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The response was so skimpy that Stormy didn’t believe it. Nor did she want to have this conversation with Nina. Especially not now, while she was still under the blissful spell of Tyler. But there Nina sat, waiting, a slight smile on her face, mere varnish to hide…What? Stormy wondered.
Resigned, she composed her thoughts and put them into words. “Nina, I’ve been bullied by the best—women serving life sentences, prison guards filled with so much scorn they’ve forgotten they themselves are part of the human race, district attorneys with reelection on their minds—so nothing you say or do can hurt me anymore. I won’t let it. You’ve seen me vulnerable because you’re family. I trusted you. But no more.”
Nina sneered. “You think tough is talking tough.”
“I’m just telling you like it is. And just so you’ll know, Noreen Byers and Janelle are coming over this morning—”
Nina arched an eyebrow. “More jailbirds, I suppose.”
“They’re my friends. And this afternoon, my friend Tyler is coming over. We’re looking at some new leads in my case. We’ll use Dad’s upstairs study, so we’ll be out of your way.”
“Don’t trouble yourself. Tully and I are taking the kids to Washington Oaks State Park, but you knew that.”
“No, you didn’t mention it.”On purpose, Stormy realized, because Nina did not want to include her or Liane in the outing.
“You’d just better make sure your friends don’t steal anything while we’re gone.”
Stormy shifted her gaze out the window to the sea. The sun was creeping above the horizon, promising a day of silver sunshine. Then she noticed her own reflection in the panes. There was something—a tilt of her head, the shape of her jaw—that brought her mother to mind.
“Nina, do you remember when we were younger, how we’d sit at the kitchen table to do our homework while Mom cooked dinner? If we had a problem that day, she’d tell us that it was okay to be angry, that it was okay even if we didn’t like a schoolmate or a teacher, but that it was never okay to be rude. She’d always remind us thatMaxwellsdon’t compromise their dignity and character.”
Nina made a derisive noise. “It’s obvious you didn’t listen, isn’t it?”
“I’ve made mistakes, big and small, but I’ve learned from them.”
“What’ve you learned? How to steal and sleep around without getting caught?”
Stormy looked at her sister with a sudden and curious sense of detachment. Nina was utterly selfish. She demanded more than a person was able to give. That another might have to make sacrifices to meet her demands caused her no qualms or guilt whatsoever.
Stormy offered her sister a sad little smile. “Happy Easter, Nina.”
Upstairs a few moments later, Stormy had difficulty dismissing the unhappy conversation with her sister. Foremost in her mind was Nina’s blatant threat to undermine her security and freedom. But even Nina wouldn’t go that far, Stormy assured herself. After all, what was in it for her? The trust-fund proceeds had already been milked. Revocation of her parole would only mean more scandalous publicity—the last thing Nina wanted.
Stormy began to disrobe, instantly aware that the taste of Tyler was yet on her lips. The texture of his body lingered on her skin. How decadent. How delicious.
To hell with Nina, she told herself. Now was a time for reveling in a delighted afterglow. She had been almost frightened by the passion Tyler had unleashed in her.
Neither of them had completely undressed the first time. A mindless urgency had caught them; they couldn’t wait. He took her quickly, pulling her silk teddy aside and thrusting into her, feverish with desire, murmuring her name over and over.
Even now, she could recall the magnificent feel of him.
After that first explosive encounter, they had not rested but continued, moving more slowly, exploring each other, coaxing each other into submission after submission, yet each being careful not only to take but also to give.
Hours later, they had finally slept, naked bodies fitted against each other, arms and legs intertwined. Once, she had awakened to feel him pressed against her back, the hairs on his arm around her rib cage tickling the undersides of her breasts. A drowsy sense of calm and happiness had engulfed her. Those hours in his arms, feeling so safe and secure, had been the best sleep she’d had in years.
Wonder of wonders, they had parted without a single scathing remark. There had been no barriers rapidly flung to protect exposed vulnerabilities.
Perhaps, Stormy thought now,we had both been too dazed at the heights of emotion and response we had scaled together.
Even in parting, his mentioning her case, her invitation to her home had been spoken in whispers, as if an aura of benediction surrounded them.
“I don’t knowhow those little ones manage to keep going,” said Noreen, shading her eyes to spy out the girls on the beach among a crowd of sunbathers. “They talked and giggled all night long.”
Stormy put the lid back on the grill. She was slow cooking a beef roast and potatoes. “They’ll putter out soon, I expect.” She turned toward the beach to see Tyler splashing into the surf to retrieve a wind-caught birdie. He and the girls were playing badminton, sans net.
“Oh, I wouldn’t take bets on it,” Noreen said, eyeing Stormy coyly. “If I had a man like Tyler paying attention to me, I’d prop my eyes open with broomsticks before I’d admit a craving for sleep.”
Stormy grinned at her friend. “Stop fishing.”
