giveaways to most people that there was no international airport in this town, but she was too polite to say so. She figured that with this guy’s head cold, he wasn’t thinking straight.

  “You’ve driven forty miles east on the highway you should have taken west. You’ll have to backtrack.” She pointed the way to Philadelphia and gave directions.

  Didn’t this guy have GPS?

  “Can I use your phone? I have to call my hotel.”

  Victoria sighed. No GPS or cell phone? She handed him the store phone with a mental note to disinfect it when he finished, and moved away to give him privacy.

  “Well, thanks,” he said, finishing his call. He coughed again and set the phone back on the counter. “I guess what they say about you is true. You’re a generous woman.”

  He made direct eye contact for the first time, and the soullessness she saw in their depths almost stopped her heart. “Victoria, right?” When he smiled, her skin prickled.

  Victoria didn’t know who this man was, or who sent him, but she wouldn’t give him the satisfaction of knowing he scared her. She squared her shoulders and tightened her jaw. “Get out, now, before I call the police.”

  Suddenly, the studio door flung wide and Beverly charged into the room. “What’s going on?” She glanced at Victoria, glared at the man, then lifted the cell phone she held in her hand. “You heard her.”

  The smirk on his face dissolved into innocence. “There’s no crime in asking for directions.” He strolled to the door and on his way, swept a display of antique books to the floor. He slammed the door behind him.

  Pirate screeched in agitation. The cockatiel leaped in his cage from perch to tree branch and squawked.

  Beverly touched Victoria’s shoulder. “Are you okay?”

  Victoria nodded. She’d survived worse intimidation. “Have you ever seen him before?”

  Beverly shook her head. “No.” She lifted the books off the floor and returned them to the display table. “Maybe I should call Steve.”

  “Please don’t.” Victoria had a deep-seated need for safety and security, but she’d also le
arned self-reliance. She might have let James cloak her in protection during their marriage, but that’s the last thing she wanted in her budding relationship with Steve. With him, she had the chance to start over in an equal relationship. “I’m fine.” She tucked her shaking hands behind her back and forced a joke. “Our biggest threat is the germs Mr. Robitussin left behind.”

  Beverly made a face. “Be back in two shakes.”

  She returned with a large can of disinfectant and two pairs of plastic gloves. Beverly sprayed the room while Victoria cleaned the telephone and countertops.

  Beverly’s bangles rattled and her bottom jiggled beneath her peasant skirt while she shot disinfectant into the air. “This store attracts all kinds of eccentric people.”

  Victoria smiled. “I don’t know if that makes us comedy or tragedy.”

  Beverly snorted. “Depends on the day.” She eyed Victoria’s freshly pressed blouse. “Yours definitely had a bright spot.”

  “Steve wore my defenses down.” A stab of guilt chased the pleasure that filled her. “Do you think James would understand? I still love him, you know, even in death. Caring about Steve won’t change that.”

  Beverly moved closer. “I don’t think anyone expects you to forget your love for James. Being a Van Orr is what brought you and Steve together.”

  “True. Good or bad, everything in my life has led me to this point.”

  Beverly threw away her dirty gloves. “And now you’ve met another terrific guy. You’ve got great taste in men, I’ll grant you that. Considering the example your mother set, that’s pretty amazing.”

  Victoria peeled off her gloves and tossed them into the trash with Beverly’s. “I’ve only had two lovers, and both were older men. Suddenly, I’ve become attracted to this incredibly sexy guy my own age. Any theories?”

  “Other than the fact that Steve’s gorgeous, financially secure, and available? Why wouldn’t you be attracted?” Beverly toyed with one of the rings on her hand. “I’m no therapist, but if I had to guess, I’d say you’re working through your security issues. You’ve matured. You’re rich and beautiful and stronger than you give yourself credit for. Maybe you’re beginning to see that.” She gave a little laugh. “In any case, girlfriend, you’re a magnet for sexy, successful men. I should hate you.”