Page 65 of Leo

*****

“Mind if I join you?” The familiar sultry voice had him stiffening. He had stepped out onto the covered balcony to get away from the incessant chatter going on in the dining room.

“Maye, how are you?” He turned to face the woman draped from head to toes in rich mink. Diamonds studded her lobes and peeped from her throat and her fingers were adorned with the stones.

“Wonderful, darling.” She purred, gliding over to sit next to him. “I saw you stepped out and wanted to have a word.” She had brought her flute of champagne with her and eyed him over the rim, her catlike eyes like a shark. “Rumors are that you are married.”

“Not a rumor.” He resigned himself to enduring her company. Maye Davis was a legend in the theater and one who had been pursuing him relentlessly for the past year.

“She is not here with you?”

You know damn well, she isn’t. He thought sardonically. The woman would have done her research beforehand. “She had to work.”

Her light laughter drifted out. “Darling, but of course she does not. She is married to you, which means she can afford to sit at home and twiddle her thumbs.”

“She is not like that.”

“Next you’re going to tell me she does not care about the money.” Maye crossed long elegant legs that had her stockings whispering.

“She doesn’t.”

“How cute.” She took sip of champagne. “Rumor also has it that she is a baker…”

His mouth tightened marginally at the scathing tone.

“She is a magnificent pastry chef.”

“And you’re defending her.” Sharp eyes settled on his face. “Could it be that the oh so unattainable Leo Coleman has fallen in love?”

“It so happens that I am.”

“Oh dear. That means my plan of slipping into your room is all shot to pieces.”

“I’m afraid so.”

“Perhaps we can comfort each other just for tonight. We are both here alone, so there is no harm in being together.” She allowed her mink to shift slightly, revealing her impressive cleavage. “I won’t tell if you don’t.”

“I am flattered by the offer, but have to say no., finishing his drink, he rose and realized that he did not need to be here.

*****

The minute he let himself into the apartment, the scent of baking curled around him like a welcome home banner. The scent was unbelievable and staggering, so much so that it took a moment for him to be able to move.

Shrugging out of his jacket, he carefully hung it inside the closet, his movements careful and precise. He slipped out of his boots and put them away, trying to tell himself that he was not prevaricating.

Then taking a deep breath, he headed towards the kitchen and stood in the arched doorway. She was not there, but the counter was filled with the evidence of her work. Pies of all descriptions, tarts, cakes and assortments of sweets he could not identify on the wide counter.

Turning away from it all and ignoring the strange comfort he felt in the pit of his stomach; he started towards the stairs when something told him to try the living room.

His heart did a flip as he stepped inside the room. A fire was burning inside the huge hearth, the light from the flames, flickering over the woman huddled beneath a thick throw on the wide sofa.

A Christmas tree tower in one corner, the decorations haphazardly applied with an obviously heavy hand. In spite of himself, he could not help the smile tugging at his lips as he stared at it.

There were also gifts piled under the tree. He did not particularly pay much attention to the season, except when he had to entertain at home and this year, he had decided not to.

His plan had been to spend the holiday just here. He had the idea of jetting them off to some exotic island to get out of the icy cold and just spend a week basking in the sun and making love the entire time. But now that had changed.

His expression hardened as memories of their last time together came crashing back. He was about to turn and go upstairs when she opened her eyes as if sensing his presence.

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