Anything You Can Do(43)

"Ah, Prince Charming." Paula leaned back against the headboard. "Prince Charming has been far too busy with duties of his kingdom to pay attention to an ordinary commoner."

Bailey sipped her chocolate, but it had gone cold. "Are you saying he's working too much and ignoring you?"

"Except that we know Gordon never works too much. Gordon does the minimum and smiles a lot."

Bailey set her cup on Paula's nightstand and leaned back against the pillow. "Not true," she said, delighted to be able to disagree after having her earlier comments debunked. "I have personally observed the man at work as well as the ill effects of this hard work. I told you how tired he was last night."

"Bailey, dear friend, you never have lived in the same world as the rest of us. Did you know I had an affair with Ron Sims?"

Bailey sat bolt-upright in bed and studied Paula's face for signs of teasing. "Your old boss? A lawyer? No way. You did not." She hesitated. "Did you?"

Paula's head tilted back, her eyes toward the ceiling.

"It happened right after Chuck and I got divorced. Haywood isn't exactly brimming with eligible men over the age of eighteen. I guess mostly it was an ego trip since I'd always been an outsider looking in on Ron's social life." She raised a restraining hand. "Before you go making something melodramatic out of it, let me say emphatically that at no time did I ever fancy I loved the jerk. When he told me he was engaged to the mayor's daughter, I heaved a sigh of relief. But the creep thought we'd just keep carrying on together. I didn't like his attitude. So I left."

"I see," Bailey mused, finally understanding Paula's sudden decision to move to the city.

"I don't like attorneys," Paula continued. "Never have. And I was right, you see. Okay, I admit I lost my head temporarily. Gordon didn't seem like a real lawyer at first, but he is. Maybe he hasn't found someone else on his social level to marry, but he's using his work as an excuse to divert him."

"You think Gordon's working this hard to avoid you?" Bailey asked in amazement. "You're nuts. No wonder my life is suddenly so weird. I've been taking advice from a fruitcake. Just because you had a bad experience with a slimeball, you make these sweeping assumptions. This isn't like you."

"Why? Because I've learned when to throw in the towel?"

"Just a minute ago you were on my case not to quit before the end of the race and a bunch of other drivel in that vein. Put those red toenails in your mouth, did you?" she gloated.

"I'm not as competitive as you are. I never have been."

"You didn't have to be. You just had to be you. Every guy in high school was after you."

"Well, this isn't high school. I'm thirty years old, not sixteen, and I'm not the head cheerleader anymore. I made a slight judgment error, and now it's time to retreat and go to Plan B."

"That's the Paula I know," Bailey approved. "What's Plan B?"

"Some more responses to my ad came today, and I've spent the evening making phone calls and writing letters—letters which will get mailed this time. I already have three dates for tomorrow night."

Bailey collapsed back against the pillow and raised her arms in a silent appeal. "I was right. You're nuts. Though I suppose there is safety in numbers. But do they know this is going to be a group date?"

"Don't be absurd. I have them lined up in three different lounges within walking distance, an hour apart."

Bailey frowned. "I don't think you're acting wisely."

"Fine." Paula raised one foot and inspected her scarlet toenails. "Then you know exactly how I feel about your actions."

Samantha crawled out of her nest between the pillows, looked disgustedly from one person to the other, shook herself, leaped off the bed, and stalked from the room.

Bailey and Paula exchanged glances then burst into laughter.

"Sometimes," Paula said, "I don't like your dog's attitude."

Bailey went to bed, but she lay awake for a long time, staring into the darkness, cuddling Samantha close, and fighting a losing battle to keep Austin out of her thoughts. Austin the lawyer, self-possessed and competent, Austin the athlete, muscled thighs pumping as he ran beside her, but mostly Austin the lover, naked before her, flesh sweat-damp and shimmering in the moonlight, heart throbbing beneath her hand.