“This event will be fairly formal, so you’ll need something very dressy.” Donna surveyed Tallie from head to toe. “Tell me what sort of dress you’d feel comfortable and confident wearing, something strictly Tallie Bishop style.”
“I look good in black,” Tallie said. “And I’ve got a pretty decent figure, so I suppose I could wear something body-hugging, but classy.”
“Sounds perfect. Do you have a dress like that?”
“No, but I could go to Jackson later and see if I can find something I can afford.”
“Go to Justine’s. I’ll give you the address later. Just tell her that I sent you. She’ll help you find the perfect dress at the right price.” Donna lifted her teacup off the table. “What else do you need help with to make tomorrow night a success?”
“I have a reputation for talking first and thinking later, for taking action before I consider the consequences. I don’t want to embarrass Peyton by saying or doing the wrong thing.”
“Tallie, you can’t go to this party and pretend to be someone you’re not.” Donna sipped her tea. “You’re warm and caring and sensitive. I believe you’ll be Peyton’s greatest asset when he runs for governor.”
“How can you possibly say that? Can you honestly see me as the first lady of Tennessee?”
“Yes, I can,” Donna said, placing her teacup back on the table. “Peyton has everything going for him. Wealth, breeding, a highly successful law practice, a political family background and the drive and determination to fight against all the odds until he wins. But he lives in constant fear of becoming a replica of his father, of being as ruthless and self-serving as Marshall Rand was.”
“You really do know Peyton quite well, don’t you?” Tallie hated herself for feeling so jealous of Donna Fields, of the very fact that she knew the torment in Peyton’s soul.
“There’s no denying that Peyton is his father’s son,” Donna said. “He’ll be the first to admit it. The only thing keeping Peyton from running for governor, from winning the election and being the best governor this state has ever had is his own fear.”
“I don’t understand what this has to do with your thinking I could be his first lady.”
“Don’t you understand?” Donna took Tallie’s hand. “You, Tallie Bishop, with your honesty, your integrity, your true concern for others could well be Peyton’s salvation.”
“I’m not sure what you mean.”
“With you at his side, he would never have to worry about becoming the kind of politician, the kind of man his father was. He would have to live up to your expectations. He’d see the world through your eyes.”
Tallie choked back tears, the pain in her chest forcing her silence when she so badly wanted to speak, to tell Donna Fields that she understood.
“Your loving Peyton isn’t bad for him,” Donna said. “You see that now, don’t you? You can go to the party with him tomorrow night and know that all you have to do is be yourself and you’ll be an asset to Peyton and his career.”
Tallie swallowed hard, blinking away the tears in her eyes. “I just hope Peyton realizes how lucky he is to have a friend like you.”
“And I hope he realizes how lucky he is to have a woman who loves him enough to save him from himself,” Donna told Tallie.
Nine
Betty and Harold Glover were old money, each with a Confederate colonel ancestor and a restored home dating back to the 1830s. Everyone knew Harold was one of the wealthiest and most influential men in the state.
So it’s no wonder I’m nervous as a cat in a roomful of rocking chairs, Tallie thought as the parking attendant opened the door of Peyton’s Jag and assisted her out onto the brick driveway. Within moments, Peyton took her arm and led her up the stairs to the front portico.
“Calm down, sugar. Everything’s going to be just fine.”
Glancing over at Peyton while squeezing his arm tightly, Tallie sucked in a deep breath of fresh night air. She’d never seen Peyton looking more handsome, more distinguished, more the successful Southern gentleman. Wearing a black tuxedo and white pleated shirt with black accessories, Peyton looked like a model out of the pages of GQ.
She didn’t realize that she’d halted directly in front of the open double doors until Peyton gave her a gentle nudge. “These people are my friends and associates, sugar. They’re not a den of lions ready to devour you the minute we walk in and say good evening.”
“Right,” Tallie said. Straightening her shoulders, she tilted her chin, gave Peyton her most brilliant smile and stepped forward.
When they entered the throng of Tennessee’s elite, Tallie’s steps faltered. Enough of this nonsense, she told herself. You’re Tallulah Bankhead Bishop and you’re as good as anybody. Peyt’s counting on you tonight. Don’t try to be somebody you’re not, but be on your best behavior.
Lowering his head, Peyton whispered, “Did I tell you how incredibly beautiful you look tonight?”
Leaning slightly against him, she nodded. “Yes, but I’m glad you told me again.”
Peyton led her past several people talking together in small conversation groups, nodding greetings to some, exchanging a quick handshake with others, introducing Tallie whenever they paused long enough to do more than say hello.
Although Peyton felt a certain sense of apprehension about how people in general would react to his relationship with Tallie, his biggest worry was how Tallie would react if she picked up any reluctance to accept her from his friends and acquaintances.
Watching the way the men in the room stared at Tallie, Peyton’s male ego swelled considerably. Not only did he know that his date was the sexiest, most beautiful woman in the room, but all the other men did, too. She looked elegant yet sensual in the floor-length, body-hugging black silk dress she wore. It was sleeveless and backless to the waist, its square neckline ending at her throat. The only jewelry she wore were a pair of small pearls that she’d told him had belonged to her Grandmother Bishop.
Tallie’s head whirled with new names and new faces as she was introduced to person after person. She’d never shaken hands so many times in her life, and she’d never smiled so much. Champagne flowed like water—expensive champagne—but Tallie sipped on the same glass for over an hour. She was sure the food was delicious, but the knots in her stomach warned her she would regret eating anything.
“At last.” Donna Fields placed her arm around Tallie’s waist. “I’ve been trying to make my way over to see y’all for the past thirty minutes. Tallie, you look gorgeous!” She turned to Peyton. “You have told her how beautiful she looks, haven’t you?”
“Oh, he’s told me, all right,” Tallie said. “He’s told me so many times that I believe him.”
Donna’s friendly smile eased some of the tension churning inside Tallie. At least she knew for certain that she had one ally in the room besides Peyton.
“Have you introduced Tallie to Betty and Harold, yet?” Donna asked.
“We’re working our way in that direction,” Peyton said.
“Betty’s daughter is visiting.” Donna gave Peyton a strange look, one that Tallie interpreted to have a hidden meaning.
“Noreen is here?” The muscles in Peyton’s face tightened. “I thought she was living in Atlanta since her divorce.”
“Are y’all talking about Noreen Ellibee?” Tallie asked. “You two sure are acting funny. Is there something I should know?”
“Noreen is Betty Glover’s daughter by her first husband,” Peyton said. “She’s a spoiled, selfish witch. And I used to date her.”
“I remember. You were dating her when you first got out of law school.” Tallie glanced at Donna and recognized the look for what it was—a warning. “Noreen could mean trouble for Peyton, for us. Right?”
“Betty had hoped her daughter would marry Peyton. A match made in Old South heaven.” Donna gave Tallie’s hand a comforting squeeze. “Noreen wanted Peyton and did everything in her power to get him, but—”
“But it didn’t
take me long to find out what sort of woman she was, and by the time we broke up, I felt nothing but contempt for her.” Peyton slipped his arm around Tallie. “She has a vicious tongue, sugar, so watch yourself around her.”
“Speak of the devil,” Donna whispered under her breath when a tall, model-thin blonde approached, a phony million-dollar smile on her sharp-featured face.
“Peyton, honey-lamb, what on earth are you doing hiding yourself way over here?” Noreen sauntered up to Peyton, completely ignoring both Donna and Tallie. Lacing her arm around his, she pressed her breasts against him and leaned forward, her mouth touching his in a quick but passionate kiss.
Tallie stiffened. Well, well, well. She had expected a variety of interesting things to happen to her tonight, had even feared making a fool of herself, but she’d never once considered the possibility that she’d come face-to-face with a she-cat, a former girlfriend of Peyton’s who apparently wanted to do battle in public.
Donna took Noreen by the arm, pulling her away from Peyton. “How nice to see you again, Noreen. Are you back home to stay or just for a short visit?”
Noreen’s keen blue eyes fixed on Donna. “That depends.” Noreen glanced from Donna to Peyton to Tallie and back to Donna. “Aren’t you just an angel, Donna Fields, acting so brave and befriending your replacement when everyone knows your heart is broken.” Before Donna had the chance to reply, Noreen whipped around to face Tallie. “And this must be Sally, the girl who’s made such a name for herself with a shotgun.”
Peyton tensed. He was going to put a stop to this right now. Of all the problems he had expected to face tonight, Noreen had not been one of them.
Tallie extended her hand. “I’m Tallulah Bishop, Doreen. I’m flattered that you seem to know so much about me. Do you keep informed about all the women in Peyton’s life?”
“Just the ones who get their pictures plastered all over the newspapers and give Peyton such unfavorable publicity at a time when he needs to be courting the press.” Noreen smiled triumphantly.
“Noreen.” Peyton’s tone warned the woman that she was overstepping the bounds.
“I’m not so sure the publicity Peyton and Tallie got was all bad,” Donna said. “If you think about it, Peyton’s defense of Tallie probably gave readers the idea that Peyton Rand is against wife beating and child abuse, and is definitely for animal rights, women’s rights and law and order.”
“I agree wholeheartedly.” A short, balding man in his mid-seventies approached, a tall, slender woman on his arm. “At first, I thought the publicity this young lady was creating for our Peyton might hurt his chances of becoming governor, but I think Donna may be right.”
“You can’t mean to say that you’d approve of Peyton becoming involved with this...this tow-truck-driving redneck?” Noreen’s hollow cheeks colored slightly, as much from having drunk one too many glasses of champagne as from agitation.
“Where are your manners, Noreen?” Betty Glover asked. “Miss Bishop is a guest here tonight.”
Tallie wasn’t quite sure what was happening, she just knew that she and Peyton and their little group had become the center of attention.
“Is there more than just friendship between you and Miss Bishop?” Harold Glover asked.
An attractive young reporter Tallie remembered from the day of her trial rooted his way into the group. “That’s a question a lot of people would like to hear the answer to, Mr. Rand. If you run for governor, the woman at your side is going to be of prime interest to the people of Tennessee.”
Noreen Ellibee’s shrill laugh caught the attention of everyone close enough to hear. “You can’t make a silk purse out this sow’s ear. If you think for one minute that the people would accept her as the first lady, then you’re not thinking with your head, you’re thinking with your—”
“Noreen, that’s quite enough!” Betty said.
“For the record,” Peyton said, looking directly at Jeff Baines, the young reporter, “Tallulah Bishop is most definitely the woman in my life.”
Harold reached out and took Tallie’s limp hand. “Well, young lady, are you ready for this?”
“I’m not sure,” Tallie said, overwhelmed by everything that had happened. Peyton had announced publicly that she was the woman in his life. But what exactly had he admitted to? That they were dating? That they were lovers?
“I’ve got my photographer here tonight, Mr. Rand. Would you and Miss Bishop mind posing for a few pictures?” Jeff asked.
“A couple of pictures,” Peyton said. “But no more questions tonight.”
Harold shook Tallie’s hand heartily. “Good meeting you, young lady. Betty and I are looking forward to seeing more of you. Betty’s on some committees you might be interested in. Animal rights, conservation, adult education. I have a feeling you might be just the thing these groups need to get them all stirred up, to help them accomplish more.”
Betty nodded to Tallie. “I’ll phone you next week, my dear, and we’ll meet for lunch.”
“Uh...thank you. Yes. That would be nice.” Tallie had a notion that she felt pretty much the same as Alice had when she’d stepped through the looking glass.
As soon as the Glovers moved on, Donna slipped one of her arms around Tallie’s waist and the other around Peyton. “I’d say, all things considered—” she eyed Noreen Ellibee several feet away, accepting another glass of champagne from the waiter “—tonight has been a success for the team of Rand and Bishop.”
Just as Jeff Baines led his photographer over to Peyton and Tallie, a visibly inebriated Noreen pushed her way through the party crowd of observers. Donna gave Tallie and Peyton quick hugs, then stepped back to watch their triumph.
“Smile and act like you’re happy,” Peyton told Tallie as he put his arm around her waist and pulled her up against his side. “You’re going to have to get used to this sort of thing.”
The photographer aimed his camera. Tallie smiled. Peyton emitted his usual charisma. Noreen, swaying slightly on her feet, moved forward, her glass of champagne teetering in her unsteady hand.
“She must be damned good in bed,” Noreen shouted. “I can’t think of any other reason you’d be fool enough to risk everything for her.”
In one unbelievable instant, Noreen lunged, Peyton threw up a protective hand to protect Tallie, accidently knocking Noreen’s glass out of her hand and scraping the side of her mouth with his fist. Champagne splattered all over Tallie’s new black silk dress. A trickle of blood oozed from Noreen’s lip. And the entire scene was saved for posterity by the flash of a photographer’s camera.
* * *
Peyton handed Tallie a cup of coffee, which she accepted without looking at him. She hadn’t said more than a dozen words on the ride over to his apartment, and he knew full well that she was more than simply upset. How he handled things with her tonight would determine the outcome of their relationship. He was damned scared—scared he might lose Tallie.
“My robe’s a little big on you.” He sat beside her, placing his own coffee cup down on the glass table in front of the blue leather sofa.
Tallie tugged on the belt, which hung below her knees on both sides of the robe. “As soon as my dress is dry enough for me to put back on, I want you to take me home.”
“Tonight was supposed to be our night,” Peyton reminded her. “Holding you in my arms, making love to you all night is all I’ve thought about this week.”
Tears welled up in Tallie’s eyes. Being with Peyton, knowing the ecstasy she’d found in being his lover had been foremost in her mind all week. She had wanted desperately to be accepted by his friends and acquaintances, to be seen as an asset to Peyton instead of a liability. And everything had turned out so perfectly, despite Noreen Ellibee’s presence, until—
“Stop brooding, sugar. What’s done is done.” Peyton placed his arm around her shoulder, drawing her close to his side. “A month from now, you’ll be laughing about the whole thing.”
“I doubt it.” Tallie trie
d to scoot away from Peyton, but he held fast.
“What happened tonight wasn’t your fault. It was Noreen’s. Everyone at the party is well aware of what a witch she is.”
“You know how it’ll look in the paper tomorrow, don’t you? It’ll look like you socked Noreen in the mouth when she insulted me.”
“And if the newspaper dares to even insinuate that that’s what happened, I’ll make a public statement explaining what actually happened and then sue the paper for libel.”
“Yeah, and that’ll be a great way to kick off your campaign for governor, won’t it?”
Peyton kissed her on the forehead. “You worry too much, sugar.”
“You certainly have changed your tune.” Tallie wiggled, trying to escape from Peyton’s hold. When he refused to release her, she turned in his arms, looking up at him. “For a man who’s always been so concerned about his career, about his public image, about negative publicity, you sure don’t seem worried that the name Peyton Rand is going to be mud when the morning papers hit the stands.”
“I told you that you’re overreacting, Tallie.” Peyton lifted her onto his lap. When she didn’t resist, he smiled. “Besides, my priorities are changing. I’m seeing my life and my career and my future in a whole new light.”
Tallie slipped her arm around his neck. “Have you decided not to run for governor?”
“No, after tonight, I’ve definitely decided to run.”
Squirming in his lap, Tallie became aware of Peyton’s blatant state of arousal. “Thinking about all that power turns you on?”
“Thinking about what I’d like to do to you turns me on.” He kissed her throat, then traced the veins in her neck with his tongue.
“Were you and Noreen Ellibee lovers?”
“What?”
“Were you and Noreen—”
“I heard you!”
Tallie grabbed him by the chin, her fingers clutching the side of his jaw. “Well?”
“What the hell difference does it make? She has absolutely nothing to do with you and me or with our future.” Peyton gazed into Tallie’s eyes, hoping that she would understand that no other woman had ever mattered to him the way she did, least of all Noreen.
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