Season of Passion (28 page)

Kate?

Mm? She was asleep next to him on the plane. It had been a hectic few days. She had insisted on teaching on Friday, but the trip to Carmel had given her a chance to shop. They had all spent the weekend at the house in Santa Barbara, Joey included, and on Sunday night Nick had driven her down to L.A. with him, so that they could leave together Monday morning. This was the first time he hadn't flown with Jasper. He wanted to be alone with her. A glance at his watch told him they would land in New York in an hour. He kissed her softly on the top of her head and folded her hand into his.

Miss Harper, I love you. He said it more to himself than to her but she surprised him by opening one eye, and looking up with a yawn that crept into a smile.

I love you too. What time is it?

Two o'clock our time. It's five o'clock there. We'll get in at six.

And then what? She hadn't even thought to ask him. She stretched her long legs out ahead of her and looked down at the now familiar cream-colored suit. She was getting more wear out of it than she'd ever expected to when she'd bought it. Oh my God.

What?

She was looking up at him with horror in the big green eyes he loved.

Is it Tygue? Did you forget something?

No. Licia. I forgot to tell her I was going. If she calls and Tillie tells her I've gone to New York, she'll have a stroke.'

Will she disapprove? He was curious to meet this character who was the only important person in Kate's life besides Tygue. Maybe she'd hate him, be jealous of his role in Kate's life. He looked at Kate curiously.

licia? Disapprove? Kate snuggled in next to him with a soft laugh. She'd give you the Legion of Honor for dragging me out of my cave.

Have you told her about me yet?

Kate shook her head slowly. She hadn't. And she wasn't sure why. Maybe because she was afraid the magic would all fade away and telling Licia would make it that much harder to live with the loss when he was gone. No. Not yet.

I'd like to meet her. She sounds like a character. Would I like her?

I think so. And what if he didn't? She loved Felicia, always would. But she already felt herself slipping into Nick's world. Nick had a special place in her life now.

He looked down and saw the serious look in her eyes, and he held her close. You look so pensive sometimes, love. One day you won't look like that anymore. When she looked like that, he knew she was thinking about Tom.

Like what?

like your only friend in the world is about to walk out.

Are you sure he won't?

Positive.

She could feel it in his arms, and she felt peaceful as she closed her eyes. She was so happy with him. But it couldn't last forever. Nothing did. No matter what he said. Tom had made those promises too. But she hadn't had the same worries then. She hadn't realized how quickly things come to an end.

Scared about New York? He forced her mind back to the present, as he tilted her face up to his. He was smiling at her again, and she smiled back.

Sometimes. Once in a while I panic and want to hide in the ladies' room, and then I forget all about it and get curious. It's been so long, I hardly remember it.

Good. I want to give it to you brand new. He looked pleased. They were going to stay at the Regency, only three blocks from Jasper's hotel. Jasper was addicted to the Pierre. But Nick wanted to stay somewhere else, so Kate wouldn't feel awkward I ordered separate rooms for us, by the way.

You did? She looked disappointed, and he laughed.

Don't look like that, you dummy. They're adjoining, and we can use one of them as an office. I just thought it would look better in case some nosy reporter gets wind that you're staying with me. This way, you're just staying at the same hotel. A cozy coincidence. She looked pleased again.

How do you manage to think of all that? Glass slippers, separate rooms to protect my lily-pure reputation is there anything you don't think of?

That's why I've managed to stay the producer of Jasper's show all these years, my love. It's all part of the job. But she knew it was part of the man. They exchanged another smile and looked out over the city. It was still bright daylight outside, and would be for several hours, but already there was the softened hue of late afternoon. It's going to be hotter than hell, by the way. Did you bring lots of naked clothes? She laughed as she accepted the glass of champagne he was handing her from a passing tray. First class was delightful. Champagne coast to coast.

I did what I could. I didn't have a lot of time to shop. And Carmel was not San Francisco. But she hadn't done badly. And when they got off the plane in New York she understood what Nick meant about the heat. She had never been to the city in mid-summer, and it was blistering, even at six o'clock.

Nick had arranged for them to be met by the airline's special customer service cart, and they were whisked right to the door of the terminal. Their bags would be separated from the others and brought out to the car. And the little golf cart whizzed through the terminal, plowing through countless bodies. Everyone looked hot and tired and gray, not brown and healthy the way they did in California. It had been a long time since Kate had seen people looking like this, and so many of them. She felt breathless as they launched through the crowds in the ice-cold terminal. The air conditioning was blasting full force on the hot, tired, sweaty crowds.

It's a wonder they don't all die of pneumonia. She held tightly to his hand as she watched them from the cart. It was all so busy and so loud. It was terrifying and fascinating at the same time. Like visiting another planet

It's a wonder they don't all die from lack of air, you mean. Have you ever seen so many people?

She shook her head as he watched her. He had made all the arrangements very carefully, so she wouldn't be overwhelmed right from the first. They were already at the terminal door, and the driver was waiting for them at the curb.

They were shoved through the revolving door by the force of the crowds, and Kate found herself pushed outside, into what felt like a vacuum. It was white-hot and humid, without so much as a breath of air.

My God. It was like being punched in the stomach by an elephant.

Lovely, isn't it? He grinned as she rolled her eyes, but the driver was already holding open the door of the air-conditioned car, and Nick was urging her gently inside. It was all wonderfully quick and efficient. And five minutes later, the driver had their bags, and they were on their way to the city. She looked back over her shoulder through the smoky glass of the limousine and she could still see the people in line for cabs. There was a short fat cab driver waving a cigar in another man's face, and as they sped away she started to laugh.

Isn't it crazy?

It's like the circus. She didn't remember the city as quite so intense. Everything had seemed more sedate when she had been there on Easter vacation with her parents when she was seventeen. They had stayed at the Plaza and had tea in the Palm Court and at a place called Rose-Marie. That all seemed a thousand years ago. And Tom had never let her go to New York with him. He hated it, and usually stayed outside the city with friends. Now she could see why. This wasn't Tom's scene. And it wasn't really Nick's. But he handled it perfectly. He had shielded her from everything unpleasant, even the heat.

She watched the constant fury of the traffic on their way to the hotel. Even on Park Avenue, the cars moved along as though they were angry. Jerk, bump, stop, screech, honk, shout, and jerk on again. The noise was deafening even in the carefully sealed car.

How do they stand it?

I don't know. Either they don't notice it, or they love it.

But the crazy thing was that she loved it too. She loved the aliveness of it. The frenzy and the sparkle, the crackle of electricity as everything moved at breakneck speed. She suddenly wanted to get out of the womblike car and walk. But she was afraid that if she told Nick, he would think she was crazy. And ungrateful. He had gone to such lengths to protect her from her fears. And yet, there she sat, dying to push and shove along with the rest of them.

They had arrived at the Regency, and the driver helped her into the doorman's hands, from whose protective grasp Nick took her and led her quickly inside. They knew him there. He signed the registration card and they were instantly led to their rooms. Hers was a suite, his a large double room with a door that adjoined her living room. They decided to use his as the office, and hers as their house. The bags were stacked on elaborate little gold and white stands, and Kate looked around as her feet sank into the thick carpet, and then with a sigh she settled onto the rose-colored silk couch. Everything was very subtle and very lovely. It looked like an English watercolor painting. And they had a beautiful view of the city facing south. She looked around the room again and then at Nick with a smile and a sigh. She felt like the poor little rich girl, shielded from everything that was fun, like dirt and noise and all the crazy people she was dying to gape at, and run along on the sidewalk with. Nick meant well by shielding her from it all, but she felt as if he were keeping her from the fun. Maybe it was nuts to feel that way. But she did. Suddenly she wanted to break loose from her shell, and even from Nick ' from the past' from Tom ' from Tygue ' from all of them. She wanted to be free.

Want a drink? He loosened his tie, and smiled down at her. He had already made reservations for them at Caravelle. He had had his secretary do that from Los Angeles that morning. The reservations were for nine. He didn't think they'd be hungry until then. That would give them time to have a drink and relax, maybe have another drink in the bar of the hotel, and go oft to a quiet dinner. But Kate only shook her head at the offer for the drink. What's up, Cinderella? You look like those wheels are turning a mile a minute. Want to call Licia now?

No. And she didn't really want to call Tygue either. Not yet.

Then what would you like to do? He sat down next to her on the delicate couch and put his arms around her as she started to laugh. And he loved the fire he saw in her eyes. New York was doing good things to her. Already. It was as though she were coming to life in a way he had never seen before. Name your pleasure, milady, and it's yours.

You mean it?

Of course I mean it.

Okay. I want to go for a walk.

Now? He looked stunned. At seven o'clock, it was still ninety-five, and the humidity was close to the same figure. In this heat? She nodded excitedly and he threw back his head and laughed. He understood. Kate, who had hidden for years, almost since she was a girl, was suddenly young again and hungry for life. Okay, Cinderella, you're on. Do you want to change first? She shook her head with a grin and looked just like her son. In that case he held out an arm and she slipped a hand through it as they both stood up we're off.

And it was just what she wanted. They wandered up Madison Avenue as she looked into all the shops, and then over to Central Park, where people were still playing games on the grass, Balls were being thrown, radios were blaring, buses zoomed by, and hansom cabs clopped along behind tired, flower-bedecked horses. It was as though someone had assembled every possible moving part, every face, every car, every smell, every color, and jammed them all into one town and called it New York. God, I love it. She took a deep breath of the polluted air and sighed with delight as Nick laughed.

I think I've created a monster. But he loved seeing her like that. She was so alive. It was what she should have had for years. Fire, and excitement and success. He was glad he could share them with her now. He looked at his watch. It was already after eight, and they were nearing Sixty-first Street and Fifth. It was only two blocks to the hotel. But they had walked at least twenty, drinking everything in Kate watching the city with passion, and he watching her with delight Ready to go back and get dressed?

Where are we going?

To the best restaurant in town. All for you, Cinderella. He swept a wide arm toward the skyline, and she beamed. She smiled all the way back to the hotel, and when he closed the door to their room, she advanced on him with a purposeful gleam in her eye.

Does this mean what I think it means? He was grinning at her from the bathroom door, and she suddenly reached over and unzipped his pants.

It certainly does.

Lady, I don't know what this town does to you, but I love it.

They didn't even make it to the bedroom, but made love on the richly carpeted floor of their room, as her tongue and delicate hands brought soft moans from Nick. This time it was Kate who took the lead, and Nick who lay back spent when they had both come. Kate lay on the floor, in the twilight, smiling vie. toriousiy at her life.

Miss Harper? The woman in the expensive black dress and the Cinandre-sculptured hair walked into the room and extended a hand. Kate shook it nervously, and smoothed her dress. You'll be on in a minute. It was her first television appearance in New York, and she was terrified. But prepared. She had gone over what she would say with Nick that morning. And the dress was a new one she'd bought in Carmel. It was a warm coral linen that set off her deep tan. She wore it with some of the coral jewelry Felicia had brought her from Europe the year before, despite her protests. Now she was glad Felicia had insisted she keep it. You never know. Kate remembered the words with a smile. Her hair was pulled back. She hoped she looked like a writer. At least she felt like one.

I've been admiring the view. It was breathtaking. They were in the southwest corner of the thirty-something floor of the General Motors Building, with a sweeping view of Central Park if you looked uptown and an unbroken panorama of Wall Street downtown. It must be fabulous living in this town.

The woman in the black dress laughed, shaking the well-coifed hair and flashing a large emerald ring. I'd give my right arm to live on the Coast. But Audrey does the show here, so ' She threw up her hands.

This woman was the biggest female producer in daytime television, and her job was not unlike Nick's. Now Kate better understood what it entailed.