He grinned and obediently rolled onto his back, curious and intrigued now. She came down astride him, circled his wrists with her fingers, and pinned him to the rug. There was a delightfully wicked, erotic challenge in her eyes.
“Is this a new game?” he asked.
“You spent the past six months reading men’s magazines in your spare time. I spent the past six months reading women’s magazines in my leisure time.”
Holding his wrists against the rug, she began to move against him. The insides of her thighs were smooth and firm. He was already hard, but he got harder.
He looked up at her. “Does this involve little velvet whips?”
“Do you mind?”
“Not as long as we get to take turns.”
“I don’t know about taking turns. I think I like this position.”
“Me too,” he said. “Those women’s magazines must have been very cutting edge, editorially speaking.”
“They were.” She kissed his flat nipple. “Very politically correct, too.”
“Politically correct? Ah, you mean the lady on top. That’s good. I can go with politically correct on occasions like this.”
She smiled again and bit his ear.
He laughed softly, savoring the torment.
“My turn,” he said after a while.
“Not yet,” she said.
She kissed him again. Heat roared through him.
“Now,” he said.
Very gently he flipped her onto her back, reversing their positions, and lowered his head to take her mouth.
“Wait,” she said just before he entered her. “What about the little velvet whips?”
“We’ll get to those,” he promised softly.
IT WAS ONLY later, when the first gray light of dawn appeared in the high windows, that he realized that she had deliberately distracted him. It had been an effective tactic, he reflected. But the bottom line remained clear. He still did not know why she had ended the standoff that had kept them apart for six months.
He told himself it did not matter. But a part of him knew that it did matter. A lot.
He had been so sure that if he got a second chance with her in bed everything would be okay.
He was profoundly grateful that he had been given an opportunity to get the sex part of the equation right at last. But now that that hurdle was past, he sensed the problem was not yet solved. Something was still missing.
What the hell did he want from her?
THE MIRROR COULD have served as a set for a scene from a classic film, Elizabeth thought. The atmosphere of the crowded nightclub was dark and hazy, heavy with a sense of languor and seedy decadence. Antique mirrors of all shapes and sizes hung on the walls, creating a disorienting series of cloudy reflections.
Not exactly Rick’s place in Casablanca, but close enough.
On the small stage a sultry redhead clad in a form-fitting gown stood in the spotlight. She delivered a torchy love song in a rich, husky voice that was slightly rough around the edges.
With a little imagination one could picture Bogart sitting at a corner table, a drink in front of him, thinking about Paris.
Jack had chosen the club after making a few inquiries. Not that there were a lot of choices. Mirror Springs was trendy, but it was, nevertheless, a small town. It could sustain only a handful of night spots. The Mirror was generally acknowledged to be the hottest of the lot.
Jack had bet that it would attract the most prominent festivalgoers. He had been right, Elizabeth thought, glancing around. Everyone who was anyone was here tonight. Vicky Bellamy and Dawson Holland held court at a table near the stage. Elsewhere in the gloom, Spencer West, the writer, was downing tequila sunrises at a steady rate. He was surrounded by a group of very serious-looking people dressed in black who were also drinking heavily.
It had been Jack’s decision to come here after they had attended the screening of an extremely forgettable festival entrant titled Stranger in an Alley. Everybody died in the end.
Elizabeth leaned partway across the small, candlelit table and pitched her voice to a level just above a whisper. “I don’t want you to think that I lack faith in your executive planning ability, but are you sure you know what you’re doing?”
“Trust me.” He did not look away from the singer. “It has always been my experience that nothing loosens up a logjam like a little cash.”
“You’re not talking about a little cash. You’re talking big bucks here.”
“It’ll be worth every cent if it gets us to Page before he pulls off his auction.”
“But, Jack—”
He switched his attention from the singer to her. In the bluesy light his face was etched in shadows. She could feel the relentless determination humming through him.
“It’s not like we have a lot of options here,” he said. “Time is running out.”
“I still say he’ll show up at the awards ceremony or at the premiere of Fast Company. That gives us two chances to nab him.”
“If this works, we won’t have to depend on trying to spot him in the crowds at the ceremony or the screening.” Jack broke off, eyes narrowing as his gaze shifted to someone or something behind her. “There goes Ledger. Looks like he’s headed toward the men’s room. If you’ll excuse me, I’ve got an appointment.”
Elizabeth winced. “Charming venue for a business conversation.”
“Don’t knock it.” Jack was already on his feet. “I’ve done some of my most important deals in the men’s room.”
“Why in a rest room, for heaven’s sake?”
“Size does matter.”
She glared at him, uncomfortably aware of the heat rising in her cheeks. She silently gave thanks for the dim lighting. Jack slanted her a knowing grin and glided off through the maze of small tables. In the faint, flickering glow of the candles he was a lean, imposing figure. A man of mystery. She lost sight of him when he disappeared into a dark hallway. The sign over the entrance was done in purple neon letters that spelled out the words “Rest Rooms.”
A figure moved out of the shadows and halted near the chair Jack had just vacated.
“I hate to see a lady sitting alone,” Hayden said. “Mind if I join you?”
JACK FOLLOWED LEONARD Ledger into the men’s room. A quick glance showed that they were alone in the facility. There were mirrors in here, too. The three antique framed squares of reflective glass that hung in a row above the washbasins appeared quite ordinary. But he couldn’t say the same for the wide strip of mirrored glass set into the wall behind the urinals. The inset mirrors were positioned precisely at groin level. Any man taking a leak would find himself gazing down at the reflection of his own penis.
Which was exactly what Leonard Ledger was doing. In fact, Ledger seemed happily riveted by the scene he was viewing.
Jack took a closer look and noticed that the mirror behind the urinals had been designed to reflect a larger-than-life image. Maybe the designer should have etched a warning on the glass: “Caution: Objects in mirror may be smaller than they appear.”
Jack reached back and flicked the lock on the door. At the sound of the faint but unmistakable click, Leonard glanced over his shoulder. When he saw who stood there, his slightly perplexed expression lightened instantly.
“Jack. Hey, what a coincidence,” Leonard said brightly. “I was planning to catch up with you tomorrow. Got a copy of the script for Dark Moon Rising for you.”
“Is that right?”
“You’re in luck. I happen to have it with me tonight. You can take it home to read. You’re gonna love it.”
“How badly do you need money for your film?”
Leonard rolled his eyes, shook twice, and stuffed himself back into his pants. “Are you kidding?” He yanked on his zipper. “If money is the mother’s milk of politics, it’s the life’s blood of filmmaking. There’s never enough cash.”
“Never enough?”
Obviously fearing that he had made a serious misstep, Leonard ru
shed into words of urgent reassurance. “Which doesn’t mean I don’t know how to stick to a budget. Don’t worry about that angle. I guarantee I’ll bring Dark Moon Rising in on time and under budget. No problem.”
“I’ll take your word for it. I’m interested in investing in your picture.”
Leonard’s shaved head glowed pink with enthusiasm. “Fabulous. You won’t regret this, Jack. Dark Moon Rising is going to be big. Very, very big. And we haven’t even talked about the foreign distribution possibilities. Sky’s the limit there. Trust me.”
“You can tell me about the distribution possibilities later. Right now I want to go over the terms of our arrangement.”
Leonard blinked. “Terms?”
“I’ll sign on as an investor for Dark Moon Rising if you help me find a man.”
Leonard’s mouth was already opening to accept the deal. But he closed it again very quickly and cleared his throat.
“A man?” he repeated neutrally.
“Yes.”
“Well, hey. Don’t get me wrong here.” Leonard held up his hands, palms out. “I got no problems with your sexual orientation. Personal thing, y’know? It’s just that I’m not sure I can help you out in this area. I mean, I’m not exactly Mr. Matchmaker, see? I could maybe introduce you to some people I know, but—”
Jack smiled. “Forget the matchmaking. I’m not looking for a date. I’m looking for a guy who stole something from me.”
Leonard looked more wary than ever. “What did he steal?”
“That’s not important. What’s important is that I find him as soon as possible.”
Fresh alarm blazed across Leonard’s face. “We’re not talking drugs or anything like that, are we? I don’t want to get involved—”
“No drugs. Nothing illegal. Nothing dangerous. This was high-tech industrial theft. White-collar crime.”
“Sounds like you need the cops.”
“Nobody ever calls the cops on this kind of crime.”
“Oh, yeah. I’ve heard that. Bad publicity, huh?”
“Right.”
Leonard frowned. “You check the local hotels for this guy?”
“Yes. He’s not registered anywhere here in town.”
“But you’re pretty sure he’s around?”
Jack thought about the phone call he had received inviting him to attend the auction. “He’s here somewhere. What I need is someone who knows who’s who behind the scenes here in Mirror Springs.”
Leonard looked wise. “Someone who knows the players.”
“Whatever.” It was hard to think of any of the low-budget independent filmmakers he’d met here at the festival as Hollywood-style players, but Jack decided not to comment. He didn’t want to insult Leonard. “If I give you the name of a guy who helped produce a film called Fast Company, think you could find him?”
Leonard’s eyes narrowed. “Maybe. If he’s hanging around. Is that all you want me to do?”
“There is one other small thing.”
Leonard uttered a world-weary groan. “I was afraid of that.”
Jack smiled slightly. “It’s not so hard. I just want to be sure you keep this low-key, understand? I’m trying to find this guy, not scare him off.”
Leonard relaxed, happy again. “Got it. Don’t worry, I won’t take out an ad in the Mirror Springs Gazette. What’s the name of this dude you’re looking for?”
“Tyler Page.”
“Never heard of him.” Leonard flipped one hand in a vague gesture. “He can’t be very big in the business.”
“He’s not. But he’s got ambitions.”
“Doesn’t everyone? Okay, I’ll see what I can turn up.” Leonard frowned. “How do I get in touch with you?”
“You can call me at either of these two numbers.” Jack took a card out of his pocket and scrawled the number of the house where he and Elizabeth were staying and his cell phone number. He handed the card to Leonard. “Day or night. Remember, try not to make waves. He’ll disappear on me if you screw up. And I will lose all interest in Dark Moon Rising if that happens.”
Leonard glanced at the card and then looked up. Some of his initial enthusiasm had faded. “You really want to find this guy bad, don’t you?”
“Yes.” Jack went to the door and unlocked it. “I do.”
“Hang on.” Leonard hurried to follow him out of the rest room. “I’ll get that script for you.”
Jack paused at the door. “Mind washing your hands first?”
“I THINK I’D better make it clear that I’m a noncombatant in your little war with Jack,” Elizabeth said.
“Innocent bystanders get hurt when he’s in the vicinity.” Hayden smiled grimly across the table. “But you already know that, don’t you?”
“What is this all about, Hayden?”
“Soft Focus.”
“I don’t intend to discuss that subject with you again.”
He ignored that. “You’re here for the auction. You’re Jack’s checkbook. He won’t be able to afford to stay in the bidding without the Aurora Fund to back him up.”
“Go away, Hayden.”
“I didn’t get a chance to finish making my pitch yesterday. We can both make a killing on this if we work together.”
“This conversation is starting to bore me.”
He leaned closer, his eyes gleaming in the candlelight. “Talk to me, Elizabeth. Work with me.”
“Why should I?”
“Because you can’t trust Jack. You know that. Come in with me on this and I’ll make it worth your while. You have my personal guarantee.”
“What, exactly, do you want me to do?”
“Nothing.”
“I beg your pardon?”
He grinned, a fleeting smile that reminded her of Jack. “I just want you to agree not to back him at the auction. He can’t outbid me on his own.”
“I thought I made it clear that as far as I’m concerned, I’ve got a vested interest in Excalibur. I’m not interested in taking a financial hit for the sake of revenge.”
“You disappoint me, Elizabeth. I pegged you as a woman of passion and imagination.”
“A lot of people make that mistake.”
“If it’s only the money that’s standing in the way, I can take care of that. My company is worth ten times as much as Excalibur and it has its own R & D projects, remember? At least two are guaranteed to hit big. I give you my word that if you help me out here, I’ll cut the Aurora Fund in for a piece of the action.”
She studied him. “I know he’s your half brother, Hayden. He told me the story. I don’t want to get involved in a family quarrel.”
Hayden stared at her. Then his eyes hardened. “Shit. What’s the matter with you? He’s using you. Can’t you see that?”
“What I see,” she said gently, “is that your need for revenge is eating you up inside. On top of the unresolved issues you’ve got with the past, you’re going through a difficult divorce. That’s undoubtedly added a lot of stress.”
“Don’t analyze me. You don’t know a damn thing about my past except what Jack chose to tell you. And you can bet that was a pack of lies. As for my divorce, you haven’t got a clue. No one does. You can’t even begin to understand what it’s been like dealing with a spoiled little girl who thinks her rich daddy can give her anything she wants.”
The sudden gritty anger in his voice alarmed her. “Hayden—”
“Jack was smart enough to slip out of the noose before Ringstead could tighten it around his neck. I’ll give him credit for that. But I got caught.”
“What on earth are you talking about?”
“Didn’t Jack tell you that he used to date my almost-ex-wife? Jack and Gillian. Cute, huh?”
“Oh, dear.”
“She picked him because Daddy liked him, you see. Ringstead decided that Jack had what it took to control Ring, Inc. But fool that I was, I convinced her that Daddy would like me even better. And you know what?” Hayden’s mouth twisted with savage self-
mockery. “He did.”
Elizabeth groaned. “You stole Gillian away from Jack?”
“It wasn’t hard.” He tightened one hand into a fist on top of the small table. “Now I know why.”
“Why?”
“Because Jack had already figured out that the whole fucking family was poison. He probably laughed himself sick on my wedding day. And he’s laughing even harder now, knowing how much it’s going to cost me to squirm out of the Ringstead trap.”
“You can’t blame Jack for the fact that you married Gillian Ringstead. Deep down, you know that.” Impulsively she touched his clenched hand. “You’ve obviously got issues with the past, but you won’t settle them by trying to avenge yourself on your brother.”
“Half brother.” Hayden got to his feet with a quick, violent movement. “And I will destroy him, Elizabeth. The way his father destroyed my mother. For your own sake, I hope you’re not standing too close when it happens. Believe it or not, I really don’t want to see you get hurt.”
He turned and strode off toward the entrance of the club. On stage the singer launched into another haunting ballad, a tale of love and risk. Elizabeth did not recognize the song, but she knew the wistful, melancholic feeling it produced all too well.
“Better yes than no,
Better to take the fall,
Better some kind of love than no love at all.”
She let the music drift over her, feeling safe as long as it stayed on the surface. And then, without warning, it was inside her. She tightened her grip on her glass as the song stirred memories of last night.
She had made a pact with herself. She had vowed to concentrate on the physical pleasure and the satisfaction she had found in Jack’s arms. Keep it all on the surface this time. But the singer was reaching deeper with her music, stirring more dangerous embers.
Getting beneath the surface.
In an effort to shake off the disturbing twist in the pit of her stomach, she glanced toward the purple neon sign that marked the rest rooms. There was no sign of Jack. How long did it take to make a deal in a men’s room?