Attraction Page 8

  for her short trench coat.

  As she handed the coat to the butler, there was a low male whistle. She turned and saw

  Tanner coming towards her, dressed in a gray suit.

  “Hello, darling.” He surprised her with a kiss on her cheek. “You look incredibly

  delectable. I might consider making a go of repeating my brother and your sister’s pattern of

  nuptials.” He stood back, looked her up and down, and gave another appreciative whistle. “You

  are about the sexiest woman I’ve ever seen, Riley.”

  She was dressed in a black silk jersey sheath with long tight sleeves and a mock turtle

  neck. It’s was short, a tad shy of raising eyebrows, showing off her bare legs that were tightened

  by the four-inch black paten sandals that had a wide strap around the ankle with a silver buckle.

  The knit dress outlined her very shapely body, especially her large breasts. She had swept up her

  black curls high atop her head so that curly tendrils fell around her head and face, the pile

  secured with various jeweled sticks and combs.

  “Do you think it’s too much for an engagement party,” Riley asked. She wondered when

  she had chosen the dress if it were appropriate for a formal family gathering, but she had always

  loved it and felt good in it, because it made her feel sexy and confident, and knew how good she

  looked in the dress.

  “Yes. Maybe,” Tanner said, reminding her that for a man who was born with a silver

  spoon in his mouth, he could be just as forthright as she. “But for you, it’s perfect, because that’s

  who you are. Too beautiful, too sexy, too intelligent.”

  Riley tilted her head back and looked at his handsome face. “With smooth lines like that,

  and with your looks and your money, why hasn’t some smart girl caught you, yet?” Tanner put his arms around her waist and guided her to the parlor room where everyone

  else was having drinks. “Because my mamma taught me better. So, I’m too smart for the women

  who get caught up in the exterior trappings. And women like you won’t have men like me.” Riley stopped and looked up at him. “What do you mean by women like me?” Tanner draped a brotherly arm around her neck. “Oh, I don’t know. You know how some

  people just know that there are those who are way out of your class. I’m not saying you’re some

  femme fatale, not by a long shot. I’m just saying you need a man who can go head to head, toe to

  toe with you, inside and outside of bed. I know I could never be that man.”

  She gave him a long look. “We can certainly have fun finding out.”

  “Behave yourself, vixen. Remember, this is a respectable gathering of future in-laws.

  Besides, I like my heart to be kept intact, and I’ve a nasty suspicion that you would leave me

  high and dry once the fun ended.”

  “You just said that I wasn’t a femme fatale.”

  Tanner tapped his finger on her nose. “Perhaps I should have qualified that with you

  don’t mean to be a femme fatale.”

  He opened the door and announced to the room with a flourish, “Here she is.” Everyone in the room came rushing to meet the newcomer and introductions were

  exchanged. Only Heron remained where he stood across the room, coolly detached as usual,

  sipping his scotch, watching his family admire over his future sister-in-law.

  Out of the corner of her eye, while shaking hands and offering greetings, Riley saw him,

  holding back, and felt the chill in his gaze every time he glanced her way, and she knew he had

  not forgiven her for her words. She was beginning to fear that Heron was the type of man who

  did not give up his grudges once he had them.

  Thankfully, soon, she was lost in the pleasure of meeting the rest of Heron and Tanner’s

  family. She was relieved to find that Mr. and Mrs. Wait, the father as tall as his sons and the

  mother just under six feet, were as unpretentious and down to earth as their younger son. And

  she instantly saw that they were very pleased with the match that Heron had made with her sister,

  and that made her very pleased with them. The sister, Beth Anne, was in between Heron and

  Tanner in age. It turned out that she was not only unpretentious, as well, but also had a worse

  habit than Riley to shoot from the hip.

  Beth Anne, who had inherited the family’s height and large stature, was a professor of

  English at San Francisco State University. She herself had married a man who had little money

  and position, and who was a professor of Astronomy doing research and teaching at the

  California University of Berkeley. He had the romantically incongruous name of Ovid, chosen

  by his mother who had loved reading the myths. He was also quite tall, but was more thinly built,

  gawky, having more of the appearance of a giraffe, with straight mussed up blond hair that fell

  over his eyes, eyes that looked out at the world through thick glasses with shy wonderment. In

  keeping with the traditional appearance of a true geek, he wore an ill-fitting suit that looked

  cheap and over ten years old in style. His wife didn’t seem to mind, which was appropriate, since

  she herself was badly attired in a heavy wool gray plaid skirt that ended at her calf, a bright pink

  cashmere sweater that revealed a few moth holes upon closer inspection, thick, wool knee highs,

  and flat loafers that needed re-stitching.

  The couple had two children, a boy and a girl, ages ten and eight respectively, who ran

  rough shod over their parents, their keen intelligence inherited from their parents enabling them

  to find all sorts of ways to aggravate every adult that they encountered.

  When he was first introduced to Riley, Ovid took one look at the small, dazzling woman

  before him, and became so tongue tied that all that would come out of his moth was a croak,

  which caused his face to turn bright red.

  “Oh, dear,” Beth Anne said mildly to Tanner as they watched poor Ovid staring stupidly

  at Riley as she smiled up at him. “I wonder if he’s going to be able to find his tongue at all this

  evening. –Ah, looks like she’s experienced with this sort of reaction from men,” she observed

  when Ovid suddenly found his speaking ability and gave an answer to a question that Riley had

  asked, a question that more than like had to do with astronomy.

  “I told you she was incredible,” Tanner said. “By the way, where are your two unholy

  monsters?”

  Beth Anne glanced at her mother with irritation. “They weren’t allowed to be here by

  Mother.”

  “Well, this is hardly a gathering for children.”

  “It’s not that. It’s just I had a devil of a time getting a baby sitter for them. I was on the

  phone for six straight hours, calling up ten baby-sitters and twelve nannies before I finally was

  able to bribe one at thirty bucks an hour.”

  “I’m surprised that you were able to find someone who was willing to take the risk of

  being torched for that small of a price.”

  “Well, the last sitter was stupid to let herself be tied up like that. And they didn’t exactly

  put a torch to her. Her clothes and hair only got singed.”

  “Hmmmm. And, also, I think mother would like to be able to keep the last of her antique

  collections intact, seeing that your two hooligans have destroyed a good portion of the valuables

  in this house.”

  “Oh, stop it. You make them sound like they’re ready for the penitentiary.” “Well, they’re certainly on the
ir way.”

  Beth Anne slapped at his arm. Then she sighed. “I guess I better check in with those two

  hool…uh, children, to make sure no one’s dead.”

  “The children?’

  “No, the baby sitter.”

  “Maybe you should call the hospital first. It would certainly save time.” Beth Anne gave him a dirty look then took out her cell phone and dialed. Riley found Alana and Roy Wait, the parents to be quite friendly, open, and ready to

  welcome the new additions to their family without prejudice or reserve. It was obvious that Beth

  Anne very much took after her mother in many ways. Both were quite tall but Alana had a much

  slender build than her daughter who inherited her large frame from her father side of the family.

  In temperament, however, they were very alike. Like Beth Anne, Alana was very direct, was

  quite free with her opinions, and didn’t believe in standing on ceremony with her family. Her

  manner towards her family was that of a loving dictator who only issued orders because she

  believed they were in her family’s best interests but which were generally ignored by her

  children.

  Roy proved to be the more of the diplomat of the two, a bit fastidious, rather courtly, but

  welcoming and warm. But when it came to his family, he could also be quite direct. “Your sister tells me that you run a club up in Santa Rosa,” Roy said gruffly, looking

  down at her from beneath snowy white eyebrows. “Tanner said that you run a sex club upstairs.

  That’s quite extraordinary.”

  “Yes, it’s a private sex club.”

  “What do we need a sex club for?”

  “It’s where people can feel comfortable exploring their sexuality when they can’t explore

  it in their own lives.”

  “Do you conduct orgies there?”

  His wife pulled him away. “That’s none of your business, Roy. Why don’t you go and

  make yourself another pitcher of martini. You make the mix better than anyone else.” To

  sweeten the order, Alana kissed him on the cheek.

  Roy jauntily made his way to the bar.

  “I must apologize for my husband, my dear,” Alana said. “He thinks as head of this

  family he has to act a part.”

  “Well, you can tell him that orgies are not allowed. The club is not a free for all. And it’s

  not a place where sex is trafficked.”

  “As long as it is a safe environment for the physical and emotional well being of people,

  and the adults are consenting, I think it’s a good idea.”

  Riley blinked at her in surprise. “You do?”

  “Yes. Society is too rigid about sex and makes people go underground in their lives to

  meet their sexual needs.”

  Riley glanced sidelong towards Heron who was talking on his cell. “If you don’t mind

  my saying, Mrs. Wait, I would have a thought a family with your connections and position, you

  would have minded that one of your future in-laws operated a sex club.”

  “Why? Because we’re rich and the society pages keep tabs on us? Why should the fact

  that we have money and position and most others don’t make us leaders of social mores and that

  should allow us to dictate them? We’re no better than any working family. I know so many other

  wealthy people feel that because of their money, they have the right to dictate to others without

  money how they should live.” Alana hooked her arms around Riley’s companionably and led her

  towards Heron and Roberta. “That’s why I’m so glad that yours and my family will be together.

  You’re real people, and don’t think of yourself high and mighty.”

  “You mean we know our place?”

  Alana stopped and looked down at Riley. “Dear me, was I being so indelicate? I’m

  usually not so clumsy. No, Riley. I meant that you and your sister and your parents know the real

  value of things. I think you and your family if you were suddenly rich tomorrow, it wouldn’t

  change you one bit.”

  “I’m sorry. I’m usually not this sensitive.”

  “I don’t blame you. I know how nerve racking it can be to meet new in-laws.” “Could I ask you a question, Mrs. Wait?”

  “Please, call me Alana. By all means.”

  “Is Heron adopted by any chance?”

  Alana looked surprised but not offended. “No. Why do you ask?”

  “If I may say so, he’s not a bit like any of his family.”

  Alana looked at her oldest son’s profile as he stood by the window, talking on the cell

  phone, noting how severe and detached it was. That detachment only made him even more

  striking. If she ever worried about her children, it was him, because he seemed to expect so much

  of himself and of others and, yet, held himself apart from people and the world. “I’m afraid he is a bit of a throw back to earlier times in our society. He has an energy

  that isn’t really ours. I guess I’m saying I think none of the rest of the family, including me, really understand him.” The older woman then gave Riley a shrewd look. “Has my son been

  giving you a hard time?”

  She kept her face pleasantly bland. “No. I get the impression that had his birth been

  different, he might have been a priest.”

  “Yes, Heron can be rather Calvinistic.”

  Several minutes later, everyone was summoned to the large dining room, where an oval

  elegant table was set. All around the room candles were lit, giving a cozy effect to the formality.

  Standing ready were two male servants. When Caroline saw the expensive setting of the table,

  the gold plated rim of the dishware, the silverware that included three forks, three spoons, and

  butter knife, the Waterford crystal glasses and goblets, the linen napkins, and the nameplates, she

  cast a nervous look at Riley, who whispered to her, “This engagement all hinges on you using

  the right fork, Mom. So, be careful. If you use the desert fork for the salad, then the games up.” “You’re certainly no help,” Caroline hissed back as she sat down in the chair that one of

  the servants pulled out for her.

  Despite the elegance of the table, the two efficient servants, and the elaborate meals,

  dinner turned out to be a raucous affair, with plenty of humor, story telling, and bringing up past

  childhood squabbles that were mostly engaged between Tanner and Beth Anne. She revealed that

  Tanner was a malicious prankster who tormented his sister to no end with tricks, and he accused

  her of being a tattletale, which often got him grounded.

  “You deserved every punishment Mom and Dad meted out on you, including the time

  they wouldn’t let you go to that coed slumber party that Diana Hartford threw,” Beth Anne said

  with satisfaction. “Serves you right for putting that lizard in my bed.”

  “It was in heat,” Tanner explained, all innocence. “It was in desperate need of a mate.” “Don’t be disgusting, Tanner,” Alana reproved mildly. “We have guests.” It did not help that the guests were laughing at Tanner’s stories.

  Caroline said, “It’s good to hear that the rich go through the same disciplinary process

  and trials as any other family go through.”

  Beth rolled her eyes. “Oh, please, my parents were such an embarrassment to my brothers

  and I in their so-called teaching of values. Do you know how embarrassing it was for me that I

  had to earn my privileges, when all my others peers just had to ask their parents and, whala, they

  got it. Did you know we had to not only get good grades but use our allowances to pay for our own gas, phone
bills, and entertainment. Dad forced each of us to maintain a budget. And it didn’t stop there. My parents insisted that we all go to college. In college, all of us had to work part time for extra spending money. Imagine, my parents sitting on millions of dollars, and they wouldn’t pay our bills. God, I was so embarrassed back then. My friends would look at me as if I was talking in alien language when I would mention my bills or that I had to go to work. So, while all my friends were able to jet set around the world, party with all the big stars and European royals, or tour the Riviera on their parents’ yacht, I had to go back east and be Jane

  college student.”

  “Yes, it was all such a hardship that we put you through,” Alana commented with

  obvious satisfaction.

  After they had their deserts, they all went back into the parlor room for the after-dinner

  drinks. It was a time for relaxing, the members of the two family to get further reacquainted, and

  for the body systems to settle after so rich a meal.

  To get some fresh air, Riley strolled out to the balcony that provided a breathtaking view

  of the city lights. Tanner was already out there, sipping his brandy, staring at the night sky that

  was for once not screened with fog. She thought that the set of his shoulders held a certain

  sadness. He turned at the sound of her footsteps.

  “Is it okay if I join you?” she asked.

  Tanner smiled. “Sure. Why shouldn’t it be?”

  “I don’t know. For a second, I thought you might want to be alone.”

  Riley looked at the vast expanse of the city that the view afforded. To the left was the

  Golden Gate Bridge, still full of cars zooming too and from even at this late hour. “Wow! So this

  is what money buys.” Then she winced. “That was pretty crass of me, wasn’t it?” Tanner didn’t look offended in the least. He shrugged. “No, because you’re right. Where

  you are standing is a prime example of money.” He went back to viewing the scenery. “Don’t let

  Beth Anne fool you with all of her indignation over being taught responsibility and the value of

  money. We always knew just how much butter was slathered on our bread and that it covered

  both sides.”

  “But your parents have reasons to be very proud of all their kids. You all turned out to be

  productive and responsible adults, instead of going half-cocked around the world like typical