High-Powered, Hot-Blooded

When she climbed out of the car, she stared at the glittering three-story mansion. It was huge, with lights everywhere, a long, wide walkway and a fountain roughly the size of a semi.

“This rich thing,” she said as Duncan moved next to her. “Looks like fun.”

“The taxes would kill you,” he said with a grin, then leaned in and kissed her on the mouth.

“Just paying for the lightbulbs would make me whimper.” She leaned into him and laughed. “Do you think they take in boarders? I mean, a room in this place would be bigger than my whole house.”

“Want me to get an application?”

“If they have them lying around.”

He put his arm around her and they walked toward the front door. A uniformed butler let them in. They were shown to a massive living room with a roaring fire. Sofas and comfy-looking chairs filled the football field–sized space. To the left was a bar. In front of them were four sets of French doors leading out to a huge patio.

“There is a light buffet outside,” the butler told them. “The area is heated and very comfortable.”

Duncan thanked the man. Annie waited until he left before whispering, “So they’re the reason L.A. is always warm in the winter. They’re heating the whole outdoors. Interesting.”

Duncan laughed and pulled her close. She wrapped her arms around him, feeling the vibration of the sound. Then it stopped and he tensed. She felt every muscle, heard the sudden increase in his breathing and knew, without turning around, that someone else had walked into the party.

“Duncan,” she breathed.

He touched her cheek and stared into her eyes. “It doesn’t matter.”

But she had a feeling that it mattered a lot. More than either of them wanted to admit.

Annie stepped back and turned around. Valentina stood in the entrance to the beautiful home. Her eyes locked with Duncan’s, but she didn’t do anything more than nod at him before walking into the party.

“You going to be all right?” he asked, pressing his hand to the small of her back and guiding her outside.

“I’m fine,” she lied.

What else was there to say? That Valentina terrified her? That she believed Duncan was still in love with his ex-wife? That she’d always known she didn’t have a chance with Tim’s boss, but she’d allowed herself to hope and it was all going to end badly? All she could do was pray that he remembered not to tell her he wanted to be friends. It was what she’d asked for, and Duncan was the type of man to remember.

Maybe the problem wasn’t Valentina, she thought as they stepped outside. Maybe it was her. Maybe she should learn to ask for more.

Time crawled by. Annie did her best not to glance at her watch every five minutes. The party was small enough that she and Duncan had to stay for at least a couple of hours. So far they’d been outside and Valentina had stayed inside, avoiding each other. She wondered if that would last for the entire party.

When Duncan got into a conversation about oil futures, she excused herself and went in search of the restroom. It was as lovely as the rest of the house, complete with a marble vanity and dozens of expensive soaps, hand creams and hair products. After she’d washed her hands and fluffed her curls, she opened the door and stepped into the hallway. Only to find Valentina waiting for her.

Duncan’s ex was dressed in black pants and a cream-colored off-the-shoulder sweater. She was tall, thin and beautiful, with the kind of sleek, straight hair Annie had always envied.

“Hi,” Valentina said, clutching a martini glass. “You’re Duncan’s girlfriend, right?”

Annie nodded slowly. The truth was different, but Valentina didn’t need to know about their deal.

“Have you been going out long?” the other woman asked.

“We met in September,” Annie said, hoping she didn’t look as nervous as she felt. “I, ah, had a flat tire and Duncan stopped to help.”

“That doesn’t sound like him at all. You’re a teacher?”

“Kindergarten.”

“Let me guess. You’re sweet and kind. You take in orphans and stray pets.”

Annie couldn’t read the other woman’s voice. There was tension in it, but the source wasn’t clear. Was she mocking Annie or herself?