Passion's Promise by Danielle Steel Read Free Book Online Page B

in the morning, Tiffany wouldn't even remember that she'd gone home alone. Bill was certain of that.
    "Ready to go?"
    "Yes, sir." Kezia stifled a yawn and nodded sleepily at Whit.
    "It was quite a party. Do you realize what time it is?"
    She nodded and looked at the clock. "Almost four. You're going to be dead at the office tomorrow."
    But he was used to it. He was out almost every night in the week. Out, or at Sutton Place.
    "And I cant lie in bed till noon like all of you indolent ladies."
    All of them? "Poor, poor Whit What a sad story." She patted his cheek as they swept out the door and onto the deserted street. She couldn't lie in bed in the morning either. She had to start researching that new article, and wanted to be up by nine.
    "Do we have anything like this on the agenda tomorrow, Kezia?" He hailed a passing cab and held the door open for her as she gathered up her blue satin skirt and settfed onto the seat
    "God, I hope not. I'm out of training after the summer." Actually, her summer hadn't been so very different But at least it had been blissfully devoid of the Baron.
    "Come to think of it, I have a partners' dinner tomorrow night. But I think Friday there's something at the El Morocco. Are you going to be in town?" They were speeding up Park Avenue.
    "As a matter of fact I doubt it. Edward is trying to talk me into some deadly dull weekend thing with some old friends of his. They knew my father." That was always a safe thing to say.
    "Monday then. Well have dinner at Raffles." She smiled easily and leaned back onto his shoulder. She had lied to Whit after all. She had no plans with Edward, who knew better than to try to rope her into a weekend like the one she had described to Whit She was going to SoHo. After tonight she had earned it ... and what did a little lie to Whitney matter? It was all for a good cause. Her sanity.
    "Raffles on Monday sounds fine." She'd need new material for the column by then anyway. And in the meantime, she could manage to get enough information by calling a few friends for a "chat." Marina was always an excellent source. And now she was going to be an excellent item as well. Her interest in Halpern Medley at the Maisonette had not gone unnoticed by Kezia. Nor had Halpern seemed indifferent to Marina. Kezia knew why Halpern was so interesting to her friend, and it was hard to blame her. Going broke was no fun, and Halpern was a most attractive remedy for what ailed her.
    "I'll give you a call tomorrow or the day after, Kezia. Maybe we can sneak in a quick lunch. Lutece, '21,' well think of some place amusing."
    "I'm sure we will. Want to come up for a quick brandy, or coffee, or eggs or something?" It was the last thing she wanted, but she felt that she owed him something. Eggs if not sex.
    "I really can't darling. Ill be half bund at the office tomorrow as it is. I'd better get some sleep. And you tool" He wagged a finger at her as the cab drew to a halt at her door, and then kissed her ever so gently on the rim of her mouth, barely touching her lips.
    "Good night Whit. It was a lovely evening." The preceding message was taped in Television City, Hollywood. . . .
    "It's always a lovely evening with you, Kezia." He walked her slowly to the door, and waited for the doorman to unlock it "Keep an eye on the papers tomorrow. I'm sure it'll be full of us. Even Martin Hallam will undoubtedly have something to say about that dress." His eyes smiled at her appreciatively again, and he pecked her on the forehead while the doorman waited patiently. It was fascinating the way they had stopped pretending years before. A peck here and there, a grope, a feel, but she had claimed virginity long since, and he had greedily bought the story.
    She waved as he walked away, and rode sleepily up to her floor. It felt good to be home. She unzipped the blue satin dress as she walked through the living room and deposited it on the couch where it could lie until Monday. Until doomsday for all she cared.