Deny Tomorrow Page 15

  When she returned, Lydia took the pitcher of juice from Arianna, and taking note of her for the first time, asked, “Are you new here? I don’t think I’ve seen you before.”

  “Yes, you might say that,” Arianna responded.

  “Oh,” Lydia said, and continued to stare at her as if something didn’t seem to fit. Then, shaking off whatever thought had momentarily crossed her mind, she took the juice and returned to the table.

  Lisa was seething. “God, what a bitch!” she whispered. “That’s Zach’s girlfriend, you know?”

  “No, but I figured as much. She’s very pretty.”

  “Humph! She let me know in no uncertain terms that Susan, Tony’s ex-girlfriend, is her best friend.”

  Seeing that Lisa was becoming worked up over this, Arianna said, “I know, but just relax, and don‘t let her get to you. Once she goes back and tells Susan how much Tony’s in love with you, that’ll shut them both up.”

  “You’re right,” Lisa said, calming down. “She’s not worth getting upset over.”

  Arianna grabbed a muffin and some grapes and proceeded to go back into the kitchen. She noticed Zach was not sitting at the table any longer but instead was leaning on the ledge that enclosed the veranda. It seemed he wasn’t paying much attention to Lydia, but then, since he wasn’t a very demonstrative person, she didn’t know if this meant anything or not. He could be completely in love with this woman, but given his demeanor, would never show it. But oh, what am I dwelling on this for? Zach was a mean, brutish man who spanked me. He’s no one I would ever be interested in!

  ARIANNA STAYED busy all day helping the servants prepare the pool and patio area for the party. They pruned the flowerbeds, hung baskets of ferns, washed windows, mowed lawns, and strung and checked party lights.

  A good deal of her time was also spent readying the inside of the pool house. Just like the main house, this area was luxuriously appointed including his and her dressing rooms and showers. During the week, the space on the ladies side was a workout area with a large assortment of state of the art fitness equipment. For the party, the machines had been rolled into storage and the area had been transformed into a lounge area.

  Comfortable sofas and chairs looked out over the pool through a magnificent floor to ceiling window. Nestled in among hanging ferns and large potted plants stood a five-tier water fountain, which would provide a relaxing atmosphere for the ladies to enjoy during brief respites from the party.

  Of special interest to Arianna was a stage just outside the pool house, complete with a very expensive sound system. She learned there was to be a performance by a live band, followed by dancing to the music of a DJ.

  Several cabana bars ringed the pool, and the bar keeps were busy stocking the shelves with every assortment of wine, beer, and liquor anyone might like. The guests would dine on grilled filet mignon steaks, bacon wrapped and served with sautéed portabella mushrooms, accompanied by a choice of grilled shrimp or Maine lobster.

  Even though she didn’t plan on attending the party, she found herself getting excited for the first time since her ordeal had begun. She would help the servants serve appetizers, food, and drinks, but she hoped to find time to hang around in the background and enjoy the entertainment.

  Zach and his male guests were off playing golf, while Lydia and some of the female guests spent the afternoon lounging by the pool. Lisa decided to spend the day working with Arianna and helping Pilar in the kitchen.

  “Arianna, if you would join me, I’d feel much more comfortable at the pool, but I don’t want to be around Lydia by myself. Tony thinks I’m being too paranoid about this,” Lisa told her. “He assured me they would accept me as his new girlfriend, but not if I was going to shun them.”

  “Boy!” Arianna said. “He sure does not understand women. Susan was Lydia’s best friend, and there’s no way she’s going to welcome you with open arms.”

  “Maybe you could join me. You know Zach doesn’t care, and frankly, I need the company.”

  “No, you’ll be just fine. Now, go on over there. The guys will be back from golf soon, and everyone’s going to hang out at the pool. You have to be with Tony.”

  Later in the afternoon, Arianna was stowing the last of the cleaning supplies in the tool shed, when José, head groundskeeper, approached. “Arianna, why don’t you go join those young people at the pool? A beautiful girl like you should be over there having fun, not working around here like a common field hand.”

  Arianna smiled. “Oh, you, sweet talker. Now, why would I want to hang out with any of those guys when I can be here with a handsome fellow like you?”

  “Ah, senorita,” he said, kissing her hand gallantly, “You flatter me, but Miss Arianna, you work too much. It is time to go play.”

  Arianna looked over at the pool. Zach and all the men were back from golf and, of course, Lydia was there, sitting on the side of the pool, looking quite prim and proper. Something about Lydia’s holier than thou image caused Arianna to change her mind about joining the group.

  “You know, José, on second, thought, I think I will join them. Keep watching. You’re not going to want to miss this.”

  Peeling off her shorts, down to the swim suit she wore underneath, she made her way up to the high diving board in the pool. Walking out onto the platform, she whistled loudly to get everyone’s attention just as she had before. With all eyes on her, she smiled and waved as she once again assumed the dramatic Olympic “ready” position.

  She proceeded to turn a cartwheel and then, sprang high into the air off the board. She did a cheerleader, “touch your toes splits” move, and with a loud Tarzan yell, came screaming down toward the water. At the last minute, she balled herself up into a cannonball and hit like a tidal wave, sending water drenching everyone on the side of the pool, especially Lydia Calhoun with her perfectly coiffed hair and flawless make-up. Jumping out of the pool, she was met with cheers and a big round of applause, and also by Lydia, fuming at having been drenched.

  “Oh, I’m really sorry, Miss Calhoun,” Arianna said upon seeing how mad she was. “Could I get you a towel?”

  Lydia glared at her as she tried to push her water soaked hair back off her face.

  Arianna started to walk away, but not before pausing in front of Zach. Feigning innocence she said “I just wanted to cool off before I quit work for the day. I hope you don’t mind, sir.”

  He smiled slowly, and then said, “Not at all. I trust you’ve cooled down now.”

  Arianna thought she had the situation well in hand until Zach, subtly looking her up and down, allowed his gaze to linger momentarily on her breasts. Gone in an instant was her poise and cool demeanor and in its place came the proverbial blush and rapid heartbeat he so easily elicited from her. Their interlude may have gone on much longer had it not been for Juan, who came up behind Arianna, hoisted her high in the air, and threw her screaming into the pool.

  Zach was still watching her fight for her life as Juan sought to dunk her when Lydia came up beside him.

  “Really, Zach. I had no idea the hired help was allowed to swim with the guests. Don’t you think you should say something to her? And the by the way she is so shamelessly flirting with Juan, she should be reprimanded or better yet, fired.”

  Flirting with Juan? Her original archenemy? Not hardly. I think for the first time since I met her, she just flirted with me.

  “Yes. I should say something to her,” he told Lydia.

  It wouldn’t be what she thought he would say, however. Arianna had appeared on the scene and in a matter of minutes, energized the entire group. Tony, now, high above on the diving board was about to make his own Olympic dive. Arianna had dropped the gauntlet, and one by one, all of the men would take up the challenge to top her dive. Their egos wouldn’t let themselves be outdone by a girl.

  Another loud whistle, the infamous fake Olympic starting pose and Tony was off. And though his attempted jackknife had started well, he hit the water in a big belly flo
p. This brought on more whistles, hisses, and boos, followed by additional dares for more dives from anyone brave enough to try.

  Such excitement she’d brought to the group! But what complications she was bringing to his life right now, Zach thought as he stood next to Lydia. Disaster seemed be looming on the horizon. Maybe I should have locked her away for the weekend.

  But then he realized locking her away wouldn’t address the real problem, which was she’d gotten into his blood. Even if she were out of sight, she wouldn’t be out of mind. He decided he needed to get himself in check before something bad happened. So he turned his attention to Lydia by grabbing a towel to dry her off. Hopefully with a little tender loving care from him, he could soothe her ruffled feathers and salvage the weekend. He wasn’t sure if this would help, but he had to try.

  Saturday dawned bright and clear, a perfect day for the party. The kitchen was bustling with activity as the temporary help scurried around preparing food for the evening’s affair.

  Arianna passed Zach coming through the kitchen. They looked at each other, but neither one spoke, causing Pilar to wonder what was to become of these two. The attraction between them was obvious, at least to her, but it looked as though they had decided even the simple act of speaking might be letting down their guard, and in doing so, unleash the river of feelings they stubbornly denied since the day they met. And so the cat and mouse game continued.

  “Where is everyone this morning?” Arianna asked, noticing the veranda was empty.

  “Oh, I think the men are off playing golf,” Stella answered. “And as for her highness, well, she’s sleeping in, waiting for breakfast in bed.”

  “And who might her highness be?” Arianna asked, thinking she already knew.

  “That would be Miss Calhoun,” Stella smirked. “She’s a beautiful woman, but she always breezes in here all high and mighty. She’s about the most ungrateful thing I’ve ever seen. She don’t act that way in front of Zach though. No way he’d still be with her if he knew what she was like when he wasn’t around. Just sayin’.”

  “Arianna! Hey,” Lisa said, as she came bursting in. “I’m so glad you’re up. Here. Come with me. You’ve got to see the dress I’m wearing to the party, and oh, have I got some great news to tell you.”

  Lisa pulled Arianna upstairs to Tony’s room where she spent all of her nights now. A large assortment of rejected dresses and lingerie lay scattered everywhere. Lisa reached down and picked up a black cocktail dress adorned with sequins across the bodice. Shucking her T-shirt and shorts, she quickly put it on. She stepped into a pair of black strappy sandals and twirled around. “So? What do you think?” she asked.

  “Wow!” Arianna said. “You look stunning, and I love the neckline. Have you modeled this for Tony yet? ”

  “No, I’m waiting until the party tonight,” Lisa said. “But wait. There’s more. Don’t move.”

  She went into the bathroom and in a moment, came back strutting a pair of diamond stud earrings and a matching open-heart diamond necklace.

  “Well?” she said, looking expectantly at Arianna.

  “Oh, Lisa. They’re beautiful! Tony got those for you?”

  “Yep,” Lisa answered, beaming. “You know, he’s so good to me it's scary. I’m so in love with him. I don’t know what I’d do if we ever broke up.”

  “Well, first of all, I’d say to stop worrying about it. Tony is a great guy, so relax and just enjoy yourself. He’s not a schmuck like your last boyfriend.”

  “You’re right. But, oh, wait! I almost forgot to tell you the other exciting news. Guess who’s performing tonight?”

  Arianna shook her head. She had no idea.

  “André! His band is playing.”

  “No! You’re kidding?” Arianna said, excited. Then, suddenly frowning she asked, “But aren’t they worried because he knows us?”

  “Didn’t seem so.” Lisa changed back into her regular clothes.

  “Hmm! Why not?”

  “Well, according to Tony, André called your phone, so they sent him a text, as if it was you writing, of course. The text said we had to disappear for a while because you were being stalked by your ex-boyfriend who had threatened to kill both of us. They told him we were going to drop out of sight and would contact him when it was safe to return. From Andrés response, he was surprised and shocked, but he didn’t question it.”

  Arianna had to admit. These guys were good. It seemed they’d answered a lot of her calls, pretending to be her. It dawned on her probably not too many people had even given her disappearance a second thought, never mind thinking to go looking for her. She suspected in their line of business, this was standard operating procedure, whatever their line of business was exactly. So, Arianna Garrett, Lisa Calder, Jane Doe... didn’t really matter who saw them at the party. They were just another face in the crowd.

  “Of course, you can’t tell André the real story about why we’re here,” Lisa continued, “and to be on the safe side, ask him to keep our whereabouts a secret. He will, won’t he?”

  “Oh, I’m sure he will. He’s like a brother to me, and I trust him completely.”

  She’d be only too happy to go along with the stalking story. The last thing she wanted was to bring someone else into this mess and put them in danger like she had her mother and Lisa and her family. She’d say whatever she needed to say to keep André in the dark.

  IT WAS late afternoon before Arianna finished setting the last table and went down to her room to clean up and change for the party. Guests wouldn’t be arriving for two hours, so she had plenty of time to get ready.

  Before dressing, she took a long, hot bath to soothe the sore muscles acquired from the last few days of manual labor. Unlike Lisa, she wasn’t wearing a new dress and jewels to the party. She decided to help the servants out, and so Stella had found her a uniform to wear. She’d become friends with most of the staff and felt at home working alongside them. This would be her way of being at the party without being at the party.

  For the first time since she’d arrived, she applied some make-up. With a touch of color on her cheeks, some mascara, and light lipstick, she looked fresh and radiant. Her blond hair shimmered from being streaked by the sun, and she wore it down, parted on the side, and scrunched into place. Yes, it was a bit on the wild side, but she really didn’t want any beauty shop, “fixed” look. Hair that was a bit unruly and sassy, just like her, suited her best.

  Finally, she slipped into some slim, black Capri pants and a white dress shirt with a pleated bodice...the basics of the servant’s uniform. The third piece was a red silk vest with three buttons in front and an adjustable strap across the open back. She topped the ensemble off with a black bow tie and stepped in front of the mirror to check herself out. She had to smile. It wasn’t as stunning as the cocktail dress and jewels Lisa was wearing, but for a servant, she thought she looked damned good.

  When she came into the kitchen, Stella made a feeble attempt at a whistle but blew mostly air. “Wow, Arianna. You look too good to be working as a servant. You know, you don’t have to do this. You can change and go to the party like all the rest of the guests.”

  “Well, not quite,” Arianna said. “You see, I have nothing to change into that would be suitable for this occasion, but thank you anyway, Stella. This is what I want to do. There’s no way I’m going to this party with everyone all coupled up and me by myself, not to mention, this group is way out of my league.”

  Stella shook her head in dismay. “Oh, hush, Arianna. No offense, but sometimes you are just plain stupid. Dressed up or not, I think you’d be the prettiest lady at the party, but here.” She handed her a tray of hors d`oeuvres. “Since there’s no changing your mind, take these on out there. Come back when you need more.”

  THE AROMA of steaks on the grill permeated the air and at the cabana bars, the bartenders were busy serving up cocktails. Most of the guests had arrived, and by the sound of all the laughter and chatter, it seemed the party was off
to a good start. Also, by the looks of all the glitzy cocktail dresses and jewels, it looked like there were a lot of high rollers in attendance.

  Arianna moved through the crowd and came upon Zach standing with Lydia, Lisa, and Tony. She almost swooned at how handsome he looked, dressed in a black sport coat, gray slacks, a crisp, white dress shirt, and a thin black tie. His jet-black hair was slightly mussed, and he held her captive with his blackberry eyes as she stood among the guests at the party. Surrounding him, was a bevy of female guests who had swooped in upon him, hoping to catch his attention, despite the fact Lydia stood velcroed to his side or that their own mates were somewhere nearby. She wished them luck. She was sure Lydia kept, or at least tried to keep, Zach on a very short leash.

  “Appetizer, anyone?” she asked.

  “Please,” Lisa said and stepped close. Whispering, she said, “You look amazing. I can hardly stand you masquerading as a servant though.”

  “Thank you, Miss Calder,” Arianna said loudly, before whispering under her breath. “Don’t worry about me, Lisa. I’m fine. You just relax and enjoy yourself. ”

  She did her best to avoid looking at Zach, who hadn’t taken his eyes off her since the moment she’d appeared. As quickly as she could, she moved on.

  After she walked away, Lydia turned to Zach and snipped, “I thought you were going to fire her after yesterday’s escapade. She just doesn’t know her place.”

  Lisa glared at her, but Zach did not respond, turning his attention instead to other guests who had begun arriving.

  When André arrived, Tony escorted him over to the side of the veranda, away from the crowd, where Arianna was waiting.

  “Arianna!” André cried, picking her up and twirling her around. “God, you little fool. Why didn’t you just come to me and tell me the truth about this stalker boyfriend? I would have helped you. I’ve been so worried about you, darlin’. I thought someone had kidnapped you again.”