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  of the bar, where a tall, large man sat, drinking a beer and watching a baseball game on the

  television.

  “Thanks, Joe,” Riley said with little enthusiasm. “Can you pour me a glass of white? The

  Sauvignon Blank from Meridian would be great.”

  While she waited for Joe to open the bottle and pour it in a glass, Riley watched the man

  at the end of the bar. His name was Danny Moore, a successful developer, fresh from a divorce

  with two children who had just gone away to college. He was about forty who had married his

  high school sweetheart, and suddenly felt that life was passing him by. For the past four weeks,

  Danny had been vigorously pursuing Riley. She knew he was caught up in the idea of her

  running an occasional private sex club upstairs. She guessed that he thought she would show him

  some kinky sex.

  Riley had tried to explain to Danny that she herself did not participate in any of the role

  plays and fantasies that were acted out in the private rooms, that she was merely the facilitator of

  such events.

  She had not decided yet whether or not she wanted to be caught by him. He was quite

  tall, largely built, and was attractive in a rugged sort of way. He was a man’s man, more

  comfortable in the company of males, handy with tools, and closely followed most of the

  professional sports. Riley had allowed him to kiss her one evening, and found his fumbling

  hands and heavy lips unimaginative.

  Still, Riley wondered if she should not give him a try. Perhaps he was better in bed than

  what his foreplay indicated. And she was bored and in need of some diversion. It had been over a

  year since she had a man.

  CHAPTER TWO

  In the following three months, Roberta did not bring Heron over to the house. She,

  herself, missed a few of the family’s Sunday dinners, because she was traveling to New York

  and London on business.

  One very early morning, Riley was awaken by the phone ringing. Struggling to surface

  from her slumber, she stretched an arm out to the phone.

  “Hello?”

  “Riley! Riley! It’s me, Robbie!” Roberta’s voice was high and excited. She almost

  sounded hysterical

  “Huh? What are you doing calling at this hour. Are you alright?”

  “Yes, yes, I’m fine. I know it’s an awful time to call, but I just had to call you. I couldn’t

  wait until tomorrow. Guess what?”

  “You called me at two o’clock in the morning to play guessing games with me? You

  know I can hurt you next time I see you.”

  “Riley, Riley, I’m getting married! Heron asked me tonight to marry him. Oh, my God,

  Riley. I’m going to be the wife of Heron Wait! Me, Roberta Calderon from suburbia Santa Rosa,

  marrying a man like him. How exciting is that?”

  Riley managed to push herself into a sitting position, trying to take in what Roberta was

  telling her. “Are you sure,” was all she could say.

  Roberta laughed. “I know. It seems unreal to me, too. Yes, I’m sure. I’m wearing the

  ring that he put on my finger earlier tonight. And, Riley, the rock can buy you a small island.” “So, you said yes.” For some reason, Riley felt as if she couldn’t quite mentally get

  around this latest development.

  “Yes, I said yes. What else was I going to say?”

  “You could have said no.”

  “Oh, right. Say no to Heron Wait.”

  “Then you love him.?”

  “Of course I love him. He’s everything a girl would want in a man. Everything! He’s

  good looking, smart, rich, works hard, stable, a perfect gentleman, cultured, sophisticated, and so

  much more. I’d be crazy not to love him.”

  “Wow! Have you set a date?”

  “No, silly. He only asked me tonight. That’ll come later. Listen, don’t tell Mom and Dad

  until I tell them tomorrow. Okay?”

  “Okay. Congratulations, darling. I’m happy for you.”

  “Oh, God, I still can’t believe. I won’t sleep for rest of the night. Of course, you’re going

  to my maid of honor.”

  “Ugh,” Riley groaned. “Does that mean you’re going to make me wear one of those

  horrid pastel contraptions?”

  “If it’s going to be a spring wedding, yes.”

  “Well, it’s too early to talk about pukey green, anemic pink, or jaundice yellow. So, I’m

  going to say goodbye and I’ll talk to you tomorrow. Congratulations, darling. I’m happy for

  you.”

  “Riley.”

  “Yes?”

  “I love you.”

  “I love you, too, Robbie.”

  It was another three weeks before Roberta and Heron could make it up to Santa Rosa for

  the family’s Sunday dinner. Again, Caroline hired her chef friend, Marge, requesting even a

  more elaborate dinner menu in celebration of the recent engagement.

  When Riley arrived at her parents’ house, she found the house empty, except for Marge,

  who was in the kitchen, wearing her black and white catering uniform. This time, she brought

  along a hired help, a young woman who was in college, to do the waiting. At the moment, the

  waitress was fixing a few appetizer plates of miniature pumpernickel with lox and dill mustard

  sauce, spicy tuna sushi, foi gras squares with truffles on cocktail sticks, and red and black caviar on crackers. In a large silver bucket filled with ice were a few bottles of champagne and white

  wine.

  “Wow! Mother’s going all out tonight, isn’t she? What’s for dinner, Aunt Marge?” she

  asked, as she began to sniff at the various pots and pans.

  Marge slapped at her hand. “Keep your grimy hands out of there. It’s an important

  evening. Tonight, it’s a five course meal, starting with the appetizers, then shrimp curry bisque,

  then walnut, endive, and blue cheese salad, and then main dinner which is starring the veal chops

  with herbed butter, then dessert.” She turned and stopped when she caught sight of Riley. “Well,

  don’t we look quite the society butterfly, tonight?”

  Riley looked down at herself and gave a mock curtsy. Tonight, she was wearing a skirt of

  layers and layers of silk chiffon in pale, pale blue that reached just at her knees. It was very

  feminine and moved gracefully and flirtatiously with every movement. She topped the skirt with

  an equally pale lavender cashmere sweater that buttoned down the front. The sweater was thickly

  sequined around the neckline, chest and back, and shoulders as well as trimming down the front

  flap, the hemline, and the arm edges, with iridescent flat beads, purple and blue beads, and clear

  crystals. On her feet were silver leather, high-heeled sandals that showed off her red-painted

  toenails. She had swept back her thick, unruly hair into a loose French knot at the back, securing

  it with jeweled hair sticks.

  Marge shook her head with admiration as she took in Riley’s outfit again. “Hmmm,

  hmmm, hmmm. You always knew how to dress, didn’t you, honey?”

  Riley waved at her outfit. “This was on the orders of the general, on the threat of death.” When Riley went out to the living room, her parents had just come down the stairs. They

  were dressed for a formal occasion, her father in a dark somber suit and her mother in a pearl,

  lace dress that she had bought for last Easter.

  Caroline took in her daughter’s attire and was satisfied. “Oh, Riley, you do look lovely.” Riley kissed her on the cheek. �
�So do you, Mom.” She kissed her Dad, who looked a

  little pained. “You, too, Dad. Are we all ready to welcome this illustrious person into our humble

  enclave.”

  Caroline blanched a little. “God, I hope he’s not going to want a big formal wedding.

  There will be so many important people, and I’ll be scared to death of them.”

  Lawrence pulled at his collar. “If he’s wanting a big wedding, it’ll break the bank for us.” Riley pointed out, “Ah, but Wait’s rich, remember? He can foot the bill if he wants ice

  swans, white tents, and one hundred dollar champagne.”

  Lawrence did turn sheet white. “One hundred dollars for one bottle of champagne? I’ll

  have to get second, third, and fourth mortgage on my house.”

  Riley slipped a reassuring hand through his arm. “Trust me, Dad, Robbie’s fiancée is

  going to be footing the bill. In fact he’ll insist on it.”

  “How can you be so sure? We’ve only met him once.”

  “Well, Heron Wait’s rich, right? He was born and raised in wealth. The usual mentality

  of rich people is that they have certain ideas on what they want, and they make sure they get

  what they want by overriding objections with money. Who but the rich know that money has a

  way of overriding any objections?”

  The doorbell rang and Caroline and Lawrence looked at each other in panic for a

  moment.

  Caroline ordered, “Quick, Riley, go and tell Marge that they’re here, and start opening

  the champagne.”

  Riley went into the kitchen and gave her message to Marge. When she came back into the

  living room, Roberta and Caroline were hugging each other, both laughing and babbling at the

  same time, and their father was shaking, quite heartedly, Heron’s hand.

  “Oh, darling, darling, darling Robbie. Your dad and I couldn’t be happier. This is all so

  unbelievable.”

  “I know. I’m still taking it all in,” Roberta said, her face flushed with excitement. When

  she saw Riley, she instantly went over to her and they hugged for a good measure. Caroline said to Heron, “And, Heron, welcome to our family.”

  Heron put out his hand, but Caroline put her arms around him and hugged him. For a

  moment, he looked shocked, then quite discomfited when she continued to hug him, that Riley

  had to suppress a laugh. When Caroline released him, Riley went up to him and held out her

  hand.

  She said, trying to infuse the warmth and excitement that her family was feeling in her

  tone, “Congratulations, Heron. Robbie is the most beautiful and wonderful woman a man could

  ever marry.”

  Heron stared at her proffered hand for a moment. He had heard the slight edge in her

  voice. Then he shook it, rather perfunctorily. “Thank you, Riley. I know Roberta will make me

  happy, and I think I can make her happy, as well.”

  Then she saw a strange man standing behind Heron. He was quite good looking, straight,

  sable brown hair that was cut short and neat, a few inches shorter than Heron, his body long and

  lean, and looking as if he felt a little out of place.

  Heron stepped aside. “Mr. and Mrs. Calderon, Riley, this is my younger brother, Tanner

  Wait. He just arrived home two weeks ago after graduating from Harvard with his MBA.” “Welcome, Tanner. It’s good to meet you.” Caroline gave him hug, which made his face

  turn red with embarrassment but also with pleasure.

  “Thank you, Mrs. Calderon. Mr. Calderon.” Tanner shook their hands with hardy

  warmth. “I didn’t mean to suddenly spring myself on you so unexpectedly, but I’m afraid your

  daughter was very insistent, and Heron said you wouldn’t mind. I hope I won’t be messing up

  the dinner plans too much.”

  “No, no, son. We’ll have plenty of food, and champagne and wine.” Lawrence slapped

  Tanner’s back. “Ah, here is the champagne.”

  As the waitress passed around the champagne, Riley quickly looked over Heron’s guest,

  and she quickly decided that she liked him as she watched him listening intently as her father

  regaled him with the book he was writing on Woodrow Wilson. There was a certainly a

  resemblance between the two brothers, but Tanner’s face was much softer, the lines gentler, and

  quite irresistible with a dimple on each side of his face. He had blue eyes, which were lively and

  interested, and his brown hair was straight which tended to fall over his forehead, giving him an

  innocent, youthful air. His whole demeanor was much more welcoming, much warmer then that

  of his older brother, who seemed to view others with a certain coolness and censorship and

  worldly detachment.

  Roberta came to Riley’s side and whispered, “Isn’t he something else?” “I think that was the first thing that was established about your fiancée the first time we

  met him.”

  “No, I mean Tanner. I mean, Heron is drop dead gorgeous, don’t get me wrong. But his

  brother, isn’t he just adorable? And look at those dimples. His dimples were the first things I

  noticed when I first met him. Then his eyes, and then he had the greatest smile I’ve ever seen.” They watched with approval as Tanner took two dirty champagne flutes, set them on the

  tray that the waitress was holding, and took fresh champagne, gallantly handing one to Caroline. “I can’t believe he’s Heron’s brother,” Riley said without thinking.

  Roberta looked at her. “What do you mean by that?”

  Riley cursed herself. “Well, they’re very different from one another. Tanner seems more

  outgoing, and his brother is more reserved.” Then she mused, more to herself, “Not very unlike

  you and I.”

  “Do you like him?”

  “I do, the instant I met him.”

  “Maybe he’ll want to go out with you. He’s single, isn’t seeing anyone, right now.” “What? I’m years older than he is, and don’t go fobbing off your hanger-on sister to your

  future in-law, at least not until you’re married.”

  “He’s twenty five, only four years younger than you. And I think you’ll have fun with

  him. He’s quite funny, and keeps you entertained with all these stories.”

  “Let’s concentrate on one wedding at a time, shall we?”

  From the other side of the room, Tanner was watching Riley walk away, He gave a low

  whistle and said to Heron, “Man, look at her.”

  “Who?” Heron asked.

  “Your future sister-in-law.”

  “Are you talking about Roberta’s sister?”

  “Yes.”

  “Why don’t you ask her out, then, if you find her that fascinating.” There was an edge to

  Heron’s voice.

  “I don’t think so. A woman like her doesn’t go out with a guy like me.” “What are you talking about?”

  “Well, look at her. I’m way out of her league.”

  “How do you figure that?”

  “Look at the way she’s dressed. That outfit screams of style and taste, her shoes with her

  painted toenails shouts out sex, and those strangely colored eyes and hair tells a man that he

  could be in a for a wild ride.”

  “You’re no slouch yourself. Remember, you’re considered one of the most eligible

  bachelors in the state.” Tanner winced, as Heron knew he would, at the most hated title that he

  currently held in the media. Heron felt exactly as his brother did, having had to suffer through

  the same public exposure for most of their adult lives.

  “Money and position mean nothing t
o a woman like her. A man has to have a lot more

  going than that to hold the attention of a woman like your fiancée’s sister.”

  They watched as the two sisters conversed.

  “Don’t think so highly of her, Tanner,” Heron said, a bite to his voice. “She runs a bar

  that moonlights as a sex club.”

  Tanner whistled again. “Now that’s wild. I’ll have to check it out, sometime.” He walked

  away in search of more appetizers.

  As Heron continued to watch the two sisters, his eyes narrowed with displeasure when he

  saw his fiancée nod and listen intently to whatever Riley was saying, obviously finding it

  valuable and helpful. He didn’t like the fact that Roberta’s sister had so much influence over her.

  Once they were married, he had every intention of blunting that power. It wouldn’t be easy.

  Roberta looked up to her older sister, almost immeasurably. He hadn’t realized this until he had

  dinner with Roberta’s family that first time, and saw how much she adored Riley. After that

  Sunday, he then begun to notice how often Roberta would bring up Riley, and something that she

  had said Roberta had found fascinating or interesting, or advised her on an issue, or something

  funny she had said. And Heron began to be irritated now whenever Roberta said her sister’s

  name, and, at times, could barely refrain himself from telling her that he wasn’t interested in

  what her sister had to say.

  Heron could understand the love and devotion of between siblings. He himself very much

  loved and admired his younger brother, and felt just as protective of him as Riley felt of her

  sister. But he did not feel the need to interfere in Tanner’s life or dictate it.

  The waitress walked out of the kitchen and whispered something in Caroline’s ear. Caroline announced, “Everyone, everyone, dinner is about to be served, so if we can sit

  down.”

  Everyone sat down and the waitress and Marge served the shrimp bisque soup. As the

  dinner progressed, the conversation was pleasant and light. Tanner proved himself to be an engaging and humorous story teller, entertaining the others with stories of his college days and

  the antics that he and his fraternity brothers had committed.

  “So, Tanner, now that you’re out of college, what do you plan to do?” Caroline asked. Tanner gave a rueful smile. “I’m going into the family business. I’ll be working for my