The Red Diary by Toni Blake Page B

party tomorrow night."
    The news crashed over her like a tidal wave. Carolyn had invited him to Phil's party. And he'd said yes. Oh God. Still, she smiled, nodded, played it cool, like it was no big deal. It was the last defense she had at her disposal.
    "Well," Nick said, focusing on her again with those dark, seductive eyes, "see you tomorrow," And even just that-his gaze on her for those few simple words nearly buried her. It was as if he were saying more. Sexual things. Even Carolyn had seen it earlier, so she knew she wasn't imagining it. His eyes talked dirty to her.
    But in a late and surprising burst of strength, she didn't crumble this time. Just the opposite, in fact. She girded herself, looked directly at him, and copied his confident tone. "Sure," she said, mimicking one of his favorite terse replies, then turned and walked away.
    Nick scaled the ladder propped against the rear of Lauren's house. He absently glanced toward the nearest window-not trying to see inside, but just wondering where she was and what she was doing-and found the blinds drawn. Well, if he didn't see her today, he'd definitely see her tonight.
    Normally, a party at Phil Hudson's house was the last place he'd want to go, but under the circumstances, it'd been an invitation he couldn't turn down. If he wanted to see what life was like for the wealthy moguls behind Ash Builders, what better way than to observe them in full party mode?
    Of course, if Henry was there, he'd have to lay low at the off chance he'd be recognized. As with Lauren, he hadn't seen Henry since he was twelve, and with a company the size of Ash, he had no reason to think Henry even knew Nick worked for him. He wanted to keep it that way, especially now. A face-to-face meeting, with the truth laid out between them, could lead to the sort of confrontation that could cost him his livelihood. And besides. now that he wanted to seduce Henry's daughter, secrecy about their previous connection in life seemed all the more vital.
    Yep, going to Phil's party seemed a good way to watch the rich in action: Henry, Phil, Carolyn ... and, of course. Lauren-the main reason he was going. He drew in his breath recalling how she'd looked at him when he'd told his story about the horse. He'd savored watching her blue eyes widen, seeming lost to him. It'd been as if some invisible beam had connected their gazes and built a slow, simmering heat inside him. He felt it even now, and it had nothing to do with the scorching Gulf Coast sun overhead.
    Just then, the buzz of his beeper cut into the hot midday silence. Lowering his roller to the tray, he snatched it off his belt to see that Tommy Marsden was paging him, likely finished with his current job and wondering where Nick wanted him next. He was heading to the van for his old car phone when an abrupt noise jarred him, halting his footsteps in the grass. The garage door. After yesterday, he'd know the sound anywhere. When he spied the ritzy little Z4 backing out, stylish sunglasses hid Lauren Ash's eyes, but the rest of her looked as gorgeous as usual. Long blond locks fell about her shoulders like waves of pale satin, and her sleeveless top revealed slightly bronzed shoulders and graceful arms stretching to the steering wheel. He lifted a hand in a small, indecisive wave and her return gesture was just as noncommittal. Then he opened the passenger door of the van and reached between the seats for the phone.
    Which, it turned out, was dead-he'd forgotten to charge it again. He glanced up with the quick thought of asking the princess if he could use her phone-just in time to see her careening up Bayview Drive away from him.
    He started to circle the van, thinking he'd drive to the nearest 7-Eleven pay phone, which would waste fifteen minutes. But then it occurred to him that he could just use her phone anyway. It would only take a minute and save a lot of time. He rounded the house and found the key under the planter.
    The very instant he stepped