Part 13 (1/2)

-at my place.'

Tanner could hardly believe what he was hearing. 'Your place?'

'Yes, I have a little pied-a-terre on Park Avenue,' she said. 'Would you like to take me home?'

They skipped dessert.

The little pied-a-terre was a sumptuous apartment, beautifully furnished. Tanner looked around, amazed at how luxurious it was, and how elegant. The apartment suited her: an eclectic collection of paintings, a refectory table, a large chandelier, an Italian settee, and a set of six Chippendale chairs and a couch. That was all that Tanner had time to see before she said, 'Come see my bedroom.'

The bedroom was done in white, with all-white furniture, and a large mirrored ceiling over the bed.

Tanner looked around and said, 'I'm impressed. This is the most-'

'Shh.' Paula began to undress him. 'We can talk later.'

When she had finished undressing Tanner, she started slowly taking off her own clothes. She had a body that was erotic perfection. Her arms were around Tanner and she was pressed against him, and she put her lips to his ear and whispered, 'That's enough foreplay.'

They were in bed and she was ready for him, and when he was inside her, she squeezed her hips and thighs tightly together and then relaxed them, and squeezed again and repeated it, getting Tanner more and more excited. She kept s.h.i.+fting her body slightly, so that each sensation was different for him. She gave him voluptuous gifts he had never imagined, stimulating him to an ecstatic pitch of excitement.

Much later, they talked far into the night.

They were together every evening after that. Princess was constantly surprising Tanner with her humour and charm, and gradually, in his eyes, she had become beautiful.

One morning, Andrew said to Tanner, 'I've never seen you smile so much. Is it a woman?'

Tanner nodded. 'Yes.'

'Is it serious? Are you going to marry her?'

'I've been thinking about it.'

Andrew regarded Tanner for a moment. 'Maybe you should tell her.'

Tanner squeezed Andrew's arm. 'Maybe I will.'

The following night, Tanner and Princess were alone in her apartment.

Tanner began, 'Princess, you once asked me to say to you something I had never said to a woman before.'

'Yes, darling?'

'Here it is. I want you to marry me.'

There was a moment's hesitation, and she grinned and flew into his arms. 'Oh, Tanner!'

He looked into her eyes. 'Is that a yes?'

'I want to marry you, darling, but-I'm afraid we have a problem.'

'What problem?'

'I told you. I want to do something important. I want enough power to make things happen-to change things. And the root of that is money. How can we have a future together if you don't have a future?'

Tanner took her hand. 'There's no problem. I own half of an important business, Princess. One day I'm going to make enough money to give you everything you want.'

She shook her head. 'No. Your brother, Andrew, tells you what to do. I know all about you two.

He won't let the company grow, and I need more than you can give me now.'

'You're wrong.' Tanner reflected a moment. 'I want you to meet Andrew.'

The three of them had lunch the following day. Paula was charming, and it was obvious that Andrew liked her immediately. Andrew had been worried about some of the women his brother had been taking out. This one was different. She was personable and intelligent and witty. Andrew looked over at his brother, and his nod meant 'good choice.'

Paula said, 'I think that what Kingsley Group is doing is wonderful, Andrew, helping so many people around the world. Tanner's told me all about it.'

'I'm grateful that we can do it. And we're going to do even more.'

'You mean the company's going to expand?'

'Not in that sense. I mean that we're going to send more people to more countries where they can be helpful.'

Tanner said quickly, 'Then we'll start to get contracts for a.s.signments here and-'

Andrew smiled. 'Tanner is so impatient. There's no hurry. Let's do what we were meant to do first, Tanner. Help others.'

Tanner looked over at Princess. Her expression was noncommittal. The next day, Tanner telephoned. 'Hi, Princess. What time should I pick you up?'

There was a moment of silence. 'Darling, I'm so sorry. I can't keep our date tonight.'

Tanner was caught by surprise. 'Is anything wrong?'

'No. A friend of mine is in town and I have to see him.' Him? Tanner felt a pang of jealousy. 'I understand. Then tomorrow night we'll-'

'No, I can't tomorrow. Why don't we make it Monday?' She was going to spend the weekend with whoever it was. Tanner hung up, worried and frustrated.

On Monday night, Princess apologized. 'I'm sorry about the weekend, darling. It's just that this is an old friend who came to town to see me.'

Into Tanner's mind flashed a picture of Princess's beautiful apartment. There was no way she could afford that on a salary. 'Who is he?'