This Tangled Thing Called Love: A Contemporary Romance Novel (20 page)

David held up his hands. “I must say I’ve overreacted a bit. It’s just that you jumped out of nowhere… Now, we’re all adults here and I’m sure that we can come to a mutually beneficial financial agreement.”

“There’s no need for that.” Claudia’s voice had regained its earlier calm. “Maury won’t publish the photos.”

“Claudia, don’t let this bully scare you. This is a news-breaking story; it could catapult your career,” the lizard began.

“Save it, Maury. I’m sorry for the trouble. I thought I could go through with it, but I can’t after all.”

“As you wish.” The lizard shrugged.

“I’m sorry, David. I don’t know what came over me.” Claudia looked away, but not quickly enough for David to miss tears in her eyes. “I was so angry. I wanted to hurt you. I thought getting back at you would make me feel better, but instead, I only feel worse now. You’ve got nothing to worry about. Maury is a man of his word.”

“I’d like to see the camera, please.” David’s voice sounded alien even to himself.

“Here you are.” The lizard handed over the camera.

David looked through the picture file. It was blank indeed.

“Goodbye, Claudia.” Without as much as a second look, David walked away. This episode of his life was over.

“I’m so sorry, Maury.” Claudia murmured after David had disappeared behind the street corner. “I don’t know what I was thinking. I must be getting old indeed.”

“Nonsense, Claudia.” Maury squeezed Claudia’s arm. “You are still beautiful. You’ll always be beautiful.”

“Please, no pity, Maury. You and I both know the state of things. But then you are still young…”

“I’ll be forty this September.”

Claudia shook her head. “That means we’ve known each other…”

Maury nodded. “Twenty years.”

“I remember I was shooting that dreadful low budget movie. The entire production was terrible. We didn’t even have decent makeup people. They were supposed to take my picture for promotion posters, but the photographer did not show up, so I threw a dreadful row. I was really being quite a pill, and then you stood up and said that you were a photographer, and that you’d like to give it a shot.”

“And you said yes.”

“Well, I could not very well say no. Not after the admirable guts you’d shown. In my book, if you’re a go-getter, sooner or later, you’ll get what’s yours.”

“Those were the days. The sky was the limit.”

“How’s the magazine doing, Maury?”

“Not so hot, actually. Who wants to buy a tabloid magazine when you can read gossip for free on the Internet any time you want? Well, serves me right for selling out. The way things are going, I would have done better if I had stuck with documentaries. I really banked on a story on you and David to boost our ratings, but now…”

“I’m sorry, Maury.”

“That’s all right. I’ll just have to catch someone else smooching. Someone I don’t owe a start in the business to.”

Back in her bedroom, Claudia crawled into her bed and pulled the covers over her head. If only she could stay like this forever… Come to think of it, there was no reason
why she could not. It was not as if anyone was looking for her, waiting for her. Claudia Block was yesterday’s news, and she had just broken the heart of her last admirer.

After he watched Claudia climb up the stairs of her townhouse, Maury
Wysotsky
headed straight for
Flashlight
magazine headquarters on Twenty-Third Street and Eighth Avenue. Technically, the meager floor that Maury rented for the magazine staff in the rickety office building could hardly qualify as “headquarters,” especially given the fact it was the only office location for
Flashlight,
but that was the way Maury used to think of it when he first started the magazine ten years ago, when he still hoped for success. The habit had stuck.

Well, now, there was finally light at the end of the tunnel. It might only be a brief spark, but Maury was more than happy to take it. Claudia’s pictures would bring a fortune. Her fans were the old timers who still bought papers, and Maury was certain that the image of Claudia Block in that lavender silk number she had on would sell hundreds of copies. He could already see the magazine issue in his mind: a close-up of Claudia’s and David’s kiss on the front cover, followed by a juicy exclusive story on Claudia Block’s new romance with real estate heir David Lawson.

The publicity would be good for Claudia too. Poor old girl had turned soft in her age. It was not as though she could afford to be ethical. Maury could not remember the last time Claudia had had a worthwhile role, just like he could not remember the last time he had not been pressed for cash. Maury patted his jeans pocket that contained the second flash drive he had removed before handling the camera over for inspection to that dumb brute Claudia had been
boinking
. Tomorrow, Claudia Block and David Lawson would be front page news.

Monday morning started ordinarily enough for David Lawson. He woke up at the usual hour of six a.m. and headed out for his morning daily jog. Passing the newsstand on the corner of his street, David felt a vague unease. At the time, he could not put his finger on it. Later on, he realized that his peripheral vision had caught a glimpse of the tabloid cover with images of him and Claudia.

Still unsuspecting of the blow that was to come, David paused by the kiosk to purchase a bottle of water. He was parched, and, despite the early hour, it was already incredibly humid out, so hydration was in order before he could commence his three-mile jog. What David saw next made him abandon all thoughts of exercise.

As he stared at the image of him holding Claudia in his arms, their lips passionately locked together, the insides of David’s mind resembled the vortex of a tornado. His first emotions were those of anger and hurt. How spiteful of Claudia, how incredibly wicked, and how incredibly stupid of him to have believed her assurances of calling off the paparazzi. David’s hands clenched into fists. If Claudia were standing near him, he would have gladly wrung her gorgeous, long neck.

But the magazine cover also stirred other feelings in David besides rage. The photo had captured with unmerciful candidness the passion that Claudia aroused in him. In spite of himself, David felt regret trailing from his heart all the way to the pit of his stomach. He would never hold Claudia in his arms again.

Still, now was not the time to lament his broken heart. With what felt like an incredible effort of will, David picked up his cell phone and dialed his publicity agent. Amber was a genius, and he was certain that she would get him out of this mess.

“I see. I’m already on it,” Amber’s clipped voice rang in the receiver after David had relayed his predicament.

“Thank you, Amber. You’re a godsend.”

“No sweat, David. That’s what I’m here for, but next time, try not to get caught on camera. I’ll call you once this mess is cleaned up. I’m sending my people as we speak to buy out all copies of
Flashlight
magazine, and I’m
gonna
have a word with their publisher about a retraction, but I’ve
gotta
warn you – it will not be cheap.”

“Whatever it is, I’ll pay it,” David assured her. Money was not an issue at this point. “Amber?”

“Yes?”

“Do you think you could put in a good word for me to Claire?”

There was a brief pause on the other end of the line. “Sure, David. I’ll do what I can. It may take her a while, but I think Claire will understand.”

There was an extra spring in Claire’s step as she walked to the office on Monday morning. How could she have doubted David? Claire’s lips formed a dreamy smile as she remembered David standing by her door with a giant bouquet of white roses. He had shown up at her doorstep on Friday night after the message she left him. The sight of David holding that enormous bouquet of roses was all Claire needed to have her doubts cast away. As she looked at the puppyish grin on David’s face, which was made even
more disarming by the look in his eyes, she knew that there was nothing David could do that she would not forgive him.

They had spent Friday night and most of Saturday together. David had to leave Saturday night for an early Sunday golf outing with clients, but Claire did not mind. Their time together more than made up for the lost Sunday. From the moment their lips touched, everything became a blur. There was no room for words as their bodies sought each other’s hungrily, anxious to make up for all the lost time. It was as though David had become a different man and Claire a different woman. In all the time they had been together, she could not remember David wanting her so intensely.

This new intensity had scared her at first, as she caught a glimpse of David’s face with his eyes closed. For a moment, Claire had a funny feeling that David himself was not there with her, but was making love to someone else.

“David, look at me,” Claire had murmured, terrified by the thought.

“I am looking at you.” David’s eyes were hazy, but Claire had attributed the faraway look to his desire. “I love you, Claire.” David gasped, burrowing his face in her neck.

The sound of David’s voice was like a soothing balm. To know that he loved her, to know that he cared was all that Claire needed.

Afterwards they snuggled over coffee in Claire’s kitchen.

“I’ve missed you so much, baby.” David stroked her hair between his long fingers. Claire had never noticed how delicate David’s hands were. With his long fingers and almond-shaped nails, David had the hands of a musician. “I’m so sorry for neglecting you. I don’t know how you put up with me.”

“I guess you’re just lucky to have such a considerate fiancée.” Claire smiled. She could endure countless lonely weekends as long as she knew that she was the only one in David’s thoughts.

“I’m going to take much better care of you from now on.” David tightened his arms around her. “I promise.”

“You’d better.” Claire snuggled closer to David. God, she had missed him – his smell, his voice, the feel of his arms around her. “Or the next time your meetings go on for an entire weekend, I’m barging in, and I don’t care if you
r
father disapproves.”

“Oh, that reminds me.” David sighed. “What did you think about mother’s wedding invitation?”

“I thought it was a lovely gesture.” Claire hoped that her smile did not look forced. “But it would have been nice to get a heads up from you first.”

“I know. I’m sorry, I dropped the ball on that one. You and Mother should have lunch. She really adores you. Oh, and invite Stephanie too. I know she’d love to participate in the wedding plans.”

“Maybe you could also come.”

“I’ll try, baby, but it’s really tough for me right now. I’ve got a lot hanging in the balance at work. My old man is driving me crazy. Tell you what. Why don’t you girls sort out the details, and I’ll be there once you’ve finalized things.”

“Okay, fine. I’ll deal with the invitations, but don’t think that you’re going to get off the hook so easily for the rest of the wedding. I do expect you to be there for the wedding cake tasting.”

Claire made a mental note to call Stephanie to set up a lunch date with her and Mrs. Lawson. Clearly, David was too overwhelmed to help out with the wedding, but Claire refused to let it bother her. If this were the only disagreement she and David were to ever have, she was the luckiest woman on earth. After all, how many guys were enthusiastic about wedding plans? At least David did have a good excuse. He had his hands full at the office.

“Well, you look like a cat that just swallowed a canary.” Jake cocked an eyebrow, eying Claire expectantly at the office.

“I had an excellent weekend.” Claire stretched out her arms, settling behind her desk. The memory of her Friday and Saturday with David was still in her mind, and she did not want to let go of it just yet. “You’re looking swell yourself.” Claire studied Jake. “Any new conquests I should know about?”

“A gentleman never tells.” Jake winked.

“Oh, then she must be really special.” This was a new one for Jake. Usually he never shied away from glorifying his escapades.

“Mum’s the word.” Jake grinned.

“Well, I’d better get to work then.” Claire turned on her computer.

As much as she would have liked to chat with Jake, she simply did not have the time. The deadline for the Gaudi project or the “hidden building,” as she had come to refer to the project that had been consuming her entirely for almost a month, was approaching, and she still did not have the evidence she needed.

Claire noticed a new email in her mailbox and bit her lip in anticipation at the sight of the sender’s address. She opened the email, hoping it would have the answer she was looking for.

Dear Claire,

I have finally managed to obtain copies of the letters that you were looking for. The package should arrive this week. I cannot wait to hear the results of your research and wish you great success in the process.