Her breath caught.
It couldn’t be…
“Victoria, are you listening to me?”
“Yes, Mother, I heard every word.” She changed windows for a better angle, and stared in giddy disbelief.
“For heaven’s sake, Victoria.” Her mother came up behind her, moved the heavy cream-colored drape aside and followed Tori’s gaze with disdain. “Don’t even think about dallying with the Conners boy.”
“My God, it really is Jake?”
Mallory joined them at the window. “Yummy, isn’t he? I haven’t seen him for ages.”
“You two disgust me.” She let go of the drape. “Step away from there before he sees you ogling him like a couple of schoolgirls.” She returned to the sofa and her appointment book as if the matter were settled. “This Saturday we have dinner with the Radcliffs. You do remember their son, Bradley, don’t you, Victoria?”
“How could I forget? The first time we met he tried to impress me by reciting the entire Gettysburg Address.” Tori shuddered. “And that was as interesting as he got.”
“That may be so but he’s executive vice president of Radcliff Enterprises now. Rumor has it he’ll take over when his father retires in two years. You could do much worse, Victoria.”
She gave her mother a mischievous smile. “You’re listening to the rumor mill these days?”
She looked up from her appointment book. “I had lunch with Claire Radcliff.” Annoyance flashed in her eyes. “I don’t much care for your attitude since you’ve been home, young lady. Even your father commented after dinner last night.”
Yeah, right. Like he’d notice anything that didn’t concern Whitford Industries’ bottom line. Which was fine with Tori. At least he didn’t interfere in her life. Of course Mother effectively managed that. As if Tori didn’t fully understand what was expected of her.
“Okay, so what else besides dinner with the Radcliffs?”
“Let’s see…” Her mother adjusted her reading glasses and then perused the appointment book. “Ah, yes, we have another dinner with Sela and Jonathon Matthews and their son Nelson. That would be on Friday at the Club.”
As she listened to her mother drone on, Tori’s gaze drifted back out the window. Jake had moved to the climbing jasmine and she could barely get a glimpse of him but her mind filled in the details of his slim hips, narrow waist, broad shoulders. The way his tanned skin glistened with exertion.
Suddenly it didn’t seem like a dozen years ago when she’d stood at her bedroom window, hiding behind the white lace curtains that matched her canopy bed. If he’d known she was there, staring and holding her breath, he’d never let on. He’d just kept digging or pruning, muscles rippling along his shoulders and back, and sending her poor pounding heart into overdrive.
Once when he’d been working on the pond off the solarium, she’d had to sneak into Mallory’s room in order to watch him. Isabelle had caught her sitting on the windowsill. She’d only smiled. Never said a word to anyone.
“Well, I see this is a wasted afternoon.” Her mother tapped the tip of her Montblanc pen to get Tori’s attention.
“You’re right, Mother,” Tori said, leaving the window and crossing the room, away from her mother and Mallory. “Let’s do this some other time.”
“Victoria!”
She didn’t hesitate, but headed for the staircase. Excitement slid over her like honey on a hot biscuit. She had to write her e-mail friends.
To: The Gang at Eve’s Apple
From: [email protected]
Subject: Hot damn!
Color me happy. I finally get it—what you all have been going on about. Because…tada…I found him!!!! My man to do has been under my nose. Well, not for quite a while. I actually just saw him again after about eight years, but I digress… I’ll start from the beginning— His name is Jake and he’s got the body of Adonis. No kidding. He could be in a calendar or a centerfold or something. Anyway—
Tori stopped typing, reviewed what she’d written and frowned. Maybe using Jake’s name wasn’t such a good idea. None of the girls knew who she was. They only knew her by her screen name “Angel.” And of course they were scattered across the country. She knew a couple of them were from the East Coast and it was highly unlikely their paths would ever cross, but still if anyone ever linked her to this confession…
She shuddered at the thought of her mother’s reaction. Altering a few minor details wouldn’t change the story. Quickly she went back and changed Jake’s name to simply J before she continued.
When I was about twelve, I first saw J. He was our neighbor’s gardener’s son and as I mentioned a whole five years older than me. God, I couldn’t stop staring at him. At that age I didn’t know why I’d gotten that soft squishy feeling inside every time I saw him, especially with his shirt off <g>. Anyway, my mother had forbidden me to “fraternize” with him and since I was an obedient daughter in those days I never said a word to him. Only worshiped him from afar. <major sigh>
Today I saw him again. Shirt off, looking extremely buff. Frankly, I’m surprised he still lives around here. Oh, hell, something just occurred to me. I hope he’s not married. Well, better go see if he’s wearing a ring.
Oh, question. How direct should I be? I don’t want to turn him off or anything, but I want to make sure he knows it’s only about sex. No sleeping in late and reading the paper together. No meeting the folks. Just sex. Should I lay it on the line right off the bat? Most men would jump at the chance at no-strings-attached sex, right?
Really anxious to hear from you all. Have to admit I’m a little nervous. Okay, my hands are shaking here. Write to me soon, okay?
Thanks! You guys are the best.
Angel
Tori signed off, closed her laptop and hurried to the window. She couldn’t see him, but an old red truck was parked in the back that had to belong to him.
She stopped at her vanity mirror to check her reflection, added a touch of color to each cheekbone, calculatedly tousled her hair and then headed for the back servants’ stairs that ended up off the pantry. That way she wouldn’t run into her mother. She doubted Marian Whitford had ever even seen the kitchen.
Mission accomplished, Tori got down the stairs and through the kitchen without seeing a soul. But just as she got to the back door, Mallory entered from the dining room.
Her sister gave her a wry smile. “Where are you going?” Her smile widened, her gaze straying out the kitchen window toward the truck. “Let me guess.”
Tori sighed. “Mallory…”
“Hey, if I could I’d go for it.” She opened the pantry door and dug around the canisters of flour and sugar and then pulled out a bottle of gin.
Tori frowned.
“I’m sick of mom getting on my case,” Mallory said, shrugging, as she poured a drink. “What she doesn’t know won’t hurt her.”
Tori hesitated. She and her sister had just started to get close before Tori had gone off to college. She didn’t want to stir anything up but she couldn’t keep her mouth shut, either. “You do seem to be drinking a lot.”
“You would, too, if you were married to Richard.” Mallory sighed and then took a long sip. “Go find Jake before he leaves.”
Tori’s chest tightened. The resignation in Mallory’s voice and face really got to her. But there wasn’t much more she could say right now. Later, away from the house, they’d have a talk. When Mallory turned