“Where did the money go?” Sickening thoughts of drugs, gambling, and extortion raced through Hailey’s mind. “What did you spend it on?”
“Clothes mostly. Some jewelry. Don’t look at me like that, Hailey,” Ellen cried, finally raising her eyes to her sister’s. ?
??You know I can’t stand it if you’re mad at me. I love you so much.”
“Especially when you need money.”
“Oh, what a terrible thing to say.”
“But that is why you’re here, isn’t it? To get the money from me?”
“I’ll pay you back. I promise. Please, Hailey. She’s telling everyone in the office terrible things about me.”
Why was it, Hailey wondered, that when she herself cried, she looked like the very devil, with a red nose and blotched cheeks? Ellen looked absolutely gorgeous when she cried. Her eyes shimmered with tears, her lashes clung together wetly, her lips quivered with irresistible vulnerability.
Yet it wasn’t out of compassion that Hailey was going to give her the money. She didn’t feel sorry for her sister. She felt only a pity that bordered on disgust. By giving her the money, she would be rid of her, at least temporarily. Hailey didn’t want Ellen in her world.
Selfish to the point of neurosis, Ellen would take everything Hailey had to give—money, self-esteem, and, given the chance, Tyler. Scruples wouldn’t deter her from taking anything that suited her fancy.
“What’s the girl’s name?” Hailey asked. “I’ll write her a check.”
“You can make it out to me.”
“What’s her name?” Hailey asked sternly, taking her checkbook out of her purse.
Ellen didn’t argue, but sulkily supplied the name. Hailey extended the check to her without a word of admonition. Body language said what she was thinking most eloquently. Almost guiltily, Ellen said, “Thank you, Hailey. You’re the best sister—”
“I’m the only sister, Ellen. And that’s the only reason you’re here. Don’t pretend it’s anything else.”
“Why are you being so mean all of a sudden?” Ellen asked petulantly.
But Hailey didn’t answer her. She was already opening the door, making it clear that now Ellen had what she had come for, she should leave. Tyler was sitting on the living room sofa, one ankle propped on his opposite knee, as he leafed through a magazine.
“Do you realize what a treasure you have in my sister here?” Ellen asked with false affection, coming up to Hailey and hugging her tightly.
“I don’t think she realizes it,” Tyler said quietly, studying Hailey’s shattered face as he rose from the couch.
His words didn’t register. All Hailey saw was Ellen folding the check into a neat rectangle and sliding it into the breast pocket of her form-fitting shirt. It was a slow motion gesture, both deliberate and provocative.
“It’s been great fun meeting you, Tyler,” she said. She went to him, hooked one arm round his neck and drew him down to plant a sisterly kiss on his hard cheek. Hailey saw her sister’s lush breasts lightly skim his chest before she pulled away. “Good-bye, Hailey. Thanks.” Without another word, she went through the front door. Her footsteps fell like a death knell on Hailey’s ears.
She stared at the door for long moments until strong hands settled on her shoulders from behind her. “Hungry yet?”
She became aware of the delicious aroma of cooking steaks, but the thought of eating made her ill. “Yes, I guess so.”
“Good, because I’m starved.” Tyler kissed her briefly on the back of the neck before turning her and steering her toward the kitchen. “You get everything on the table—which looks lovely, incidentally—and I’ll pour the wine. It’s opened and breathing now.”
He was forcing lightheartedness, trying to pick up where they had left off, when Hailey knew he’d rather be following Ellen out the door. What man would want to be stuck with quartz when he could have a sparkling diamond?
Through dinner he forced conversation on her. He chatted about his plans for Serendipity, complimented her on the idea she had submitted that morning, raved about the food which he was eating with gusto and she was only picking at. She responded desultorily. Why was he carrying on this pretense? Why didn’t he just leave? Did he feel sorry for her?
That suspicion began to gnaw on her, and she grew angry and defensive. She didn’t need his pity or his sympathy. She didn’t want either. Her answers to his persistent questions became more clipped with each passing minute. When he had emptied his parfait glass of the last mouthful of chocolate mousse, she announced that she would clean the kitchen.
He conceded without an argument, but insisted on clearing the table and bringing the dishes to her. It was a wonder any of her china survived. He had left her alone to vent her temper, but she let him know with each slam of a cupboard door, with each rattle of silver, with each ring of clashing china, that she’d just as soon spend the remainder of the evening in solitude.
Snapping out the light in the kitchen, she shoved through the barroom door. Her tantrum was squelched when she saw the scene he had set. A fire was burning in the fireplace. A wine cooler and two clean glasses awaited them on the coffee table in front of the low sofa. The lamps had been drastically dimmed. The drapes on the wide windows had been opened to the jewel-like view of Gatlinburg by night. Tyler was crouched in front of her record collection, selecting a record for the stereo.
“All done?” he asked her over his shoulder when he heard her approach.