Deadly Embrace by Jackie Collins (best 7 inch ereader .TXT) 📗

prefer me to come see him,’ he said.

‘No,’ Warner replied. ‘Karl feels a social occasion is a better venue. So dinner it is.’

‘If that’s what he wants.’

‘It’s the safest way,’ Warner assured him.

Michael had never been to 21, although he was well aware that it was a very famous restaurant. He took a trip to Saks and bought himself a new suit, shirt, tie, and shoes for the occasion. He wanted to look his best. He also wanted to continue working with Karl.

Over the last few months many things had happened. He’d rented a decent three-bedroom apartment, hired a nanny, and moved Madison in with him. She spent most weekends over at Tina and Max’s, but then so did he when he wasn’t flying back and forth to Vegas.

His affair with Dani was going well. Every few weeks he got on a plane and visited her. She was always happy to see him, and they had a great time just hanging out. They always stayed at his hotel, even though Dani had a house. She never mentioned going there, and when he said he’d like to, she explained it was too soon for him to meet her son.

‘Too soon for what?’ he’d asked, last time he was there. ‘We’ve been seeing each other for three months. Don’t you think it’s time I met him?’

‘Maybe on your next trip,’ she’d said. ‘Only you still can’t stay at my house.’

‘How come?’ he’d asked, perplexed.

‘Vincent’s too young. It wouldn’t look right.’

‘You really are an old-fashioned girl, aren’t you?’

‘Something wrong with that?’

He didn’t mind. He liked that about Dani. She wasn’t a tramp who’d been round the block a hundred times.

She wasn’t Beth either, but then Beth had been unique. He’d been thinking very seriously about taking things further. Before he did that, he had to meet her son and get to know him. If things worked out, he expected Dani to give up her job and move to New York, which was for the best, because he wasn’t crazy about her parading round the stage with her boobs on display.

Recently he’d persuaded her to request a week off so that she could come and visit him in New York. He liked the idea of being in a different environment where they could discuss their future together without the distraction of her appearing in her show every night.

She’d finally agreed. He was looking forward to her visit. She’d never met Madison, and he was hoping she’d fall in love with his adorable and smart little girl. If she did, and Madison liked her, then marriage was definitely an option.

‘You’re acting like the Queen is coming to town,’ Tina complained, as they ran around purchasing new sheets and towels and dishes, preparing for Dani’s arrival.

‘Just making things nice.’

‘This really must be love, huh?’ Tina said, as they wandered round the bedding department in Bloomingdale’s.

‘You could say it’s serious.’

‘I’m glad for you,’ Tina said, inspecting sheets. ‘Uh, Michael,’ she said hesitantly.

‘Yeah?’

‘Have you told her about Beth yet?’

‘What about Beth?’

‘You know,’ Tina said awkwardly. ‘The thing that happened, the, uh…murder.’

It was a subject he never cared to address. And yet he knew Tina was right: he had to reveal everything to Dani.

‘I’m tellin’ her this weekend,’ he said abruptly. ‘It’s something I couldn’t get into before.’

‘You have to tell her, Michael,’ Tina said, her pretty face grave. ‘You were accused of killing Beth. I mean, you were all over the papers here. You’re lucky nobody’s mentioned it.’

‘You’re right,’ he said. He knew what he had to do, he didn’t need a goddamn lecture.

‘We all know you didn’t do it,’ Tina continued.

‘Thanks,’ he said drily.

Later in the week he had dinner with Karl and Warner. Warner brought along her friend Stella, a beautiful young woman who could have doubled for Marilyn Monroe with her shoulder-length platinum hair, creamy skin, pouty lips, and voluptuous figure.

‘What do you do?’ he asked, making polite conversation.

‘I’m a showroom model,’ she said, sipping a martini, her hazel eyes checking out the room. ‘I model clothes for the out-of-town buyers when they come into the city. Warner used to model with me. Now she’s getting her own costume-jewellery business together. Karl’s helping her.’

‘Sounds like a good idea.’

‘It is. Warner’s an excellent businesswoman. She’s always been interested in designing.’

Designing. The very word reminded him of Beth. ‘I’m going to be the biggest dress designer in the world,’ Beth had boasted. If she’d lived, she probably would have made it. Beth could have accomplished anything she set her mind to.

‘Are you and Karl old friends?’ Stella asked, toying with the stem of her martini glass.

‘Kind of,’ he said, returning to the present. ‘You’re lovely, Stella, only I hope you realize this evening is purely business.’

‘I didn’t imagine it was a blind date,’ she said caustically. ‘I’m here as a favour to Warner.’ She sipped her martini. ‘I wouldn’t go on a blind date. Never have, and never will.’

‘I can see that you wouldn’t need to.’

She smiled, a dreamy Marilyn Monroe-like smile. ‘You’ve got that right.’

When the girls went off to the powder room, Karl started talking. ‘I’m pleased with the way you’ve handled yourself, Michael,’ he said. ‘You’ve done everything I’ve asked of you, and more besides. I hope you’ve made yourself a lot of money along the way.’

‘I’ve done okay.’

‘Then there is no reason why we shouldn’t continue with this arrangement.’

‘Why would you need me, now that you’re out?’

‘It’s always good to spread one’s assets around. Take my advice and do the same thing. Employ your friends, and give them ten per cent. You’d be surprised how well this works.’

Interesting man, Karl Edgington.

Getting on with his life and being a responsible father to Madison meant putting his past behind him, and that’s exactly what he’d tried to do. Much as he wanted vengeance for his mother’s death, and he certainly craved revenge for Beth’s murder, he’d decided that the most prudent thing to do was nothing. He could not risk getting sent back to jail.