Chapter Thirty-Two

Picking up the her favorite blue bottle, Richie filled Stephanie’s wine glass before picking up the Johnnie Walker Blue to add another splash to his high ball glass.  He turned to watch her as she interacted with his friends.  She was smiling and seemed to be enjoying herself. Not at all nervous in a room full of strangers.  Still, he was glad he kept the party small.  

“You’re not over doing it are you?”  Heather motioned to the short glass on the bar in front of him as she sidled up next to him.

He shook his head at his ex-wife.  “I’m fine.”  He looked back over at Stephanie and found her watching him and his interaction with his ex.  He smiled and winked at her.

“She’s not your usual type.”  Heather hadn’t missed the way Richie had been watching this new woman, how he had barely left her side all evening.  From where she was standing, Richie was clearly smitten with this woman.  While Stephanie seemed nice enough, she just didn’t fit the hardened, Hollywood type he had been gravitating toward lately.  There was something softer, more vulnerable about her.  Add to that the fact that she was a brunette, Heather didn’t understand the attraction.

Richie sipped the smooth whiskey, “my tastes have changed.”  It wasn’t her business anymore anyway who he chose to spend his time with.  She gave that right up when she asked him for a divorce.  “She’s a nice woman who has no interest in the ‘business’ of Hollywood.”  His eyes once again drifted from Heather to Stephanie.

Heather smirked.  “But what does she have an interest in?”  She followed his gaze to where Stephanie was engaged in conversation with Mike’s wife, Liz.  “How did you two meet?  Are you sure she doesn’t have any ulterior motives for falling in with you?”  She wasn’t trying to be mean, but she didn’t want to see Richie hurt if things didn’t work out.  They might not be married anymore, but she still cared about him.

He didn’t like what Heather was insinuating.  His grip tightened on his glass and he set Stephanie’s back on the bar.  He didn’t want to snap the stem.  She couldn’t have meant that the way it sounded.  “Not that it’s any of your business” he hissed, “but Stephanie is the least conniving woman I have ever met.”  He leaned in close, he didn’t want anyone else to hear what he was about to say, “she’s here because she wants to be with me, not because she needs my money, or because she needs to be in the limelight.”  Unlike you. Straightening, he picked up both glasses off the bar.  “Now, if you’ll excuse me” he left Heather staring after him as he headed toward Stephanie.

Stephanie watched as he practically stalked across the room to her.  What in the world had Heather said to make him so mad?  

“Here you go, sweetheart.”  Richie handed her her glass and took a healthy swallow out of his own.  No way Heather could be right about Stephanie.

“Are you okay?”  His cheeks were flushed and his eyes were not happy.

He nodded, “yeah, I’m fine.”  He let the fingers of his free hand tangle with hers.  He felt calmer for the contact.  “Heather just...yeah, she’s just being Heather.  Nothing to be worried about.”  He turned to the group that was talking to his right.  Suddenly he wished everyone would leave.  He really just wanted to be alone with Stephanie.  He hated that Heather could still make him feel like every choice he made was the wrong one.  “Let’s go into the other room where the TV is so we can see what Dick Clark and Ryan Seacrest are up to.  It’s about half hour til the ball drops.”  With any luck, after they toasted in the new year everyone would want to go home and he could convince Stephanie to stick around for breakfast.

He held Stephanie back as everyone moved into the other room.  “Help me with the champagne?”  

She nodded and followed him into the kitchen.  “Sure.”  She watched him stalk to the refrigerator and yank out two bottles of Krug and then hip-check the door shut.  When he turned to the cabinet in corner she laid her hand gently in the middle of his back, between his tense shoulder blades.  “What’s wrong?”  For every time he had been there when she needed someone, she really wished he would let her be there for him.

He set the two bottles down on the counter and turned around, his cool hand cupping her cheek.  He should say something, apologize to her for acting like a complete ass, but all he could focus on at the moment was her mouth and how luscious her lips looked.  His leaned in and dropped his mouth to hers, kissing her with an urgency borne of anger and frustration.  When he pulled back, he didn’t miss the confusion warring with desire in her witchy green eyes and he felt like a heel. “I’m sorry, sweetheart.”  He turned back to the champagne, not giving her a chance to even catch her breath.

She stepped around him, her hand not quite steady as she reached for the cupboard to get the glasses.  Dropping her hand from the cabinet pull, she fingered her lips.  Where had that come from?  She turned to ask him again what was bothering him, but found him working deliberately to open the champagne.   She turned back to the cabinet instead and pulled out the glasses.  “Do you have a tray?” she asked quietly.

He released the cork with a slight “pop” and turned around.  “What?”

“Do you have a tray for the glasses?” 

“Oh, yeah.”  He reached down to a slim cabinet and pulled out a festive holiday tray.  “Here, sweetheart.”

She reached for it and their hands touched.  Before she could pull hers back he gripped her fingers. 

“I’m sorry.” 

She raised her head and met his gaze.  “Are you going to tell me what happened in there?”  She indicated to the living room.  “Or do I have to guess?”

He shook his head, “if you’ll stick around after everyone leaves, we’ll have a nice long talk.”  Among other things.  Hopefully.

She studied him for a long moment.  “Okay.”  He deserved at least that much.  She glanced up at the clock.  “We’d best get the champagne into the other room.  It’s two minutes til next year.”

~

After the ball dropped and happy new years’ kisses, hugs and handshakes were exchanged, Richie’s friends started disappearing.  By one o’clock they were alone.  Richie closed the door behind the last of his friends and found Stephanie in the living room picking up the odd dirty glass or crumpled napkin.  “Here, let me do that.”  He took the items from her hands and set them on the bar.  “I didn’t invite you here to clean up after me.”

She shrugged.  “It’s no big deal.”  She was used to helping with the clean up after a party.  It was just something she had always done for her family and friends. 

“Come on” he took her hand and tugged her along through the kitchen, stopping to grab the last bottle of Krug and two glasses before detouring out onto the patio.  It was cool, but the heater made it comfortable.  He settled himself on the lounger and patted the cushion in front of him.  “Have a seat.”

Nestled between his legs, she rested back against him, twirling the delicate champagne flute between her fingers.  “Are you going to tell me what had you all riled up earlier?”

His sigh ruffled her hair and he took a sip of the decadent bubbles.  “Heather.”  He set his glass on the ground next to the bottle and ran his fingertips lightly up and down her arm.  “She always seems to know just which buttons of mine to push to piss me off.”  He took her glass from her fingers and set it next to his before taking her hand and bringing it to his lips.  “I’m sorry for acting like such an ass earlier.  You didn’t deserve to have my bad mood taken out on you.”

Turning so she was resting on her hip, she looked up at him.  “Just talk to me next time, Rich.  If this relationship is going to work, you need to know you can talk to me as much as I know I can and you make me, talk to you.”

He fluttered kisses across her forehead.  “I know sweetheart, you’re right.  I just-” he sighed again.  “There are days when I wish she would just keep her mouth shut.”

Stephanie thought back to what she had witnessed between them earlier in the evening.  “She was talking about me, wasn’t she?”

He nodded.  “Yeah.”

Stephanie frowned.  “What did she say?”

With another sigh he relayed their conversation to her.  “I don’t believe a word of what she said and I told her so.”

Stephanie nodded.  “Is she so insecure that she needs to question the intentions of someone she barely said hello to?  And, just so you know, between the life insurance, selling my house and the settlement I got from the trucking company, I have more money than I will ever be able to spend.  I don’t even have to work if I don’t want to.”  She pushed away from him and stood, agitation making her pace.  “I don’t want your money, Rich.  I have no desire whatsoever to be in the spotlight.”  She leaned down and picked up her champagne, drinking it down in one long swallow.

Richie stood and took the glass from her, setting it on the table.  “Come on sweetheart, don’t get yourself all worked up.”  He ran his hands up and down her arms.  “She’s not worth your anger.”  Things were not going at all as he had hoped.  He needed to calm her down and work her up in a much different, more passionate way.  His fingers slid up her shoulders, kneading away the tight knots that had formed.

“Mmmmm” she closed her eyes.  “That feels good.”  She let him go on a bit longer.  “Sorry to go off like that.  It just makes me mad to be judged like that when she didn’t even care enough to take the time to talk to me.”

He brought his hands around to cup her face and tilt it up.  “And that’s her loss.  It doesn’t matter to me what she thinks.”  He kissed her gently.  “I know you and that’s what matters.”  He kissed her again, a kiss born of desire and need this time instead of anger and frustration.

She melted into him as he kissed her.  A nervous, excited shiver ran through her as his tongue swept into her mouth and his hands moved over her.

“Sweetheart” he murmured against her lips.  “Come back inside with me?”

Taking his hand, she tamped down her residual anger and growing nerves and followed him back into the house.

Chapter Thirty-One

Pinning up her hair, Stephanie stepped into her tub and sank to her chin in the fragrant bubbles. It was good to be home.  She’d had a great time going back east and seeing her parents, siblings and nieces and nephew, but as hard as it had been to get used to the quiet of her new home, she was glad for it now.  She had forgotten just how loud the kids could get when they were all together.

Reaching over she turned the volume down on the iPod and picked up her phone.  She hadn’t talked to her girls in a few days.  Her parents didn’t have a wireless connection so she’d had to sneak on their desktop computer whenever she needed to check her email.  She just wanted to wish her friends a happy new year before she had to start getting ready for her own evening.

To:     The Girls
From: Q
Subj:   Happy New Year

Hey girls, just wanted to wish you all the best for the new year.  Enjoy your evenings, however you’re spending them.

Love you all-
Q

Laying her head back, she set the phone on the edge of the tub and closed her eyes.  She let herself drift, thinking about Richie and the evening ahead.  She was actually looking forward to this little party of his.  She had gone that afternoon and had her hair done, she had picked up a new top to wear and now was indulging herself with a long soak in her garden tub.

Raising one leg out of the water, she rested her heel on the edge of the tub and carefully dragged the razor up her leg from ankle to hip.  Taking her time, she shaved and groomed, readying herself for a night out like she hadn’t in so long.  She used to enjoy prettying herself up for Mark.  Now, she was taking that care for another man.  She sighed as she ran the soapy puff over her skin.  It didn’t hurt quite so much to think about him.  It was getting easier to be without him.  Time seemed to be doing its job.

As the water cooled, she stepped out, drying herself and smoothing on her lotion.  She slipped into her robe and wandered into her bedroom.  As she was pondering her lingerie drawer her phone beeped.  One of the girls had emailed her back.

To:     Q
From: Catte
Subj:   Happy New Year

  Happy New Year yourself girlie.  Party is in full swing.  Hope you’re enjoying yourself.  Be safe.  Talk soon!

Smooches - Catte

She smiled and set the phone on the bed, catching sight of the time.  It was later than she thought.  She needed to get a move on.  She looked at her shirt hanging on the closet door and back to the drawer.  Grabbing a bra and matching panties she dressed quickly and headed back to the bathroom.

Unpinning her hair she ran her fingers through it, working out any knots.  Rosie had blown it out for her that afternoon and it was all silky, smooth and straight.  She turned her head from one side to the other, the subtle burgundy highlights catching the light.  She took a little extra care with her make up, darkening her eyes and adding a hint of color on her lips.  Stepping back into the bedroom she stopped in front of the full length mirror.

She had topped her slim, dark jeans with a silver tank that draped in the front, giving just a hint of the cleavage beneath.  She topped that with a long, lightweight black cardigan sweater.  A string of black and silver beads rested in the valley of her breasts and her crimson boots added a bit of color.  She hoped it was the right look for a rock star party.  She grabbed her purse off the dresser and dropped her lipstick in.  She hoped Richie liked it.

The drive to Calabasas was quicker than usual, the traffic lighter on this, the last night of the year.  She pulled in the driveway and crept slowly around the drive.  A million tiny white lights lit the way from the gate to the front door.  There were just a couple of other cars along the lane where she parked.  Adding her keys to her purse she stood at the front door, suddenly nervous. She raised her fingers to push the bell, paused and then let her hand fall to her side.  She wiped her hand on her jeans, her palm was damp and her pulse had started to pound.  Taking a deep breath she raised her hand once more and this time, her finger found the door bell.

Richie drained his drink, the ice cubes clinking against the bottom of the heavy crystal tumbler. He smiled distractedly at his friend’s wild story and tried to stop watching the clock.  Where is she?  

He had talked to Stephanie just yesterday after she had gotten home.  She hadn’t said she changed her mind about tonight, but she wasn’t here yet either.  He excused himself from his friends and stepped to the bar to refill his glass.  He hadn’t seen her in damn near a month.  She’d better show up.  He took a sip of his drink and had to laughed at himself.  Giving her an ultimatum and she wasn’t even here.  Man, he had it bad for this woman.  But he didn’t want her to be alone tonight.  He didn’t want to be alone tonight if he was being honest.  

Grabbing his glass off the bar he was about to rejoin his friends when the doorbell chimed.  He glanced around the room.  It had to be her; everyone else he had invited was already here. Setting his glass back on the bar he turned and headed for the door.  He nearly crashed into his daughter as he went by the staircase and she came flying down the stairs.  “Whoa there baby girl, slow down.”

Ava stumbled against him, grabbed his hand and righted herself.  “Sorry dad, but I think that might be my ride.”  She was spending the night at her girlfriend’s house and had been waiting for the last half hour to be picked up.

Together they made their way to the door.  Pulling it open Richie smiled at finding Stephanie on the other side of the door and Ava frowned.  Ava huffed her disappointment and made to go back upstairs when another car pulled around by the door and honked its horn.  She looked up at her dad.  He was looking at this woman all funny.  “My ride is here.”

Richie held out his hand to Stephanie, “come in.  I’ll be just a minute.”  After tugging her inside, he left her standing by the door as he walked his daughter out to the car that was waiting.  He kept looking back at Stephanie as he tried to get the details of Ava’s return the next day.  Finally he straightened and waved the car off.  His smile brightened as he closed the door behind him.  “Sorry about that sweetheart.”  

She held up her hand, “that’s okay.”

He studied her for a long moment.  Something about her was different.  Her eyes looked brighter today than the last time he saw her.  The sadness wasn’t as apparent tonight.  He didn’t know what had changed, but he was just going to go with it for now.  He smiled at her, “it’s good to see you.  Let me take your coat.”

She slipped off her coat and handed it to him.  “It’s good to see you too, Richie.”  

He hung up her jacket and tucked her purse into the closet.  Taking her hand he led her down the hall.  He stopped just before they got to the doorway of the living room.  Tugging her to a stop he pressed her back against the wall.  With his free hand he stroked her cheek.  “You look amazing tonight, sweetheart.”  His hand slid across her cheek and into the hair.

She drew her gaze up from his chest to his face.  “Thank you.”

He lowered his head and their mouths met in a barely there kiss.  Richie eased back briefly, a quick glance at her face found no resistance.  He went back for another kiss, pressing his body against her, taking it deeper, finding the punch of heat that was always lurking between them.

A discreet cough had them pulling apart.  “So this is where you went.  We were wondering what happened to you.”  The man looked Stephanie up and down before looking back at Richie.  “Can’t say as I blame you man.”

Richie pressed his lips briefly to Stephanie’s forehead and straightened away from her.  “Stephanie, this is my buddy Tony.”

She nodded at the man, her face hot with embarrassment.  “Hi.”

Keeping her hand in his, Richie drew her away from the wall, “come on and meet the rest of my friends.”  He took a step and then turned back, lowering his head to whisper in her ear.  “We’ll finish this” he gestured to the wall, “later.”