Black Rose - NRoberts - G2 Black Rose

She stopped. She hadn’t finished that talking to, she thought. In her current mood, it would’ve been a waste of time. “You never surprise me.”

“Oh, I think I do and will again. I wasn’t sure you’d be here tonight.” His expression turned sly, and smug. “I heard somewhere that you’d dropped your membership.”

“That’s the thing about rumors, they’re so often lies. Tell me, Bryce, what are you getting out of all this effort? Writing letters, making phone calls, risking criminal charges by falsifying credit cards.”

“I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

“Nobody here for the moment but you and me.” She gestured up and down the empty corridor. “So let’s move straight to the bottom line. What do you want?”

“Everything I can get. You’ll never prove I made any calls, wrote any letters, used any credit cards. I’m very careful, and very smart.”

“Just how long do you think you can keep it up?”

“Until I’m bored. I had a lot of time and effort invested in you, Roz, and you flicked me off. I don’t like being flicked off. Now I’m back, and you won’t get through a day without remembering that. Of course, if you were to make me a private, monetary offer—”

“That’s never going to happen.”

“Your choice.” He gave a shrug. “There are things I can do to keep chipping away at you. I think you’ll come around. I know just how important your reputation, your standing in Shelby County is to you.”

“I don’t think you do.” She kept her eyes on his even when the lounge door opened several feet behind them. “You can’t touch me, either, where it counts, no matter how many lies you spread, how many people you convince to believe them. Quill isn’t a complete fool, and it won’t take long for him to realize you’re taking him for a ride. A costly one.”

“You give him too much credit. What he is, is greedy. I know how to play on greed.”

“You would, having so much of it yourself. Tell me, how much have you taken poor Mandy for so far?”

“Nothing she can’t afford to lose. I never took what you couldn’t afford, Roz.” He skimmed his fingers over her cheek, and she let him. “And I gave you good value for your money. If you hadn’t been so narrow-minded, we’d still be together.”

“If you hadn’t stolen from me, cheated on me with another woman in my own home, we might be—so I’ll have to thank you for that. Tell me, Bryce, what is it about Mandy that appeals to you?”

“She’s rich, but then so were you. After that, she’s young and you weren’t, and she’s remarkably stupid. You weren’t that, either. A little slow, but never stupid.”

“Are you really going to marry her?”

“She thinks so.” He took out a gold lighter, idly flicking the lid open and closed. “And who knows? Money, youth, malleability. She may just be the perfect wife for me.”

“It does seem small of you to be going around, making prank calls, complicating her life—oh, and screwing with Quill and Jan, losing Quill clients. I think you need more constructive work.”

“Two birds, one stone. It keeps them sympathetic to me and chips away at you.”

“And what do you think will happen when they find out the truth?”

“They won’t. As I said before, I’m careful. You’ll never prove it.”

“I don’t think I’ll have to. You always did like to boast and brag, Bryce.” This time she patted him on the cheek, and thought of it as her kill shot. “Only one of your many failings.” She gestured behind him to where Jan and Mandy stood, faces shocked, bodies still as statues.

Beside them, Cissy began to applaud lightly. Roz took a small bow, then walked away.

It was her turn to be surprised when she saw Mitch at the end of the corridor.

“Caught the show,” he said casually, and slipped his hand over hers. “I thought the female lead was exceptional.”

“Thank you.”

“You okay?”

“Probably, but I wouldn’t mind some air.”

He led her out on the terrace. “Very slick,” he said.

“Very impromptu,” she corrected, and now, after it was done, her stomach began to jump. “But there he was, just dying to nip at me and posture around, and there they were, those pitiful, annoying women. The bonus being Cissy’s presence, too. That little play will be making the rounds, word-for-word, in a New-York minute.”

On cue, there was the sound of raised female voices from inside the ballroom, an abrupt crash, hysterical sobbing.

“Want to go in for the second act?”

“No, I don’t. I think you should ask me to dance, right here.”

“Then I will.” He slipped his arms around her. “Beautiful night,” he said while the scene played out through the open doors behind them.

“It really is.” With a long sigh, she laid her head on his shoulder and felt all those sharp edges smooth out. “Just smell that wisteria. I want to thank you for not riding to my rescue back there.”

“I nearly did.” He brushed his lips over her hair. “But then, I thought you had it so completely under control, and I was enjoying my front-row seat.”

“Lord, listen to that woman wail. Doesn’t she have any pride? I’m afraid Bryce had one thing right. She is stupid, bless her heart. Dim as an underground cave on a moonless night.”

“Dad!” Josh charged through the doorway. “You’ve got to come see this.”

Mitch just continued to circle Roz on the terrace, though the music had long stopped, giving way to shouts and scuffling feet.

“Busy here,” he replied.

“But Shelby’s dad just clocked this guy. Punched him out . And this woman ripped into him—the other guy, not Shelby’s dad. It’s all about teeth and nails. You’re missing it.”

“Go on back, you can give us the play-by-play later. I’m going to be busy kissing Roz for a while.”

“Man. I’ve got to come to country clubs more often.” With that, Josh rushed back inside.

And Mitch lowered his mouth to Roz’s.

SHE NEEDED TOrelax. She’d handled herself, Roz thought as she replaced her jewelry in its case, and she believed that what she’d been able to do had finally pried the monkey of a vindictive ex-husband off her back.

But the cost had been yet another public scene.

She was tired of them, tired of having her dirty linen flapped around for avid eyes to see. And she’d have to get over it.

She undressed, slipped into her warm flannel robe.

She was glad they’d been able to leave the club early. Hardly any reason to stay, she thought with a sharp smile. The place had been a glorious mess of overturned tables, spilled food and drink, horrified guests, and scrambling security.

And would be the talk of the gossip circuit for weeks, as she would be.

That was fine, that was expected, she told herself as she ran a warm bath. She’d ride it out, then things would get back to as close to normal as they ever did.

She poured in an extra dose of bubble bath, a lovely indulgence for a midnight soak. When she was done, all relaxed and pink and fragrant, she might just wander down to the library and crook a finger at Mitch.

Bless him for understanding she needed a little alone time. With a sigh, she slid into the tub, right down to the tips of her ears. A man who recognized a woman’s moods, and accepted them, was a rare find.

John had, she remembered. Most of the time. They’d been so beautifully in tune, moving in tandem to build a family, enjoying their present and planning their future. Losing him had been like losing an arm.

Still, she’d coped, and damn well if she said so herself. She’d raised sons she, and John, could be proud of, kept a secure home, honored her traditions, built her own business. Not bad for a widow woman.