Lotus Blossom (15 page)

“Are you ready to tell me to pull over? Is that why you’re so quiet?”

"Wrong, China Doll. I was just thinking how gracefully you handle this automobile. You have great instincts.”

Lotus felt herself swell with pride. “Thank you.” "Thank you for chauffeuring me,” Dash told her then looked out his window. “Now tell me where we’re going and what I should look for.” "We’re going to the Strathallan, I think you said. That is one of our best hotels in the city.” She threw him a quick grin. “I’ve never stayed there, but I’ve had a drink in Hattie’s Lounge which is a fun place for cocktails in Camera Town.” “Is that what Rochester is called?”

"That plus a few other things, like the city of cold weather, city of the lilacs, and a few more.” Lotus laughed.

"But you’re proud of your hometown?”

“Oh, yes. I can’t really recall living any other

145

place. I have a hazy recollection of Japan with my other parents, but nothing too concrete. I would like to travel back to japan someday and see China too.”

“I’ll take you ... to both countries.” He grinned at her when her head swiveled momentarily his way. “Really. I mean it. We’ll go there after we’re married.” Dash felt his chest expand with delight as he thought of Lotus Sinclair becoming Lotus Sinclair Colby.

“Really?” Lotus answered, halfway between believing and disbelieving, her hands tightening on the steering wheel.

Dash slid toward her, still slouched down on his spine. “I am not fooling about this. I intend to marry you. Do you intend to marry me?” He sucked in air and held it,

Lotus was silent for a minute, then a smile lifted her mouth. “I’m going to take the Fifth Amendment.” She felt happy and sad ail at once. Dash said he wanted to marry her. Yet Lotus knew they were poles apart. He had come from working people like hers, but he had risen above the strong New England work ethic that spawned him. He was far beyond that!

“So far you have not pointed out one sight that I should look at in your fair city,” Dash whispered.

“What?” Lotus was jerked back to the moment. She took time to pull out into the center lane to pass, then she scooted back to her own lane. “Let’s see. Oh, we’ve traveled farther than I thought. There’s the Genesee River and to the south you can see the river campus of the university. That is the center of town straight ahead.” She pulled the car into the turning lane. “We get off here. This

146

isn’t the shortest way to go, but I thought might like to see the center of town.” Lotus made a few turns, then they were in downtown. She wove
in and out of traffic, finally getting to East Avenue. “This is a lovely street. The George Eastman House is located here and the homes are quite beautiful." Dash put his hand on her knee and squeeze
d
it. They turned down a street called Strathallan Park, and he looked closely at the discreet wooden sign in front of the modern building saving only
STRATHALLAN.
“Nice building,” he commented as Lotus pulled into the circular driveway and an attendant from the parking livery opened the passenger door.

Dash came around to usher her out before the attendant could get there, glaring at the individual when he tried. He wasn’t about to let anyone put his hands on Lotus! Fierce possessiveness was alien to him, but he recognized it. For most of his life he had been indifferent to maintaining a relationship. Now he found himself readdy to take on a planet to keep Lotus. “Come along, darling. It shouldn’t take long to settle things.”

“But will they want to take you? You have no luggage,” Lotus murmured from the side of her mouth as they approached the concierge in the small lobby.

Dash shrugged. “I should think so. Besides. Hans probably arranged to have some things sent here Lotus shuddered. “He doesn’t like me. "

"No, I don’t think he does, but you must remember that to Hans, Cicero’s is everything— home wife, pastime. He has few other interests."

In moments they were being swept up to the floor where Dash’s suite was located.

147

“Why don’t you call your folks, and I’ll shower and change? Then perhaps you could join me in the shower.”

Lotus gave a breathless laugh. “We’d never get to my parents.” She watched him chuckle then turn away. “Dash.”

“Yes, love.” He swiveled around to look at her. “Do you think I’ll be able to discover who forged my uncle’s signature?”

“We’ll find out together, China Doll.”

“I hope we can.”

“Believe it.” He blew her a kiss and went through to the bathroom. “Lotus. Honey, come here a minute.”

In the middle of dialing the phone when she heard him call to her, Lotus replaced the receiver and followed him.

“See,” Dash said, and pointed to the open closet in the dressing room that held shirts, sports coats, and suits. He pulled out some built-in drawers.

“Socks and underwear,” Lotus exclaimed. “You’re a very spoiled man.”

“Wrong. I have a very efficient staff.” He walked toward her, his eyes glinting over her. “You are one pretty lady, China Doll.”

“Dash.” Lotus backed up. “We haven’t got time. I haven’t called my parents.”

Dash reached out for her, lifting her toward him, impatience coursing through him at the thought that other people would be intruding between Lotus and him. He didn’t like it! Even if it were her family! He sighed as he kissed her. “All right, you have to call your parents. Then join me in the shower.” He saw the negative look on her face. He would be showering by himself. As she turned to leave the dressing room area of the suite, he patted her backside, rubbing his hand over the firm roundness of her. “I really do love to touch you, my sweet.”

“You touch me all the time.” Lotus grinned at him before she closed the door.

“Are you going to show me the lilacs?” Dash managed to say before she closed the door entirely.

“Of course.” The door shut.

Dash thought of her as he stared at the very adequate shower area. It was a relief to him. Being a tail man, he felt very uncomfortable when he was forced to slouch in the shower.

Lotus looked at the closed door for a few minutes then she sighed, went to the phone and dialed her home. The trouble was that she wanted to join him in that shower in the worst way. “Hello. Yes, Mother, it’s me, Lotus. Oh, no, nothing’s wrong. I’m just fine. I’ll be home in about an hour. I’m waiting here for—for J.D. to get changed. No, we’re at the Strathallan. Yes, that’s right. How is Uncle? He is! Oh, I’m so glad. Yes, I love you too. See you in a bit.” Lotus replaced the receiver, then listened to the water of the shower. “Watch out, Dash Colby. Here I come.” She was stripping off her clothes even as she walked to the bathroom, dropping them on a chair, taking care not to wrinkle the skirt and blouse that she would need to wear later.

Then she pushed open the door, smiling at the steam issuing forth from the shower. She took a deep breath, removed her underthings, opened the door, and stepped inside. “Hi.”

"Hi.” Dash’s hands were still uplifted, scrubbing his head as he looked at her. “Nice outfit.”

“I’m not wearing anything.”

“Definitely haute couture, love.” He reached out for her with soapy hands and pulled her closer to him. “Shall I make the water warmer?” His voice was thick all at once as he put his wet face down on her shoulder. “Darling, you are so beautiful.” “Thank you. You’re cute too.” Lotus felt her breathing skip out of rhythm as he stroked her. “I’ll love being cute if that’s what you want.” “Oh, I want you all right,” Lotus dared him. “You’ve got me.” He rinsed the soap from her body and lifted her out of the shower to swaddle her in a warm towel. “And you’re going to have me more fully in just a few more minutes.”

“Wonderful.” Lotus let her head flop foreward on his shoulder as he carried her to the bedroom. “We’ll be late.”

“Not too late,” Dash assured her as he laid her on the bed, then followed her down, casting aside the towel he’d wrapped around his own waist. “Your bed will be damp tonight.”

“I don’t mind, love. There are clean sheets in the linen closet if I want to change them and the mattress will be dry,” he muttered, not seeming to care as his eyes roved her from head to toe. “You are my China doll.”

“Yes.” Lotus reached up and pulled him down to her, kissing his mouth and clinging to him. She loved him! Oh, how she loved the man!

Dash felt his heart thudding against his ribs as she continued to caress him. Never had anyone moved into his life and taken it over as this tiny Oriental Yankee had done. The scope of her hold on him awed him, yet it didn’t frighten him away. He had kept other women at arm’s length easily.

He wanted to glue himself to Lotus. The power drew him like a magnet. He felt her body quiver under him and excitement swirled around them ‘Darling, wait, don’t touch me. I want to make it good for you.”

“It’s good now. I want you this minute,” Lotus choked.

Soaring delight took them away. Dash felt helpless, but more potent than he had ever been. His muscles were flaccid but he felt as strong as Atlas. Nothing had ever made him feel more gentle or aggressive than this fragile, dark-haired, light-skinned woman.

Lotus sank back on the bed as the peak of their passion passed and she was sliding back to reality. "My goodness. That should be bottled and kept in the Smithsonian. I do like making love very much.”

“But only with me.” Dash felt a froth of jealousy sweep through him.

“But of course.” She smiled up at him. Another thought intruded and Lotus frowned. “Dash, I don’t want you to be angry if Jeremy is at the house. He often is.”

“I’ll still accompany you. I want to be with you.” “Oh, Lord, that’s what I want too. I really want vou with me.” She reached up and touched his chin. “Jeremy isn’t in love with me, just as I was never in love with him, but he is friends with my brothers and the rest of the family. I don’t want him to be made uncomfortable in front of everyone, so I think we should wait for a more private time to talk to my parents.”

Dash nodded.

Lotus looked at the wall clock and yelped,

“Goodness, I’ll be late, and I told Mother that I would be there in an hour.”

“We’ll make it. Just put your tush in gear.” “Yours too, mister,” Lotus said. As Dash walked by her, she slapped him on the bottom. “I do like that backside of yours.”

Surprise flashed over his face and was gone. “Was it too macho when I patted you?”

“No, not coming from you, but I just thought I’d point out how that seems to a woman. From the man she loves and who loves her, it’s great, but from just any man, it’s an insult.”

“Well, I love you, China Doll.” He ran his hand through her hair.

“I love you too,” Lotus said sadly. “But I’ll bet you anything it won’t work out.”

“Believe it. It will.” Dash hurried her into the bathroom, then disappeared.

They dressed in record time and were downstairs waiting for the rented car to be brought to the front door in less time than Lotus figured.

“I can’t believe you’re letting me drive,” Lotus said as they tooled down the drive. “Did you see the attendant look at you when you helped me into the driver’s seat?”

Dash shrugged. “I like the way you drive.”

Once on the expressway, Lotus began to think of her homecoming. “I really like to come home. We live right on Lake Ontario and in the summer we swim and water ski, and we golf in a park close to us. We can walk there.” Aware she was chattering, Lotus paused.

“I hope you won’t feel too bad if we live some of our time away from here. My businesses are in

Las Vegas and Atlantic City and I have holdings elsewhere, so we won’t always be here.”

“Dash, don’t talk as though we are getting married right away.”

“We are.”

“No. Let’s table that kind of talk until I see how it goes with my uncle and family.”

Dash said nothing for long seconds, then he lifted one shoulder. “We’ll see.” He picked up the folder she had copied from his files, scanning it. "I can tell you that the man who signed these lOU’s is not on my personal staff. I know their handwriting. So if there was some hanky-panky with the books, it doesn’t look as though it was at our end.”

“No. It wouldn’t make sense.” She sighed. “I think you’re right about it not being a stranger. It could be someone in Sinclairs’ though, and that’s what worries me. There are quite a few people in the accounting department.”

“We’ll find out one way or the other. I’ve told my staff to examine the books and the files and see if they come up with any pictures of the man who called himself Sinclair and signed the IOU’s and sent us the checks to cover the transactions.” “Thank you.” Lotus felt teary. Dash believed in her! Not once had he indicated that he felt that she could be wrong about her uncle.

CHAPTER SIX

Lotus’s family overwhelmed her with greetings. It seemed that everyone had shown up to greet her. Even her cousins were there.

There were dogs barking and everyone was talking at once.

“I can’t wait to see Uncle. Mother told me he was improving.”

“Yes,” her cousin Lee told her. “He came home three days ago and he seems better every day. That’s why we’re here. We talked your mother into having dinner with us. So we’re taking the bouillabaisse to our house. Mom made the bread.”

Lotus nodded and stepped back, pulling at Dash’s hand. “Everybody, this is my friend, ah, J.D. Colby from ...”

“Massachusetts,” Dash finished, shaking hands with her smiling father whose wary eyes took in every detail of Dash. “My family is involved in fishing.”

Her mother stepped forward with her hand outstretched. “You aren’t related to Elspeth Cowles, who married one of the Colbys of Worcester, are you?”

“Elspeth’s my aunt.” Dash smiled.

Lotus watched her mother’s eyebrows arch; then her mother frowned.

“I didn’t know they were in fishing, exactly. I knew they had boats, but I thought they were on the stock exchange or something.”

“Getting forgetful, Ginna.” Her father kissed his wife’s cheek.

“Hi, brat. How did you manage to keep out of trouble? By the way, Petras called and asked about ou,” her brother Robert said as he hugged her and gave her a smacking kiss.