-that was what she was. She knew there was a dirty name for her. But she didn't care! She was sick and tired of Ralph Hobson, the husband who seemed completely numbed by their conventional suburban life. So she sought her thrills in the carnal embraces of other men-all the men she could find! Lustful, insatiable, she went from one blazing affair to another, an unquenchable harlot. Then she met Martin, and knew she had found the perfect lover. And in a way, she had-but she should have wondered what else Martin was. When she found out, it was too late!
CHAPTER ONE
The taut garter belt strap trembled with the resonance of a finely tuned-violin string as the man pulled the elastic back and let it go. The spot where it struck the thigh turned a pale red. It was quickly covered by a masculine hand playfully rubbing the soreness away.
The two people in the room were almost invisible in the dimness of their surroundings. Tightly closed blinds allowed but little of the outside daylight to seep in, spread greyness across the simply furnished front room. There were two straight backed chairs, one lamp, three pictures of ill-defined subjects on the walls and a comfortably worn armchair in the room.
In addition to these, one more piece of furniture lay along the wall, a couch. It was on this that the woman sat. Even in the artificial dusk her hair gave off a golden sheen. The woman's face was young, unlined, with each feature in perfect proximity to the other. Her dark eyes, looking at the man sitting beside her, mirrored merriment, seemed to dance with the playfulness of his hands. Her lipstick was smeared, a trace on her high cheek bone, another near the top of her breasts before they plunged down inside the white bra.
Her legs, stretched out before her and resting on the coffee talbe, were perfection exposed, their beauty emphasized by small, high heeled shoes and off-black stockings running three-quarters up the flawless thighs. The girl's long fingers were curled around the hem of her skirt, keeping it from sliding back to the propriety of her knees.
The man beside her snaked his fingers beneath the garter and again snapped it against the whiteness of her skin.
"That's enough" the girl said. "You're too rough, Johnny."
The man laughed, turning his attention to the other leg, gently caressing the stocking, running his hand upwards until her fingers blocked the way. "Damn," he spat. "You're built."
"Thank you," the woman said, smiling. "I guess that is a compliment."
"It is," he grumbled. "You got all them dames in the movies beat a hundred ways."
"Name one," she prompted.
Perplexity broke out on Johnny's face. "Quit teasing," he snapped.
"I'm not teasing," she said softly. "I want to know." The man named Johnny shifted his position on the couch to get a better look at her. A stray beam of light fell across his back, illuminating some lettering on his shirt. It read; 'JOHNNY'S TV SERVICE'.
The woman straitghtened up slightly, the action pushing her fullness tighter against the already strained bra. Now the outline of her beauty showed through the cloth. "You should get a reward for that compliment," she smiled.
Johnny grinned nervously. "Just what you got in mind?" He attempted to move closer but was thwarted.
"Not yet, Johnny," the girl said softly. "Before you can claim a treasure you must have a key."
"Okay, okay," he said impatiently. "Where's this key?"
The woman laughed lightly and reached behind her. The bra went suddenly limp and her body trembled as she pulled the nylon from her body and added it to the blouse on the couch beside her. She lifted her lips, pointing her pert face at the man beside her. "Here's your key," she said. "Use it."
He did!
The woman lay her head back against the couch, her features alive with the ecstasy of his mouth against her flesh. "Harder, love me," she panted. "More."
The man looked into her .eyes. "Let's quit horsing around," he said huskily.
"Not yet," she said. "I'm afraid. I ... it doesn't seem the time. Not yet."
"Well, when?" Johnny snapped. "Supposing your husband should walk in?"
The woman laughed softly, leaning forward and kissing him briefly. "I'll tell him you came to fix the TV set. You did, didn't you?"
"That was Monday," Johnny snapped. "This is Friday ... and it still isn't fixed."
"It's been a wonderful week," she sighed.
"Yeah," Johnny agreed. "It sure as hell has ... only I haven't made much money."
"Just a friend," she teased him. "Isn't that enough, Johnny?"
"Plenty," he grinned, adding, "But not exactly enough."
She looked down at his work-stained hands, and her words when they came carried on the by-play. "It's never enough," she murmured. "Never."
Johnny nervously began to unhook the garter. "We'll fix that," he said. "Why not."
"Stop it, they'll fall down," she told him. "No they won't," Johnny.
The uncovered leg looked strangely white against the remaining black stocking. But not for long.
"You're undressing me," the woman accused, smiling.
"That ain't the half of it," Johnny snapped.
She leaned forward, her eyes glowing. "What are you going to do now, Johnny?" she said slowly.
"Take off your skirt," he grunted.
"And then?"
"Your slip."
"Then?"
"Damn it," he exploded. "What do you want, a blow by blow description of how I plan to love you?"
The woman came into his arms, a strange smile on her face as she closed the distance between their mouths, opening hers slightly. "That's what I want," she said softly. "I want you to tell me what you're going to take off, then I want to feel you love me ... and then I want to return it to you." She breathed hard as he suddenly kissed her, crushing her lips in an animal embrace, moaning.
"I can't help myself, Johnny."
"You'd better help me. Please. Now."
The man had his own ideas of help. He looked down the length of the woman's body. The perfection of her figure was exposed from a point halfway down the flare of the hips.
The woman stiffened beneath his gaze and then began to answer the challenge. Slowly at first, then rapidly building up speed, her body matching his desire. "I told you," she moaned. "You've got to help me ... now ... now."
Sweat pouring down across his face, Johnny nervously pulled the panting girl to him.
Her body was a white glow in the darkness of the room, the long, blonde hair cascading down the ivory of her back. Her breathing came in deep gasps at the proximity of the man, Johnny, at his actions, his passion.
She twisted his mouth to hers and kissed it, feeling her head spin as the air left her lungs. Then she slowly settled back, a half-smile across her passion masked-face, liking what she saw. "Do me kindly," she said softly. "Show me what a man is like."
The two bodies blended into one. It soon became obvious that he was her man and he had done her kindly.
The moment of excrutiating agony retreated as quickly as it had come. Now, Eva was trying to catch her breath. There was no more feeling of desperate want, just a glow in every nerve of her body. She moved away as the man tried to kiss her. She knew by the look in his eyes that he wanted to love her again. "It's getting late, she said.
"Yeah," Johnny grunted reluctantly, "I suppose it is."
Eva studied him closely. Now that she had what she had so hotly desired she wondered what she'd ever seen in him. He really was no more than a boy. And he was clumsy, fumbling and inarticulate. She'd tried to guess his age all week. Around twenty-three, she thought, two years younger than she.
Eva sat up and sighed to herself. It had been the best she'd been able to do this week. At that, she had to consider herself lucky. If the television set hadn't broken down Sunday, she might have had to spend the last live days in sheer boredom. Even if Johnny was a clod, he had manhood enough to satisfy her.
Eva smiled, remembering the first time Johnny came to the house. He'd been brusk, all business. By the time he had all of the pieces of the television set scattered, across the floor, she'd begun to wonder if her charms had failed her.
Not so. When he'd seen her return to the room after removing everything beneath her dress, Johnny'd forgotten about his repair work.
Eva wet her lips, thinking back. Somehow romance was always best with a new man. She looked at the television set, still pulled away from the wall.
"Maybe you'd better finish fixing the TV," she smiled. "One of Ralph's favorite programs is on Friday nights."
Johnny grinned broadly and finished dressing. "Suits me," he agreed. "We don't want the old man suspicious." He looked at her sharply, adding, "You sure he doesn't suspect anything? After all, I been coming here every afternoon for a week. Even a dumb buzzard might figure out that no set could be in that tough shape."
"Ralph's not mechanical," Eva scoffed.
Johnny shrugged and poked around in his tube caddy, beginning to put 'new tubes in the rear of the set, stopping every now and then to admire Eva as she riffled through her dresser, she found a brief pair of nylon panties and pulled them on. She then rolled the elastic down until the panties were nothing more than the briefest of protection.
Eva saw the look ... and liked it. There was something about a man's eyes on a woman's body that sent a chill up her spine.
In fifteen minutes Johnny had the back of the set in place. He came around front and snapped it on, nodding satisfaction as a picture came onto the tube mirror sharp. "That should fix it," he announced, wiping his hands on a dirty handkerchief. "Too bad in a way." He crossed the room and leaned over Eva who had again sat on the couch. "Now I won't have an excuse to come back next week. We'll have to find a quiet spot where I can love you."
Eva brushed the groping hand away from her, avoiding his mouth. The man was suddenly disgusting to her. "Don't bother," she said somewhat sharply. "I won't be able to see you again anyhow."
"Why not?" he grinned. "Ain't we made beautiful music together? Wait'll Monday, I'll show you a real tune."
Eva slid from beneath his grasp and picked up her skirt, attempting to get into it. It was always the same, she reflected. Why couldn't men be satisfied with what they got? Why did they think they owned a girl just because they'd had her love a few times. Johnny'd been all right ... for the short time she'd known him. But she had no intention of prolonging their acquaintance. After all, next week something better might come along and she wanted to be ready.
Eva picked up her bra and hooked it into place, turning to face the man still standing by the couch. "You'd better go," she suggested. "It is getting late and Ralph will be home."
Johnny lighted a cigarette, his youthful face thoughtful. "I'll tell you what," be said slowly. "There's a cabin I know of about five miles from town. You meet me there about eleven Monday." He winked broadly, adding, "Wear lots of clothes."
Eva shook her head, pulling on her blouse, not bothering to button it. "I said I won't see you again."
"Now what the hell kind of talk is that?" Johnny snapped. "You're the kind of a girl that needs romancing, honey." He jabbed his chest with a forefinger. "And I'm just the guy that can do it."
Eva put a hand on his arm, her tone softening. "It's been fun, Johnny," she said. "Let's leave it at that. To be truthful, I don't want to see you anymore."
Johhny's face darkened in anger. "Just like that," he growled, snapping his fingers. "You spread your sex all over the place ... get me all bust dizzy ... and then dump me when you damned please." He shoved his face closer to hers. "Well, this is one guy you ain't pulling that deal on. You meet me Monday or I'll tell your husband everything."
If Johnny had expected Eva to panic, he was wrong. The smile remained frozen on her face. Without a word she reached for the telephone and began dialing.
"What the hell you doing?" Johnny spat, puzzled.
"I took the precaution of learning you had a wife," she said slowly. "And two children. As long as you plan to be difficult I think I'd better tell her what's been going on between us."
Johnny's face turned white as he grabbed the receiver from her hand and slammed it down. "You, bitch," he sputtered. "You know she'd kill me."
Eva nodded. "I understand that she is rather jealous."
"All right," Johnny announced, starting for the front door, stopping only long enough to pick up his tool box. "You win ... bitch."
"There is one thing," Eva called out after him.
Johnny stopped in midflight, one hand on the knob, looking back hopefully at the woman standing in the center of the room. "Yeah?"
Eva smiled sweetly, fingering the edge of her bra. "You forgot to give me a bill for fixing the television set."
Johhny snapped out a string of barroom oaths and slammed the door behind him.
CHAPTER TWO
For a moment Eva stood motionless in the center of the room, her amused smile frozen in place. She listened to the hard footsteps on the walk outside and then the angry growl of a truck motor as it raced into life at full speed. Tires screamed on the pavement and the noise slowly vanished down the street.
Only then did the woman move. She picked up her bra and tried to snap it into place. But her breasts seemed too large. Eva shrugged and tossed it aside. It was always that way, she reflected, after love. She compromised by pulling on her blouse and tucking it beneath the skirt. The thin material hid little of her breasts.
Eva picked up the remaining clothing scattered about the room and moved to the bedroom, tossing them on the bed. Finished, she crossed to the bathroom and dashed cold water across her face. It felt good. Looking at herself in the mirror proved to be a shock. Eva sighed and ran a brush through her hair, carefully straightening out the rumpled strands until they fell into place in a golden cascade down across her shoulders. This done, she applied fresh lipstick, then stepped back, surveying the finished product. Eva didn't need anyone to tell her that she was beautiful. The mirror did that.
"Mirror, mirror on the wall...." she said out loud, laughing at the old fairy tale. "Who will love me most of all?" Eva left the bathroom, still chuckling.
Eva moved through the house into the kitchen and found a cup amongst the dirty dishes, filling it with the dredges of coffee kept hot over the pilot flame on the stove. Sipping the lukewarm brew, she went to the front door and opened it, stepping out onto the narrow concrete stoop.
Eva looked up and down the length of the street. The neatly kept lawns crawled with children at play. And each home stretching into the distance seemed to be a carbon copy of its neighbor. The view was deadly monotonous, relieved at best by the desperate efforts of an owner in planting a single, scrawny tree in front of his place.
Eva turned her head and looked in the other direction. It was more of the same.
And now, as she looked, the evening pattern of life in the suburbs began unfolding. Here and there a car pulled into the drive, to be met by a bunch of dirty faced, squealing kids with dirty hands. The provider had come home.
Eva felt her stomach turn over. How she hated this place. 'Suburbia,' they called it. She had another name...."living hell, peopled by idiots."
Eva brushed her hair back, well aware that every car passing her home slowed somewhat at the sight of the young, good-looking woman standing on the front step.
Even at this hour of the afternoon it was hot. The sun, now low over the bowl of the San Fernando Valley, still vented its fury on the crowded landscape below. Waves of heat reflected off the pavement, spraying the young woman standing by the door.
Eva looked down at her blouse. Perspiration had soaked the thin material, making it almost transparent.
Without the protection of a bra, the breasts showed up clearly in the strong; light. Eva smiled. No wonder the cars were slowing down. She took a last look at the street and moved back into the house.
Her hand shook as she found a cigarette on the coffee table and lighted it. Why? Eva pondered the question. Was she frightened that Ralph might find out about this afternoon? She shook her head. That wasn't it. He didn't know about the others. Why should he suddenly get smart?
Eva paced the room slowly, her mind deep in thought.
The truth was that she was miserable. She thought of a television show she had seen not too long ago called "The Unhappy Housewife." That was her, buried deep in a middle class community with monotony for company. Who could blame her if she sought relief in other men?
Eva moved back to the window and opened the blinds slightly, peering into the street again. Nothing had changed. It never did, not in the six years she and Ralph had lived here. The homes were a little older and the kids louder. But the habits were the same. There was no life out here ... just a clock. It said: get up, go to work, wash the dishes, fix dinner, wait at the front door for your husband, watch television, shake off your inhibitions so the old man can have some exercise.
Eva sighed and shook her head. Every day just like the last.
She snuffed out the cigarette and headed back towards the bedroom, stripping off her clothes as she went. It was getting late. Ralph would be home soon.
The shower felt good, ridding her of the memory Johnny had left behind. Eva let the water flow across her body in a series of stinging needles. Finished, she cut off the flow and stepped into the bedroom.
It took Eva a second to realize that she wasn't alone any more. "Where did you come from?" she snapped to the figure on the bed.
The newcomer bore a striking resemblance to Eva. Her hair was also blonde, but lacking the same luster. The features of the woman were older, not so perfect and slightly more stern. If she had a figure it was hidden beneath the tailored suit. "The front door was open," she explained. "I just walked in."
"Well, you can walk right out again," Eva snapped, reaching for a robe.
"That's no way to talk to your sister."
Eva found a cigarette and lighted it, noting that her hands were still shaking. At the moment she had no desire to listen to one of Ruth's lectures on morality. And that's what was coming. She could see it in the older woman's eyes. "I have to get ready for Ralph," she said. "He's due home any minute."
Ruth shook her head. "He'll be a little late. When I left the bank he still had an account to audit."
"Great," Eva stormed. "That's all I need."
"Is dinner ready?"
"No."
"Then why all the fuss?"
She didn't have an answer for her sister. Eva kept silent and began dressing slowly. She watched her sister pick up the discarded clothing and inspect it closely.
"You had company this afternoon," Ruth said slowly, her face expressionless.
"How can you tell?"
Ruth tossed the garments aside. "There's grease on those. I can practically see a man's handprints."
Eva tossed her head defiantly, her blond hair rippling in the light. "So what if I did?"
Ruth leaned forward. Her dark eyes were worried. "What's happened to you, Eva?" she asked soberly.
Where's my sweet, younger sister gone." There were sudden tears in Ruth's eyes.
The emotion didn't effect Eva. On the contrary, it made her sick. Who did Ruth think she was coming snooping around like this? It had always been this way ... ever since they were kids living in the crummy slums of east Los Angeles. Ruth was the older sister. Although she was only two years older, she thought she had to look after poor little Eva.
Eva looked hard at the woman sitting on the bed. She lacked everything Eva had ... figure, looks, personality. In fact Ruth was a dull old maid. How could she know what it was to have a man ... any man ... take off his clothes and wrap his body around yours? Ruth would die a thousand deaths before she'd show as much as a peep of thigh to a stranger.
Eva remained silent. She walked the length of the room and stopped before the mirror, combing her hair, watching her sister's worried expression behind her. A plane flew low over the house, coming into the nearby Van Nuys airport, rattling the dishes in the kitchen. Eva smiled to herself, knowing that her behavour in the past few years thoroughly puzzled Ruth.
The older sister just couldn't get it through her head that Eva wasn't the same innocent flower she'd once been. No longer was she the sweet young bride who'd walked down that aisle so long ago, a virgin, a girl naive in the ways of the world.
As Eva watched her sister's reflection in the mirror, she had trouble keeping from laughing out loud. All of Ruth's life had been playing second fiddle to Eva. There had been the usual childhood romances that Eva regularly snatched away from her sister. All the best clothes went to the younger sister because they looked best on her.
And Ralph ... Eva enjoyed that, even today, seven years later. Ralph had been Ruth's beau ... until he'd seen Eva.
The woman before the mirror frowned suddenly, no longer amused by her memories. It had been a conquest to take Ralph away and marry him. But that was six years ago. Today? Eva shook her head. Now she wasn't so sure of the prize she'd won.
Eva turned suddenly, facing the older woman. "Nothing's happened to me, Ruth," she smiled.
"It has," Ruth insisted. "You're becoming a tramp."
Eva felt her face burn red at the insult. "Don't call me that" she snapped angrily.
"It's true isn't it?" Ruth persisted. "For the last two years you've done nothing but cheat on poor Ralph. You've let any man that was willing, romance you."
"I think you'd better go," Eva said coldly.
Ruth shook her head. "No, not yet." She got to her feet, attempting to put a hand on her sister's arm, only to have it brushed away. "I want to know," she said soberly. "Why have you changed so? What's gotten into you?"
Eva stalked to the other end of the room and turned to face her sister. "This is my house," she snapped. "What I do in it is my business."
"Including letting strange men make love to you?"
"That's none of your affair," Eva flared.
"But that's just it, Eva," Ruth said slowly. "It is my business. I'm your sister. I don't want to see you hurt."
Eva smiled suddenly. There was no mirth in the motion. "Are you certain you aren't more interested in Ralph's welfare than mine?"
"That isn't fair," Ruth said. "That was over years ago."
Eva could see that she had her sister on the defensive. "Was it?" she said, twisting the knife. "If that's the case why have you stayed at the bank all these years?
You could make better money."
"I like the work."
"Sure," Eva jeered. "That's the answer that I'd expect. Why did you move into the valley ... if it wasn't to be nearer the place where Ralph lives?"
"I wanted to be closer to you," Ruth said.
Eva smiled and lighted another cigarette. "Don't get excited, Ruth," she said slowly. "I really don't mind if you still have a crush on Ralph. It won't do you any good you know. He's deeply in love with me and always will be, regardless of what I do." Eva crossed to her sister, the smile on her face now cruel. "We know who of us is the prettiest, don't we?" She waved at the older woman's clothing. "Look at you, Ruth. You're a plain old maid. And that doesn't catch a man. It takes glamour, the kind I have."
Eva shrugged and dropped an ash into the oversized ashtray by the bed. "But don't worry.-Maybe some day I'll leave Ralph and give you your chance. I'm bored with this suburban living."
Ruth shook her head. Her mouth worked but it was seconds before any words came. When they did her shock showed. "You're mad, Eva," she said. "You certainly can't mean what you're saying."
"But I do," Eva countered. "Every word of it. Now if you'll leave I'll try and get some dinner ready for my beloved husband."
Ruth started to say more but instead she reached for her purse and stalked towards the front door. She paused with one hand on the knob, looking back at her sister who'd followed her into the front room. "I feel sorry for you, Eva," she said soberly. "I really do." With that she slammed the door behind her.
CHAPTER THREE
Eva had managed to get all of the wrappings off the frozen food and put it on the stove by the time she heard Ralph's car come into the drive. She stiffened at the sound, knowing what lay ahead, hating it. Every night was the same, complete and utter boredom.
Nevertheless, Eva straightened her dress and pasted a smile on her face, moving towards the front door as it opened.
The man who came through the opening was tall and lean, his oversized frame sticking through his skin here and there. His face was longer than it was wide and the dark eyes seemed out of place set in the pallid skin. He grinned broadly as he slammed the door behind him. "Hi," he said simply.
Eva fought for self control "Hello, darling," she said. "You're late."
Ralph shrugged and extended his hand. Eva saw the flowers for the first time. "Sorry," he apologized. "One of my accounts needed going over."
"Ruth told me," Eva said, taking the flowers without comment. After all, she thought, why should she say anything about it. Didn't he bring her flowers almost every night. It was sickening.
Ralph looked around the room. "Where is she?"
"She had to leave," Eva said.
Ralph sat in the chair and exhaled an exhausted sigh. "Too bad," he said. "She could probably use a good home-cooked meal.".
"Hard day?" she said, working at starting a conversation.
Ralph shook his head, looking up from his paper. "Not really. The usual. Rather quiet I'd say."
Eva fought to remain calm, going through the motions of putting food on the table. She felt strange, worse than she had at any other time in the last few years. It was as if all of her discontentment was coming to a head.
Eva looked around the tiny room, noting that every imperfection ... the dirt on the ceiling, the cabinets that needed painting, the old stove, everything, became an obstacle that she wondered if she could surmount.
And there was Ralph. Eva looked through the door at the man sitting in the chair. He wasn't handsome, nor bright for that matter. What a damned fool she'd been to marry him in the first place.
Eva lighted a cigarette and turned the flame up beneath the coffee, her mind spinning gears. Some prize her husband had turned out to be. A dull middle-aged hore who hadn't yet reached his twenty-fifth birthday. A damned good trick if you could manage it ... and he had. Ralph had a job that he thought was good and that was the end of it as far as he was concerned. He'd never get beyond where he was and the man couldn't care less. About all he cared about was the pension he'd come into in some thirty more years. Eva shook her head, almost afraid of what lay ahead of her with this man.
"Hey," Ralph called from the other room. "Dinner ready yet?"
Eva surveyed the table, making certain everything was in place. Hamburger, peas and mashed potatoes ... the magic diet of suburban couples. "It's ready," she answered.
Ralph shuffled into the room and looked briefly at the table, rubbing his hands together. "Looks good," he said.
Eva nodded, wondering how come he'd been born without taste buds. This was the sixth night of hamburger and he still attacked it like steak.
Ralph took her by the hand and drew her close, kissing her on the cheek. "Have I told you that I love you," he grinned.
Eva pulled away, almost afraid she'd be sick at his touch. "No," she said, managing a smile.
"I do," he said, sitting down. "More than anything else." He laughed, adding, "Excepting food maybe."
They ate in silence, broken only by a now and then request to pass something. When the meal was finished, Ralph sat back expansively, toying with the remaining coffee in his cup. "Tomorrow's Saturday," he announced.
Eva looked up at him. "A good observation," she commented, adding, "Particularly since this is Friday."
Ralph laughed and lighted a cigarette. "What I meant is that I think I'll go up to the cabin and do some fishing. Care to come along?"
Eva shook her head. "No thanks. You have your fun." In her present mood she .had no desire to go to the shack her husband generously called a cabin. Shack was even too good a name for the run-down pile of lumber he had built near Big Bear Lake. It's single advantage was coolness. But even that couldn't lure Eva to the wilderness of the woods.
"Mind if I go?" he asked.
Eva smiled, again the action was forced. "Why should I? You've been going there almost once a month since we got married. You suddenly feeling guilty?"
"Not at all," he said. "I guess I can't get used to a wife allowing me to go away that often."
Eva laughed and pushed back from the table, beginning to clear the dishes away. "Why? Were all your other wives more strict?"
"I didn't mean that," he protested. "It's just that the other fella's wives aren't so generous with their husband's time. "I sure do love you."
As he reached for her, Eva managed to avoid the outstretched hands. "I've got the dishes to do," she scolded.
"The hell with the dishes," he said. "Let's go to bed."
"Later, Ralph," Eva stalled, revolted at the thought of being made love to by her husband. She wished he'd leave for the cabin right this minute. She liked the thought of two days alone. Eva had already begun to think of what she could do with the time. It boiled down to finding a man ... or men, depending on how lucky she was.
Another plane flew low overhead. She drowned it out with the noise of the garbage disposal. Eva had never been able to understand why the cabin held so much fascination for her husband. She'd been there ... once. That'd been enough. It was a dirty, cheap way to live. Eva could still remember being repulsed by the bugs and other crawling things. Ralph could have the place. She wanted the comforts of home. Eva looked around her and hid her shudder, wondering if anyone in her right mind could call these comforts.
Ralph's voice cut into her thoughts. "I thought I'd leave early."
"Fine," Eva said absent-mindedly. "You want me to fix a lunch?"
"Don't bother, honey. I'll stop along the way and have breakfast." Ralph got to his feet and started from the kitchen, pausing at the doorway. "Hurry up with those dishes," he said. "I've got plans for the evening."
Eva stalled with her work in the kitchen as long as she could. But the time came when she had to admit there was nothing left to do.
Her husband put down his paper and smiled when he saw her come through the door. "You've got too many clothes on," he said, reaching for the buttons on her blouse.
Eva pushed his hand away gently. "I'm tired, Ralph. Not tonight."
"Another one of those headaches?" Eva nodded and remained silent. "You should see a doctor."
"I will," she promised, settling into a chair across from him. Eva wondered if there had ever been another man as gullible as her husband. He believed every word she said. To him every sentence she uttered was gospel. In a way she wished he'd just once call her a damned liar.
For a long time the couple sat in silence, Ralph reading his paper, Eva staring at the wall, her thoughts fighting each other for room. Outside the house, the crickets worked at a symphony, fighting against the constant noise of evening traffic on the nearby freeway.
Eva's boredom pressed in on her. For six long years she and Ralph had done nothing but sit here night after night. Oh, they went out now and then ... to a cheap movie or some friend's home. But he didn't dance, hated nightclubs and wouldn't think of wasting his money in a restaurant. So Eva was forced to stay home and twiddle her thumbs. And how she hated it. Right now she knew that she'd gladly take off her clothes to the first man that came along if he'd promised to show her a good time. Diner at Ciro's, dancing at the Biltmore, the late show at the Coconut Grove .nd then a drive along the beach.
Eva smiled to herself, conjuring up her dream of escape, wondering why she'd been fool enough to get married.
The last part was easy and she damned herself for having fallen into a trap. Ralph had been Ruth's boy friend in the beginning and taking him away had been a challenge. And at first it looked at if she'd really gotten herself a catch. Ralph's father owned one of the biggest stores in the valley and he'd been grooming his son to take over. But they'd only been married a year when the business failed. It was then that Ralph had found his rut at the bank. In five years he'd had a few raises. But it had become painfully obvious that his superiors saw in him what she'd failed to notice earlier. Ralph was a plodder. And as such his promotions would be few and far between.
The first few years of marriage hadn't been too bad. What Ralph lacked in initiative he made up in passion at home. But in two years something had happened and he'd grown cold. He still had a few romantic impulses but they were more like duty than desire.
So Eva had been left high and dry. No fun on the outside and less sex at home. It was about then that she'd begun to look for other companionship to fill the gap.
Eva lighted a cigarette and tried to drive the thoughts from her mind. It seemed amazing to her that she'd been able to get away with cheating for this long. Certainly, she'd thought at the beginning, he would suspect something. But she soon found that she was married to a man with blinders.
Oddly enough, this had caused Eva to lose her last ounce of respect for Ralph.
But in the last year the internal drive she felt had grown worse. Now it had begun to worry her. She felt like someone who'd begun drinking on a social scale and now couldn't let go of the bottle.
Eva glanced at the television set. It brought back memories of the afternoon. Not of the man but of what he'd done to her.
And that's what frightened her. It didn't seem normal to be sitting a room with your husband and not being able to think of anything but the possibility of having a man tomorrow.
She got up and sat on the couch beside her husband, fingering the hem of her skirt. "Why don't you take off my blouse?" she said softly.
Ralph looked up, surprised. "Your headache?"
"Gone," Eva smiled.
"I love you," Ralph said sincerely, putting his hand around her shoulder.
Despite her growing want, Eva drew back at his touch. Here was something she didn't understand. Other men could fondle her and her skin would tingle. But it didn't work with her husband.
Eva gritted her teeth as he did what she asked, his hands caressing her.
When she was ready, he picked her up gently and carried her into the bedroom, placing her tenderly on the bed. "Damn, you're beautiful," he smiled.
Eva watched him, already sorry that she'd started this. The desire she felt wasn't for her husband. She tried to pretend that this was another man, to answer the commands of sex she felt pressed against her.
But it was no use, she couldn't get her passion off the ground. So Eva did what she'd had to do too often in the past ... pretended that she enjoyed what he was doing to her. She panted at the proper time and moaned when it was appropriate. And, as her husband relaxed, Eva knew that she hadn't been fullfilled.
The truth returned, as it did every time Ralph got romantic. Her husband was a lousy lover.
CHAPTER FOUR
Sam Gibbons finished his third cup of coffee and looked out through the glass doors of the dining area onto the back yard. He cringed as he studied the vast expanse of grass. Helen would expect it cut by the time she returned from her mother's on Sunday night.
Sam dumped his cup in the sink along with the rest of the dishes and went through the house to the bedroom. In a minute he re-appeared wearing a pair of shorts that did nothing for his pot-belly. He slid the glass doors open and stepped into the patio. The heat hit him full blast, along with eye irritating smog. Sam grumbled as he rubbed his eyes. This place had sure as hell changed. He could remember when there wasn't any smog out this far in the valley. Damned Los Angeles, why didn't they keep the stuff to themselves?
And this house. He looked around the vast yard, squinting his eyes against the sun. He must been out of his mind to let Helen talk him into buying it. Here they were, stuck way out in the sticks instead of being close in and cozy in some good apartment. He didn't dare get drunk, he'd never be able to single out their joint from the others. The guy that designed this layout must have had carbon paper for a mother.
Still muttering, Sam started for the garage and the lawn mower. About that time the fence caught his eye. He stopped and studied it. A ten foot pile of redwood hiding their house from the one next door. Those people over there sure liked their privacy.
Sam smiled to himself, remembering the times he'd caught a glimpse of Hobson's wife. Ralph was all right. Not too bright but he'd do. It was the wife that sent Sam's pressure up. She was some looker. Stacked like the distant mountains ... twin peaks that is. Gibbons laughed at his own joke.
And now that he thought of it, that fence looked like it Could do with a fresh coat of seal. Could be he might be lucky and catch a glimpse of something on the other side.
Humming to himself, Sam found the paint and ladder and dragged them out into the yard. He was sweating by the time he got everything in place. On top of that, his ambition was running out. It was really Hobson's business to keep his fence up.
Nevertheless, Sam set to work, gradually getting higher on the ladder. He held his breath as he peeped over the top. His jaw fell in disappointment as he looked into the other yard. It was empty. And like his, the grass needed cutting.
Perched precariously up in the air, Sam damned himself for ever getting involved in this mess. Now he'd have to finish it. Helen would raise hell if he didn't ... just as she would because he'd started the job. She had no time for the people next door. In fact her description of Hobson's wife could lead to a healthy slander suit if it were ever spoken out loud.
Gibbons was about to descend to a more breathable altitude when he spotted motion at the back door. He quickly ducked down, feeling like a school boy peering into a dark car along lover's lane.
Finding a handy knot at eye level he squinted close.
Sam blessed his luck as Mrs. Hobson came into view. If he was sweating before, the water was really pouring off of him now.
Damned if this wasn't the best looking dame he could ever remember seeing. She stepped out onto the patio flagging and stood there for a moment, her face expressionless. She had a short robe on over what looked like a bathing suit. As he watched, the woman moved to one of the lawn chairs and sat down. She kicked off her shoes and then the outer covering.
Sam gasped as the full figure came into view. It was a bathing suit all right ... a bikini. The bottom section covered just what it had to and not an inch more. On top the large breasts almost swarmed over the material. They swept down and out, each in a different direction and just when you thought you might see something, that damned bit of cloth got in the way.
And it was obvious that she thought she was alone. After staring around briefly, as if to make certain the high fence circling the yard was still in place, she reached behind her and unhooked the halter, tossing it aside. Now the full, dark glory of the breasts came into view. When she moved, they moved, a sort of easy, flowing motion. At length she lay back on the chair and seemed to go to sleep.
Sam pulled out his handkerchief, mopping his soaked face, unable to take his eyes away from the woman. He suddenly felt ten years younger and wished to hell he could prove it.
He forgot the bucket of paint when he moved to a better position. The can clanked noisily against the fence. Sam ducked down and grabbed desperately at the metal to keep it from banging again. When he'd finally steadied it, he peered through the hole again.
The woman was nowhere in sight. Sam swore an oath and surveyed the yard. Nothing. She'd heard the noise and bolted like a scared deer. At that moment he would have cheerfully killed himself.
And then a gentle voice on the other side of the fence turned his face crimson. "This isn't a baseball park, Mr. Gibbons," it said sweetly. "The admission is free."
Sam peered downward through his knot hole. There she was, smiling, looking back at him. He tried to swallow his embarrassment, this time looking over the fence. "I was painting the fence," he stammered lamely.
"It sounded like you were tearing it down," she said.
"I wasn't watching what I was doing," Sam admitted.
"What were you looking at?"
"You," he admitted, mopping his face. A brief gust of wind whipped across the yard, kicking up dust, rocking the ladder, forcing Sam to cling to the lip of the fence. He watched the breeze flow through the woman's hair, driving it out behind her in long, yellow strands.
"Being a peeping Tom is a bad habit to get into," the woman said. "What will your wife say when she catches you up there?"
Sam was rapidly recovering his composure. After all, she really didn't seem angry that he'd been looking. And now, as he stared down at her from his vantage point, he realized just how much woman she was. Her halter was still back on the ground beside the chair. And she certainly didn't seem to mind her exposure. Sam studied the lovely breasts and had to wet his lips with the tip of his tongue before he could say anything. Each one was a delight standing straight out from the body with only a slight slope downwards. The valley between the breasts was so deep that even now, in full sunlight, there was shadow. She was breathing harder than seemed necessary under the circumstances, each air intake raising the dark points to a higher position.
Sam remembered her question in time to answer it.
"My wife isn't home," he admitted.
"My name's Eva," the woman said. "What's yours? I don't remember seeing you much."
"How could you," Sam grinned, nodding towards the oversized fence, "with this thing around. Besides, I'm not home often. I'm a salesman."
One edge of her lip curled up in a peculiar manner, matching the raised eyebrow. "A traveling salesman?"
Sam nodded. He looked up in the direction of the sun now boring down on them from a clear, blue sky. "It's hot up here," he complained.
"It's hotter down here," Eva said slowly.
Perhaps it was the way that she said it, or maybe because she turned just enough for Sam to have a full, frontal view of the breasts, but in either case he was suddenly glad that his wife was gone. The woman's next sentence confirmed the fact.
"Why don't you come over here and have a drink," Eva smiled. "My husband's left to."
Sam looked down at the woman, studying her, his mind stripping gears. Like all men, he'd had his share of sex. But the active period was now past and he just contented himself with thinking of what he'd like to do to the various cute things he saw wiggling down the sidewalks. But this girl had called his bluff. If he went over on that side of the fence it would be for one reason alone.
Eva saw his hesitation, enjoying it. "You aren't afraid of me, are you?" she said.
Sam mopped his brow. And he made up his mind. He'd be a damned fool to pass this up. He started down the ladder. "I'll be right over."
"No, wait," she said hastily. "We have a ladder in the garage. You can come over this way. Someone might see you if you came around to the front gate."
Sam watched her move off in the direction of the garage. At the same time he glanced around the neighborhood. From his vantage point he could see at least a half a dozen men mowing their lawns. So far none of them had noticed him. None the less, he'd have felt a lot better going into the yard in the regular way. All of a sudden he felt slightly ashamed of what he had in mind.
But the sight of the girl returning, carrying a light metal ladder, restored his confidence. The unsupported breasts swayed like twin pendulums, driving off any thoughts of changing his mind.
She placed the ladder against the fence. "There," she said, looking up. "Come on down."
Sam's knees shook slightly as he made the short trip to the ground. However, it had nothing to do with altitude. When he stood beside her, he smiled somewhat uncertainly. "Hot day isn't it?" he said.
The woman laughed. There was a strange ring to it that Sam didn't like too well. "For you maybe," she said. "But you've got clothes on, I haven't."
"So I've noticed," Sam admitted, unable to take his eyes away from the twin peaks now so close to his chest.
Eva brushed back some of her hair that might be obstructing his view.
Sam mopped his forehead for the dozenth time. Now that he was here he was scared. Hell, he thought, he was too old for this sort of thing. It was fine to daydream about but to actually become involved ... he turned back towards the ladder. "I think I'd better go," he said, feeling like a damned fool.
Eva grasped his arm and pulled him along with her towards the house. "Don't be silly," she scolded. "I promised you a drink."
The interior of the living room was much cooler. Sam sat nervously on the couch, watching the woman fill a glass with ice and liquid and then walk towards him with it. "Aren't you having any?" he asked.
Eva shook her head. There was amusement in the dark eyes. "No," she said. "I don't need alcohol to be at my best but I've discovered that most men do."
Sam took a healthy slug of the whisky. He needed it. This woman had plans and she was making no secret of them. At the moment he was wondering just who was trying to make whom.
Her smile still in place, Eva sat beside the man. "Like?" she said softly, leaning towards him.
Sam put the glass down and wound one arm around her back. If she wanted fun, he'd give it to her. His head spun as he kissed her body. The flesh was soft and hard and hot and cool.
"That's good," the woman said softly. "Very good. Harder."
The whole thing had a dream quality to Sam. That had to be it. He'd fallen asleep and this whole thing was in his head.
But as he pulled away he knew it was real enough. And so was the mouth that descended on his, in a kiss that soon drew the breath from his lungs. The woman moaned and all of Sam's doubts as to what she wanted, vanished ... not that he'd had any to begin with.
Eva went throught the ritual of love play. She knew that it had to be that way if she was to get the satisfaction she sought. But she was impatient for the final rites. Yesterday she'd wondered if she'd ever want a man again. Last night the answer had been clear ... but her husband had been too inept to give her what she'd wanted.
And ever since Eva had awakened in the morning the flood of desire had been flowing through her body. She hadn't understood it. She never did, this unexplainable drive that took hold fo her and pushed her into another affair.
And so when she'd seen Sam Gibbons staring at her from behind the fence she could think of only one thing. He was a man. Short, old, fat and not handsome. But he was a man. And as such he could give her what she needed, wanted, had to have.
It was stupid, foolish and dangerous, all this Eva knew. But there was no stopping the demand when it came.
Eva smiled and stretched like a cat. "I've got clothes on," she said softly and helped him, quickly untieing the cord, pulling the material away from '-jst body. She sank back onto the couch, Did he need lessons, Eva thought impatiently. She took his hand and pressed it. She felt suddenly weak at the thrill of his fingers. It was wonderful, she thought, what a man could do to her. But even in that moment of rising passion she knew that she'd never responded like this to her husband. Why?
But there wasn't time to think about it now. She was excited by his touch. All of her wants were driving towards one thrilling moment. She smiled weakly, raising her arms toward him.
Sam, still didn't believe that any of this was happening to him. But the woman on the couch looked real enough. In either case, he wasn't about to take any chances. Then, hoping his heart would hold out, he moved closer to her.
Eva saw him coming and closed her eyes, awaiting the pleasures she so desired that were about to be given her.
At that instant the sharp sound of the doorbell cut through the quiet of the room.
Eva's face went white as she glanced towards the panel just a short distance away. She wasn't expecting anyone. It had to be her husband. He hadn't gone to the mountains after all.
CHAPTER FIVE
For a moment, the couple on the couch remained motionless. When the bell rang again, Sam Gibbons scrambled to his feet, sudden fear twisting his face into strange contortions. "Who's that?" he whispered. "My husband," Eva answered. "You'd better go." Sam didn't need a second invitation. Pulling his pants to his waist, holding them in place with one hand, he ran for the rear door.
The ringing of the bell spurred him to greater speed. He crossed the yard on the fly and scrambled up the ladder.
Despite her fright, Eva was amused by the wild antics of the man as he tried to hold onto the fence with one hand and his pants with the other. As she watched, he hovered on the lip of the structure for a moment, seeking a foothold on his own ladder leaning against the other side. And suddenly he was gone as he slipped. The crash of the fat man hitting the ground was devastating.
But Eva had other worries at the moment. When the bell rang a fourth time she came to her senses. Whoever was at the door couldn't be her husband. He had his own key. And even if he'd forgotten it he'd have come around back by now.
And as she thought of this she became angry at the interruption. Just a few more minutes ... Eva licked her lips as she thought of what could have happened in that length of time.
Whoever was on the other side of the door was persistant, this time knocking. Eva knew she could remain silent and whoever it was would go away. But she was curious as to who had spoiled her fun. She got to her feet and started towards the panel. As she reached for the knob, Eva realized that she was still undressed. "Just a minute," she called out. "I have to get some clothes on."
Eva went to the bedroom and found a skirt and sweater. She quickly got into them, not bothering with any underwear. Then she returned to the door and pulled it open. As the figure on the other side came into view she was suddenly glad of the interruption.
It was a man. He was tall and lean and well dressed. The rugged face, now smiling at her, was made even more handsome by the black hair tinged with gray. There are some men that know how to wear clothes, Eva thought, and this was one of them. His obviously expensive suit seemed moulded to the rigid frame.
The inventory took but a second. Eva was well practiced in the art. "Yes?" she said, her heart beating faster for no apparent reason.
The figure made a slight bow from the waist. His voice was deep and cultured. "I'm sorry to have disturbed you," he apologized.
Eva shook her head. "Don't be. I was taking a nap and had to get dressed."
The figure nodded agreement. "Is Ralph Hobson in?"
Now what would her husband have to do with a man like this, Eva thought. They weren't in the same class.
"No," she said, smiling. "He's up at his cabin, fishing."
The man's face fell. "Oh," he said simply. "That's too bad."
"Is it important?"
"As a matter-of-fact it is," he said. "Could you tell me how I can phone him?"
Eva smiled and shook her head. "Not a chance. Mr. Bell hasn't gotten around to that part of the country yet." She opened the door wider. "You look hot. Wouldn't you care to come in for a moment?"
The figure seemed deep in thought. But at her invitation he looked up again. "The sun certainly is warm," he grinned. "I'd forgotten just how hot it can get in the valley."
Eva laughed. "Today's cool. You should be here on some days. Come on in."
The figure crossed the threshold. He hesitated just inside the door. "My name's Martin, Martin Sellers."
Eva extended her hand. "And I'm Eva Hobson, Ralph's wife. ' She shivered at his touch. What a bed partner he'd make, she thought to herself. But that was getting the cart before the horse. He wasn't like the others. She knew she'd get exactly nowhere throwing herself at him. But just the same she was glad that she hadn't put anything on beneath the sweater. She'd seen him steal a glance at the outline of her breasts showing through the cloth. "Won't you sit down, Mr. Sellers?" she said out loud.
He did as she requested. "So you don't know how I can get in touch with Ralph?"
Eva settled in the chair across from him. "There isn't a chance. Not until late tomorrow night or Monday morning."
Martin found a cigarette and held it in his hand for a moment, looking at Eva questioningly. "Mind if I smoke?"
"Not at all. Let me get you an ashtray." Eva got up and found one. As she bent down to set the glass on the coffee table, her unsupported breasts swung outwards against the sweater. For a moment the full outline of the loveliness stood well out from her body. Eva held her breath. It was usually at this point a man began grabbing.
But if Martin noticed, he gave no indication. Instead, he lighted the cigarette.
Eva tried to hide her disappointment and returned to the chair. She waited for a plane to fly over before she began talking.
Martin looked up at the ceiling. "That one sounds as if he's going to take your roof with him," he said.
Eva shrugged. "You get used to it. This used to be part of the Van Nuys airport approach before some land speculator got hold of it."
"You might have company some day," Martin grinned.
"We Jready have. A private plane came down on the street two blocks up about a year ago. It killed several kids. There was a lot of screaming to move the airport but it was here first."
A new sound entered the room, that of the distant wailing of an ambulance. As they listened, it grew closer, finally screaming to a halt somewhere on the block.
"Sounds like trouble," Martin commented, carefully flicking ashes into the tray.
Eva got to her feet and looked out the window. The ambulance had stopped next door. While she watched, two attendants rushed inside the house. When they returned, they had Sam on a stretcher. One of them seemed to be working on his leg, as if it were broken. Eva smiled, remembering the crash by the back fence. She wondered how he'd explain this one to his wife. If only she could be around. Maybe she should send flowers. That would really cause some fireworks.
Eva turned back into the room, the smile still on her face.
"What's wrong?" Martin asked.
"Looks as if the man next door has had an accident," Eva explained. "I think his leg is broken."
"Never a dull moment around here," Martin said. "He probably kicked his wife."
"Probably," Eva agreed. She moved back into the room. "I'm a poor hostess," she admitted. "Would you like a drink of something cool?"
"I would," Martin agreed. "Just water will be fine."
"We have something stronger."
He shook his head. "Not in this heat. I'd never find my way back to the car."
When Eva had handed him an ice-filled glass she said, "Do you work with my husband?"
"No. I'm one of the bank's accounts ... or to be more accurate, my partner and I are. We're Sellers and Stevens."
"It sounds like a vaudeville act," Eva laughed.
Martin grinned. "I suppose it does at that. But we aren't. We're diamond merchants in the Diamond Mercantile Building downtown."
All of a sudden Eva was very interested in this man. And she remembered her comments last night after Ralph had brought her flowers. 'Why hadn't he brought her diamonds?' "It sounds impressive," she said.
Martin nodded agreement. "I suppose so. But it's a business like anything else. The difference it that we handle diamonds and others handle fish. It's just that people sit up and take notice when diamonds are mentioned. An attitude the cartels have spent a lot of money trying to create."
"What has my husband to do with this?"
"He audits our books for the bank. There was a little trouble last evening getting a balance. I found the mistake and wanted to show it to him before he takes his report into the bank on Monday."
"It sounds serious."
Martin's face sobered momentarily. "It is," he admitted. No one in the diamond business really has enough capital to maintain the stock he needs to do a healthy business. This is where the bank comes in. For a small percentage they supply the cash to purchase our inventory. In the trade this is called 'flooring' the market. But to make sure their money is being used properly they keep on top of us by auditing our books periodically. This is Ralph's job. When he finds a small error or discrepancy in our accounts he reports it back. It just doesn't look good on our record. I found the mistake and want to correct any erroneous impressions. Understand?"
Eva didn't but she smiled as if she did. All during his conversation she'd been noticing his dark eyes, how they flashed while he talked. Now, he was a man that a woman could be proud of. He'd been someplace in the world and it was obvious that he was going further. Unlike her husband, he wasn't satisfied to stick himself in one corner and stay there forever.
And, as Eva sat listening to him, she felt the pressure of desire returning. She'd been cheated out of it with Sam. But when she'd first seen Martin, Eva had figured he would make a wonderful substitute. Now, she wasn't so sure. He didn't seem to be the least interested in her.
That fact alone angered Eva. She wasn't used to being ignored. But he'd only been in the house fifteen minutes, she told herself. That was hardly long enough to get beyond the stage of polite conversation.
It was the old game of male and female chess. How does a woman tell a man that she wants him to rip off her dress ... and still make it appear as if it were his idea?
The usual answer was to get him so hot that he lost self control. That involved a period of teasing. Eva knew that the way she was dressed was enough to get him warmed up a little. The thin clothing hid none of her ample curves. And she knew that when she'd walked to the window he should have been able to see right through the skirt.
With some men the answer would have been a great deal simpler. She could let her clothes ride up until what she had to offer was almost in view. But as Eva studied the well-dressed man across from her, she knew that this would appear cheap to him. And anything cheap he would avoid. Those kind of girls he could get by the carload. No, this approach would have to be different, something she'd never used before.
"Would you care for some more water?" she asked, thinking that the offer sounded awfully silly.
He shook his head. "No thanks. I guess I really should be going." His eyes fell on the bottom half of the bikini Sam had so hurriedly removed from Eva and he grinned. "I guess you were going to take a sun bath. I wouldn't want to hold you up."
Now here was the point, Eva thought, that normally she'd say that he wasn't in the way. Then she'd get into the swim suit and it would only be a short time before she was out of it again. But not with Martin. The chances were it might shock him into a quicker exit. Just the same she panicked briefly at the thought of him leaving. "It's hot out there," she smiled.
"I know," Martin said reluctantly. "That's why I should go. I promised my two kids I'd give them a swimming lesson this afternoon."
"You're married?"
Martin laughed. It was a pleasant sound. "I guess that follows doesn't it?"
Eva nodded agreement, feeling a little silly for having made the statement. But the fact that he was married didn't deter her in the least. Married men were the best anyhow. They had experience. "Do you live far from here?"
"Not really. But it's a lot cooler. I'm up in Benedict Canyon."
Eva knew the spot. It was a short street running down the mountains on the other side of Mulholland Drive. It was unique in that it was paved with gold. There were no homes in that section under fifty-thousand. This man certainly was different than any she'd ever met before. "Maybe you'd like to stay for some lunch," Eva suggested.
Much to her disappointment, he got to his feet and started for the door. "No," he said. "I really have to run." He hesitated and pulled out his wallet, withdrawing a small card from the leather and handing it to her. "If you should happen to think of a way that I can reach your husband, please call me at that number." He turned and quickly walked to the street.
Eva watched, regretfully, as he got into a long, sleek Cadillac convertible and drove off. When it vanished around the corner, she slammed the door so hard the house trembled.
For the first time since she could remember, her magic had failed. A man had gotten away. Tears of frustration sprang to her eyes. Eva didn't like it at all.
CHAPTER SIX
Eva lay back on the bed, listening to the birds chattering their morning song out in the yard. Shafts of sunlight cut through the partially closed Venetian blinds, falling across the rumpled bedroom. In the distance somebody was cutting his lawn. The persistant buzz of the machine filled the otherwise quiet of the new day.
She stirred and looked at the clock on the bedstand. Only seven. If only she could sleep longer, Eva thought. It was such a blessing, washing out all other thoughts.
But the moment she awakened, they started all over again, crowding each other in her mind for room.
In the silence of the early morning Eva was usually honest with herself. And so it was today. Laying on the cool sheet, feeling some of the days heat begin to invade the room, Eva wondered about her life as she had so often before. Mostly it concerned what had happened to her in the past six years.
When she and Ralph had been married, she'd held high hopes for the future. She was rid of the slums forever. But it hadn't been long before she'd discovered how mistaken she was. Ralph had bought this house in Sunny dale Acres shortly after their honeymoon. It wasn't too long before Eva found out that this was no different than Boyle Heights. The fancy facade had fooled her for a while. But deep down, the subdivision was the same. Kids still played on the streets, men got drunk and beat up their wives ... and worst of all, poverty was just as stark. Oh, it was a different kind of poorness. Here people went hungry while watching television ... or riding in a car that was three months behind in payments. But the hunger was just as intense, if not worse. Now Eva had been able to see what money would buy. As in Boyle Heights, the dollar was still king and there weren't enough of them.
But worse than anything else had been the discovery she'd made two years after their marriage. Up until that time Ralph had performed his duties as a husband nobly. It was about then he'd grown cold for no apparent reason. Every night there was a different excuse. He was tired or he had a headache, anything to stay out of bed with her. For a while she was hurt and confused.
But something new had entered her life around then. It had begun when she hadn't made love with her husband for almost a month. First the headache, the strange desire every time she looked at a man. She'd fought against it a long time, telling herself that she was being shameless.
The odd feeling had grown worse until she found herself wearing less and less clothes, hoping that a man would take advantage of her, praying that he wouldn't.
It was inevitable that something would happen. And it did. He was just one of many salesmen that came regularly to the door. Eva couldn't even recall his name ... but she remembered what he'd done to her. When it was over she was sick and ashamed. However, she felt better than she had in weeks.
Eva snuffed out her cigarette, thinking back on how she felt when she discovered that her husband was no longer necessary to her physical satisfaction. Then she'd known the truth. Ralph had been a conquest, no more.
After the first time Eva hadn't needed a man for almost two months. In between, Ralph had made love to her. But it was almost as if he'd become a clumsy stranger, unable to give her what she desired. Rapidly she grew to hating his touch on her body.
And so that was the way it had gone, Eva thought. The first few affairs had been strained but always filled with the satisfaction she desired. The time between them varied and gradually grew less until the want, persisted in staying around. She found herself in the past year barely ending one flirtation before she was thinking of another.
In the cold light of the new day, Eva had to admit that she had grown afraid. Something drove at her, forcing her to give herself freely in order to remain satisfied. Where in the beginning, she was choosy as to the type of man she sought, now that had changed. Sam yesterday was a good example. He had none of the qualities that she wanted and yet she'd freely allowed him to take off her clothes.
Why had this happened to her? Eva swung her feet over the edge of the bed and looked dourly out into the yard. It was Ralph's fault. If he'd been any kind of a man she never would have gotten started looking for sex on the outside.
What would happen to her? Eva shook her head, not knowing the answer. Ralph was dumb but he'd be bound to find out someday. She'd thought of leaving him but Eva was practical enough to know where she'd wind up. There were houses in L.A. filled with girls who made a profession out of charging for what she gave away free. Eva had no intention of winding up like them.
At least her husband fed her. It was his duty to do as much. But that didn't prevent Eva from hating every minute she spent in this house, hoarding every dime he managed to bring in.
Things might be different if she could see some future for her husband. Were he heading for big successes she could find it worth her while to pretend that she loved him. It would be only fair that he share all of his rewards with her after what he'd put her through.
But the frustrating part was that there wasn't to be a future ... beyond this house and crummy neighborhood.
Eva paced the small bedroom, smoking a second cigarette. She was a very confused girl, unable to make any sense from the tangle of her life.
And she was lonely. This time it wasn't for a man but anybody that she could talk to. Eva knew the attitude of the neighbors. They all looked the other way when she walked down the street.
The thought of spending the day alone in the house frightened Eva. And yet she didn't dare go out. The remains of her unfulfilled want still with her. It wouldn't take much to pick her up ... and she hadn't been reduced to that, not yet anyway.
Eva made a decision, moving to the other room and picking up a phone. She'd call her sister and have her come over. So they'd quarelled yesterday. It wasn't the first fight.
Someone answered on the third ring. "Let me speak to Ruth," Eva said.
The unfamiliar voice at the other end of the wire answered. "She isn't here, She's gone for a few days." Would you like to leave a message?"
"No," Eva said, suddenly dejected. "You might just tell her that her sister called."
The voice was suddenly chilly. "All right," it snapped and hung up.
Eva did the same. For a moment she looked at the phone, wondering who that had been. She knew that Eva lived in a rooming house just a short distance away. What kind of lies had she been spreading?
Eva shrugged it off and made herself a cup of coffee. She sat in the front room drinking it, listening to the sounds of the neighborhood waking up. Every sound made her cringe. She'd never hated a place so thoroughly in her life. A bunch of stupid little people with snotty nosed-brats, all minding each other's business.
Eva returned to her old dreams of being rich and going to all those fancy places she'd never seen. Here Hollywood was only ten minutes away and yet it might as well be on the other side of the world.
She crushed out her cigarette. Damned Ralph. It was all his fault. If he hadn't come along she might have married someone more worthy of her.
Eva got to her feet and stood for a moment in front of the full length mirror in the hall. Look what she had to offer a man in return for excitement, she thought. There was plenty and it all stared back at her from the glass. The full, young body, now barely covered by the light robe was ripe with loveliness. Eva had to laugh. Even after all she'd been through, she still looked like the virgin she'd been on her wedding night.
And it was all wasted on Ralph, Eva thought bitterly. She'd been a damned fool and now she was stuck with her mistake.
The ringing of the doorbell startled the young girl in front of the mirror. She stood immobile for a moment, wondering who could be at the door.
Well, there was one way to find out. Eva moved across the room and opened the panel carefully. For a moment she didn't recognize the figure on the other side.
"Hi," he said, smiling.
It was the casual clothing that had fooled her. Eva remembered Martin Sellers as she'd met him yesterday, dressed in a stiff suit. But now he had on a pair of light colored slacks and sports shirt. As recognition came, her heart began jumping around.
He mistook her hesitation as suspicion and hastened to put her at ease. "I hope I didn't startle you," he grinned. "I know it's awfully early."
Eva came out of her shock quickly. She swung the door open, at the same time realizing she wasn't overly dressed for company. The light robe formed a deep V to her waist, running down the sides of the breasts. She automatically pulled the material together. And at the same time she was strangely disappointed in the man. He was turning out like all the rest. One day he got an eyefull, the next he returned to take advantage of the situation. "I've been up for an hour," she lied.
Martin took a step towards the threshold. "May I come in '.
Eva nodded. She'd wanted company, she thought, well she had it, even if Martin Sellers wasn't turning into the silver knight she'd thought him to be. "Have you had your coffee?" she asked as they moved into the room.
Martin grinned. "With two boys I usually have to get up pretty early. "I've had three cups ... but I could use another."
Eva poured a cup and handed it to him. She made a mental bet with herself as to how long it would take him to really get down to the business of his coming. Oddly enough, she felt no excitement at the prospect.
"I suppose you think I'm pretty bold coming here at this hour," Martin said, sipping the steaming brew.
He added, "Particularly with your husband away."
Eva nodded. "You're right," she said truthfully.
He found a cigarette and lighted it with what seemed like deliberate slowness. "After I left yesterday I got to thinking. Just where is this cabin of your husband's?"
"Up near Big Bear."
Martin consulted his watch. "That's about two hours ride from here."
"More or less."
"Do you know where the place is?"
"I think that I could find it," Eva agreed, wondering just what he was driving at. "I haven't been there in years."
Martin leaned forward intently. "Would you take me there? I'd compensate you for your trouble."
He was so serious that Eva almost laughed in his face. And at the same time she was relieved. She had to admit that he'd come up with an awfully good excuse for seeing her again. But what was his idea of compensation? She hoped it was what she thought it might be. Out loud she said, "You really are anxious to see him."
"It would mean a healthy loss to our company if the bank decided to cut off our credit. And they might if Ralph hands them the report he made out Friday night. It really is urgent that I contact him." Martin reached into his pocket and withdrew his wallet, starting to take out some money.
Eva placed her hand on his, shaking her head. "Don't be silly," she laughed. "It's such a nice day I think I'd like to take a ride. And I couldn't charge you for having a good time, could I?"
"You haven't had it yet," he grinned.
Eva kept her hand on his arm for a longer time than was necessary under the circumstances. "I will," she said.
CHAPTER SEVEN
Eva sat back in the seat, watching the scenery flash past the speeding car, enjoying herself immensely. The day certainly was turning out much better than she'd anticipated.
The man beside her kept his eyes straight ahead on the crowded freeway, only now and then glancing over at Eva and smiling.
So far the trip had been mostly silent. They were well beyond the city limits. On either side of the road the endless grape fields of San Bernardino County stretched into the distance, simmering with heat of the late summer sun.
To the right the mountains followed their path, barely visible through the smog overflowing from Los Angeles.
But inside the car it was comfortable, without a trace of the discomfort visible through the glass. The only sound was the light hiss of the air-conditioning vents.
This was real luxury, Eva thought. She'd never ridden in a Cadillac before. It gave her a feeling of importance. This was the way to live, not cooped up in a stuffy house.
Martin slowed as they crawled through a town. "It won't be long now," he said.
Eva shrugged. "I'm in no hurry. Are you?" The man beside her laughed, the action relaxing the rugged features of his face. "Not really, although I'm very anxious to see your husband." He glanced over at her, adding, "Aren't you?"
"Not really," Eva admitted. "I see him all week." Martin grinned, speeding up as they left the town behind them. "I hadn't thought of it that way. Why don't you ever come up here with him?"
Eva looked at Martin with a question in her eyes. "How did you know I don't?"
"You said so back at the house when I asked where the cabin was. You told me you hadn't been up here in years. I know Ralph comes up. He's always talking about his week-ends in the mountains. And I must say that they seem to do him good. He comes back looking great."
Eva had noticed the same thing. "For those that like it, it's all right."
"But you don't."
"I don't," Eva agreed. "It's bad enough living in that box we call a house."
"You could afford better," Martin said.
Now that seemed like a strange thing to say, Eva thought. She studied Martin and he seemed suddenly uncomfortable. "Why do you say that?" she questioned.
Martin shrugged, his hands gripping the steering wheel until the knuckles showed white. "I thought the bank paid well," he said unconvincingly.
There was something here deeper than light conversation, Eva thought to herself. But it wasn't her concern. "I bet you don't live in a shack," she smiled.
Martin grinned again. He found a pack of cigarettes and offered her one, lighting them from a small, gold lighter. Eva held his hand to steady it. She could feel the strength of the man touch her. It was nice.
"No," he agreed. "I don't live in a shack. I'd like to but my wife has other ideas. She feels that a man of my stature should maintain a certain dignity. That involves a fancy home in Benedict Canyon with all the trimmings."
Eva glanced around her. "And a fancy car," she added.
Martin chuckled, nodding his head. "I suppose so but that's the one pleasure that I allow myself."
They were in San Bernardino now. Martin guided the Cadillac through the maze of traffic until they'd left the city behind. Now he headed directly towards the mountains that had been following them, driving down a broad, palm-lined street. When it seemed impossible that they could go any further, the highway cut gently to the right and began a gradual rise.
"This certainly is different from the old days," Martin grunted, swinging the car around a broad curve. "You took you life in your hands on that two-laned road."
Eva nodded absent-mindedly. For the past half hour she'd begun to wonder just when he was going to make his move. Could it be possible that he really wanted to see her husband? That would be real funny, she thought. A riot. Just the same, in fifty miles he had done nothing out of line, not even as far as trying to put his arm around her. It wasn't natural.
And so when the landscape to the right beyond dropping to alarming depths, Eva slid closer to Martin, shuddering, "That scares me."
"We're only up a few thousand feet," he grinned. "It gets worse."
"That doesn't make me like it." But she had accomplished her purpose in getting closer to him. Now Eva crossed her legs with calculated slowness, allowing a bit of slip to peek out from below the skirt. Men liked to see a bit of lace. It gave them ideas.
But apparently not to Martin. He didn't seem to notice. Eva was getting dizzy from watching the scenery flash past in great curving sections. "It looks cooler out there," she said at last. "Couldn't we put down the top?"
"Good idea," Martin agreed. At the next pull-off he left the road and slid to a stop on the gravel. As he unhooked his side of the top above the windshield, Eva struggled with hers.
"I can't get it," she lied.
"Here let me." Martin reached across in front of her. As he did, Eva leaned forward, just enough so that the fullness of the breast pressed into his arm. Excitement poured through Eva at the touch. She waited breathlessly for his response.
But instead of doing anything about it, Martin snapped the catch and moved over to his side of the car. He pulled a lever beneath the dash and the top glided back above their heads. A sudden breeze whipped through the front seat, sending Eva's hair fluttering.
But she didn't notice. She was still too perplexed at Martin's failure at rising to the bait. Never in her life had she run across a man like this.
"Better?" he asked.
Eva nodded. "Much." Despite her disappointment, she had to admit that it was lovely up here. Everything was so green, instead of the dusty brown she was used to in the rainless city. Far below she could see the beginnings of the desert and the city of San Bernardino, looking for all the world like a toy town.
And it was quiet. The birds chittering in the nearby trees were the only sound. It was as if they'd suddenly entered another world.
Martin spoiled it all by restarting the engine and drifting back towards the main highway. Era looked across at him but his expression was impossible to interpret.
In was thirty minutes before they crossed the dam at the south end of the lake.
"Water's low," Martin commented.
Eva followed his eyes. He was right. The level of the lake had fallen to a point where the original wooden dam was visible.
"Haven't seen it like that in years," Martin continued. "That's not a lake, it's a pond. You can see the stumps of the trees they cut down to clear it for a reservoir."
Eva nodded her agreement. It wasn't like she remembered it at all. The last time she'd been here the water was well up to the shore, lapping at the porches of the many cottages. At that time it had reminded her of a small, Swiss village ... or at least of what she thought a Swiss village would look like.
Now it was ugly, the dirty, muddy bottom mostly exposed. The only area left to be fished was crowded with boats almost gunnel to gunnel.
"And they call that fun," Martin said wryly.
"Ralph does," Eva commented, trying to keep the bitterness from her voice.
"I thought he was smarter than that."
Once across the concrete dam, the road suddenly got the wiggles, twisting and turning through the outcrop-pings of granite. Martin deftly guided the caddy through the narrow spaces. "Where's the cabin?"
"As I remember, it's about a mile up from the dam," she said.
Martin nodded and speeded up slightly.
In a few minutes, Eva pointed straight ahead. "There, by that big boulder. There should be a road leading to the left."
Martin grunted and hit the brakes. He found the trail and started to turn in. "Wait," Eva said sharply.
Martin stopped the car and looked across the seat at her. "What's up?"
"Nothing," Eva said, bitting her lip. "I was just thinking that it might be better if my husband doesn't see me with you."
"Why? We haven't done anything."
That was some understatement, Eva thought bitterly. Out loud she said, "I don't mean that. It's just that I've consistently refused to come up here with Ralph. If he saw me here now he might expect me to come with him the next time." She glanced around her. "I don't want to. I hate this place."
"So what'll we do?" Martin questioned, reaching for a cigarette and lighting it. "Hide you under a log?"
Eva laughed at the suggestion. Despite his good intentions, Martin was fun to be with. "Nothing like that. Just take me into the village. I'll wait for you there."
"How about finding the cabin?"
"You won't have any trouble doing that." Eva pointed ahead of them. "There are three cottages on this road. Ralph's is the last. It's painted a sickening red."
"Suits me," Martin agreed, backing the Caddy onto the main road. But you might have to wait a' while. He might be out fishing."
"That's all right," Eva smiled. "I'd just be waiting at home anyhow. I might as well do it here."
The village of Big Bear was nothing more than a three block long stretch of buildings devoted to the good natured fun of the tourists. And now the visitors swarmed over the street, buying souvenirs, doing anything to keep from having to return to the heat of the flatlands below.
Martin pulled to the curb in the center of town. "Where will I pick you up?"
Eva glanced the length of the busy sidewalk. She knew that she could be demure and tell him to meet her at the drugstore. But she certainly didn't feel like a malted milk. She pointed at the building with the statue of a wooden Indian in front of it. A small sign hung above its head, TAVERN. "That looks cool. I'll be inside."
"Fine," he agreed, He left the car and hurried around to her door, opening it.
The shock of having a man act like a gentleman for a change froze Eva momentarily to immobility. She recovered quickly and started to slide from the seat.
What happened next couldn't have been better even if she'd have planned it. In reaching for the high curb with her shoe she missed, plunging one leg to the street. Off balance, Eva pitched forward towards the sidewalk. The only thing left to prevent her from falling was Martin and she grabbed at him. He in turn grasped at her. One of his hands clutched her waist, the palm of the other pressed in on a breast, almost mashing it flat against her body.
Despite her surprise at the fall, Eva felt that hand against her blouse. It was only there a second but it was the most wonderful feeling she'd ever known. Recovering her balance, she smiled up at him, noting that the hand had gone, to her shoulder and they were now only inches apart. "Thanks," she said softly. Her heart was beating wildly.
"It was a pleasure," Martin grinned. "We wouldn't want concrete to spoil that pretty face of yours, would we:
"I didn't realize that you'd noticed," Eva smiled.
"I have," he admitted. His hands were gripping Eva's shoulders until she felt pain.
She tilted her mouth, hoping, praying that he would kiss her. All the want Eva had stored up came to the surface in a gigantic wave. It was an effort for her to keep from throwing her arms around him and begging to be caressed in the street.
But common sense prevailed. That would ruin everything with a man like Martin. "Hurry back," she heard herself say.
He gave her shoulder a final squeeze and got back into the car. "I will," he promised.
As Eva watched the Caddy purr down the street she sighed deeply. The man wasn't all stone after all. This could still turn out to be a very interesting day.
CHAPTER EIGHT
As Eva stepped into the darkened room she had to hesitate a moment to allow her eyes to get used to its dimness. When they'd adjusted she saw what looked like a large, comfortable room in a hunting lodge.
The place was crowded. A juke box fought to be heard above the jumble of voices. Three or four couples danced around an old, pot bellied stove centering the room.
For a moment Eva felt out of place. But her dryness won over her desire to leave. She sat in an empty booth and tried to relax.
It took a while but eventually a waitress showed up, looking very unhappy at the single girl occupying a table built for four.
"I'll have a Tom Collins," Eva said. "I'm expecting a friend to join me shortly."
The music stopped and so did the dancers. Eva studied one of the girls on the floor. She couldn't have been more than eighteen but she certainly was cute. The boy with her wasn't much older. But from the look in his eyes, even in the semi-dusk, it was obvious that his mind wasn't completely on dancing. It was no wonder, Eva thought idly. The young girl had much of what there was to make a woman. Lots of bust and lots of hips ... all tightly covered.
The music began again, this time something wild and unfamiliar. The fast beat drove everybody off the floor but the young couple.
Watching them, Eva had the odd feeling that she was peeking in on some kind of a jungle rite. The girl had good rhythm and every inch of her body moved with it. As the tempo quickened her breasts almost became a blur of motion. At length she spun away from her partner, going into a series of whirls. On the first, the skirt floated up high enough to show a shapely pair of thighs. On the second it rose even higher and when she went around a third time the material stood straight out.
At that point Eva had to stifle a gasp as the light caught the youthful body beneath the spinning cloth. From the waist down she was all woman and nothing else.
Her partner stopped dancing and started looking. It took him only a minute to take advantage of the situation. He moved in on the young girl and drew her tightly to him, at the same time crushing her mouth beneath his. If there was any objection it certainly wasn't apparent.
The last Eva saw of the couple was as they walked out the front door arm in arm. It was obvious they weren't going to a movie. She looked around the room but no one else seemed to have noticed the show. Nonetheless, in her present mood, the little scene had disturbed Eva. She damned Martin for being so slow to catch on.
Her drink was gone and she was toying with the glass, hoping to catch the waitresses eye, when Eva heard someone call out her name from behind.
"Mrs. Hobson," the voice said. "We have that drapery material in that you ordered."
The pudgy figure steamed up and her face disintegrated into confusion. "Oh I'm sorry," she said, obviously flustered. "I thought you were someone else. From the back...."
"But you called to me by name," Eva pressed.
The woman began backing away, shaking her head, her three chins rolling in unison. "It was just a mistake," she stammered.
Before Eva had time to pursue the point, she saw Martin come into the room. At that moment the older woman fled through the door.
Martin saw Eva and came quickly to the table, his face sober. "Sorry to keep you waiting," he said, sitting down heavily.
"You look as if Ralph threw you out," Eva said.
Martin shook his head. "He didn't. But I need a drink."
"Were you successful?" Eva asked.
"I was," Martin agreed. "Everything's settled now."
"Then why the long face?"
The man across from Eva stared hard at her for a moment. She recognized something behind his dark eyes but couldn't put her finger on it. Worry, confusion, one of those.
"It's nothing important, really," he said at last. Martin looked around the room. "I suppose that we'd better be getting back."
The one thing Eva did know was that Martin had changed in the short time since she'd last seen him. Then, he was beginning to warm up. Now, he seemed even colder than he had been on the way to the mountains. "I suppose we had," she said reluctantly.
As the couple left the table, a distant rumble invaded the room, audible above the drunken chatter. "What's that?" Eva asked.
"A storm's coming up," Martin explained. I saw it over the mountains on the way to the village. They can use some rains around here. The valley's a real tinder box. One match in the wrong place and the whole place is liable to go up in smoke."
The day was different when Eva stepped out onto the street. The sun was gone, replaced by vast, blackening clouds. It was almost chilly as a brisk wind blew down from the throat of the valley.
Still the gentleman, Martin held the door open for her then went around to his own side. He eased the car down the now almost deserted street., "I thought we might take a ride along the crest above the valley," he explained as he swung the Caddy to the right at the end of the village.
Eva nodded absent-mindedly, not really caring what he did. Her body had been aching for him all day and it now appeared that her wants would never be satisfied. So if he wanted to take the scenic tour home, it was all right with her. Apparently she'd just come along for the ride anyhow.
They climbed steadily, until the valley below was nothing but a scooped out hollow and the lake a bright jewel in its setting of green pines.
The rumble of the thunder increased, sparked by jagged bolts of lightning. The ever increasing wind whipped through the open car.
Martin hardly seemed to notice. From the look on his face he was enjoying himself. A real nature-boy, Eva thought to herself.
"I used to ski up here quite a bit," Martin said, breaking the long silence. "That's the tow just ahead."
Eva followed his outstretched finger. Ahead of them, rising out of the valley like a slender snake, she saw the lift against the ominous clouds. The chairs strung on the cable bounced violently with the storm.
The first rain was just a brief scatter against the windshield. Martin saw the drops and pulled over to the side of the road. "I guess I'd better get the top up," he grinned.
More water splashed against Eva's nose. "It wouldn't be a bad idea," she urged.
But before Martin could make another motion towards the control, the full fury of the storm hit them broadside. It was a solid sheet of chilling rain. Driven on the wind, the drops stung as they hit. Eva had to gasp for breath as the deluge cut off her wind. Out of the corner of her eye, she saw Martin fighting with something beneath the dash.
When nothing happened to the top, he leaned across the seat and shouted into her ear to be heard against the noise of the storm. "The dam thing's stuck. We'll have to make a run for it."
Eva looked around, puzzled, unable to see more than a foot in front of her face. "Where?"
"There's a ski hut down the hill about a quarter of a mile," he yelled. "Okay?"
Eva nodded her head, her eyes blurred with the rain. "It's better than sitting here." She looked at the water pouring across the floorboards, adding, "If this thing fills up we'll drown."
Martin nodded agreement.
What happened next was what Eva had expected least. Martin had been leaning close to her in order to be heard. As he turned to leave the car, their faces brushed against each other. For a moment they each stared hard into the other's eyes. Then, without warning, he kissed her.
Despite herself, Eva gasped in surprise as his wet mouth closed over hers. She felt strong arms dragging her to him and she didn't resist, putting all of her mornings frustrations into that single embrace.
It was a wild, animal impulse that held the couple in the car together, both of them oblivious to the rain and the booming thunder.
Eva whimpered and struggled to get closer, wanting to feel his body beside hers, damning her skirt when it refused to yield.
When they at last parted, the grin was gone from Martin's face. "I'm sorry," he said huskily. "Damned sorry."
Eva had had only a taste of the man. But it wasn't nearly .enough. She wanted to rip the clothes from her body and fall back in the mud beside the car. She wanted to feel the sky fall in on her and all the stars became her personal possessions. She wanted him to do his magic and make her cry with joy until she drowned out the thunder.
But there was sadness in his eyes and he did none of these things. Something told her that this wasn't the time nor place. Martin was different. He was unlike any man Eva had ever known. And she'd never felt towards anyone as she did towards him. Strangely enough, it frightened her.
So she contented herself with patting his hand, forcing herself to restrain from doing what was in her heart. "Don't be sorry," she smiled. "But we'd better get out of here before we're washed away."
Martin nodded soberly and slid from the seat.
The trip through the wet, soggy forest seemed endless. The couple slithered down a narrow path, driven on by the violence of the worsening storm. The trees about them hummed with the song of the wind, rain reduced visibility until they couldn't see the branches about to slap them in their faces.
At length Eva had to stop to catch her breath. Martin's hand urged her on. "It's only a short distance now," he shouted. She drew a lung full of water and went on, holding tightly to his hand.
They almost crashed head on into the building before they saw it. Martin found the door and led the way out of the weather. Eva followed him into what looked like an oversized room. As he shut the sound of the storm out she managed a smile. "I don't believe I've ever seen a place as welcome," she said sincerely.
Martin nodded agreement. "A lot of people have felt that way about this shack."
She looked around. It was barren excepting for cabinets along one wall and a fireplace built into the other. A neat stack of wood sat beside the stone. "What is this cabin?" she asked. "Who does it belong to?"
"The ski patrol maintains it," Martin said. "Big Bear Valley owns it ... along with three others on the trail. During the winter it's a refuge for lost skiers." He moved towards the hearth. "I'll get a fire going."
Eva shivered her agreement. "It's cold."
Martin worked at the hearth until he had a small blaze licking at the larger wood he'd piled on the grate. "It's no wonder you're cold," he grinned. "You're soaked to the skin."
Only then did Eva realize how transparent the rain had made her clothes. The nylon blouse and bra might as well not have been there. As she stood there uncertainly in the center of the room, looking around at the well-supplied refuge, she couldn't help but wonder if this all hadn't been planned well in advance. "What was the matter with the top?" she asked, trying to keep her suspicions from showing.
Martin straightened up, rubbing his hands together. "Damned if I know," he admitted. "The rain may have shorted something out before I had a chance to work it."
Eva nodded, hoping the smile she felt didn't become too obvious. It began to seem as if Martin Sellers was a great deal smarter than she'd given him credit for.
CHAPTER NINE
For a long time the couple in the room was silent, content to watch the fire change from an uncertain flicker to a roaring blaze. As heat filled the room the cold retreated.
At length Martin stirred and crossed the room to the cabinets, looking in each. He found a coffee pot and filled it with water from a handpump sticking through the floor just inside of the door. He then poured in some coffee and hung the pot gingerly above the fire. "That should make us feel better," he grinned. "Too bad there aren't some extra clothes stashed away. We could get out of these wet things."
Eva wondered why he made no mention of the kiss, nor tried to repeat the effort. Surely she had returned the embrace with interest. This was the slowest man she'd ever met. On top of that, despite the fresh warmth, Eva felt uncomfortable in the soggy clothes. "I don't know about you," she said slowly, reaching for the buttons of her blouse, "but I'm going to get out of these wet things." She smiled, adding, "They aren't doing much good hiding my womanly wiles anyhow."
"No," Martin agreed, grinning, staring. "They certainly aren't."
Eva removed the blouse and hung it from the mantle to dry, aware that her ample breasts overflowed the narrow bra. Remaining droplets of water fell from her hair, trickling down the valley between the swells, vanishing under the cloth. "Do I seem immodest?" she smiled.
Martin didn't seem visibly moved by the exposure. "Modesty is just what you make of it," he said.
Just what kind of an answer is that? Eva thought. She felt growing excitement within her as she unhooked the bra and placed it beside the blouse. Bare to the waist, she was not embarrassed. Why should she be? "I suppose you've seen many women like this," Eva smiled.
"I have," Martin admitted.
"I guess we all look pretty much alike."
Martin shook his head and grinned. "Now I wouldn't exactly go that far. You're a truly beautiful woman."
Eva brushed water from her shoulders and breast. "I'm a wet one anyhow," she smiled. "But you'd better get out of your clothes too before you catch cold. You can't shock me, I've seen a man before ... just as you've seen a woman. We're both married, remember?"
Martin laughed pleasantly. "That's a fact," he admitted.
Eva tried hard to take her eyes from him as he undressed and added his clothing to the mantle. She couldn't, admiring the lean, lithe physique that came into view. She'd never seen anything like it. Just looking at him made her weak.
But Eva managed to drag her eyes away. She unhooked the catch to her skirt and let the soggy material slide down her legs. The remaining slip and panties were pure cellophane. Without further hesitation, Eva took them off. She turned her back on Martin and strung the clothing above the fireplace. The heat singed her bare flesh and at the same time she could feel the coolness of the room on her back.
Eva felt strange being in the room with this man without any clothes on. It puzzled her. Many men had seen her body and she'd never felt this way with any of them. The feeling hadn't even existed with her husband.
And now, she was almost afraid to turn around, to expose her full womanly beauty to the man standing a short distance behind her. Why? Eva didn't know. Maybe it was because she'd been too bold and feared she'd never see him again. But that didn't make sense. Wasn't she more interested in what was going to happen to her in the next few minutes? Eva didn't think so. She knew that she would want to see him tomorrow, and the next day. So right now she was a confused young girl. She wanted Martin desperately, but didn't want to pay the necessary price.
Nonetheless Eva turned back into the room. Martin stood near the center of the room, a sheepish grin spread across his rugged face. She felt faint as she ran her eyes down the length of his body. Every inch of him was perfection. Maybe up until now he'd been able to hide his desire for her with a blank expression. But now, this became impossible. He wanted her as much as she did him. It was all too obvious.
"I feel like Adam," he said hesitantly.
"I'm Eva," she smiled.
She felt his eyes swarm from her straggly hair to her feet. Eva shivered under the gaze, despite the roaring fire at her back.
The rain beat at the window, the fire crackled and the smell of coffee filled the room. But neither figure moved for a long time, each breathing in the other's beauty.
Martin was the first to break the spell. "I've never seen anyone so beautiful," he said slowly. "What about your wife?"
Martin shook his head. "Not even her." He took a step towards her, holding out his hand. "I'm sorry I kissed you back in the car."
Eva took hold of the extended hand, her heart leaping at the touch. "Are you?" she questioned.
"I suppose not," he admitted. "It seems like the thing to say." He drew Eva closer. "Anyhow, why apologize for something I may do again?"
They were now only separated by less than a foot. Eva's breasts rose and fell with her heavy breathing. She could feel waves of strong emotions pouring across her. It was all she could to do keep from throwing herself into his arms. "I'm a married woman," she heard herself say.
"I know," Martin admitted sadly.
"We shouldn't be here, dressed like this, thinking as we are."
"I know."
"Maybe we'd better get dressed and leave."
"It's still raining." . "It'd be safer." Eva heard the words she was saying. They all sounded strange, unlike her. Where had the girl gone who considered sex as a normal part of the day? What was wrong with her? Why didn't she beg him to take her and enjoy it instead of fighting?
The hand gently squeezed until it hurt. Eva saw his face descend towards hers. She shook her head. "Please," she whispered. "Don't."
"Do you really mean that?"
Eva bit her lip, staring deeply into his eyes, her heart beating wildly. "No," she said softly.
The kiss was gentle and tender but it exploded rockets in Eva's head. She felt his warm body press against her and his lips bite hers. He was a man with a body warm and hard and firm and lovely.
Why she didn't know, but she tried, tried her best to be good.
But soon the embrace turned animal and his mouth left hers. Eva moaned at the pleasure of the touch. She found his hand and pressed it and her fingers told him he had become a part of her.
Still, she heard herself pleading...."Don't ... don't."
But the man in her arms was beyond stopping and Eva knew that she didn't want him to. He drew away for a second, his expression strained, his eyes glazed. "Gosh," he panted. "You're wonderful. Do you want me to stop?"
It was a question Eva had never been asked before, not at a time like this. Her body burned with fire, she could feel a thick passionate fog enveloping her, and it seemed as if all of her wants exploded into action at once. She shook her head, feeling her still wet hair rub her bare shoulders. "No, no" she panted. "Don't."
He gasped as he pulled her to him, and crazily, Eva heard the hiss of the coffee boiling over into the fire as she opened her heart to him and started slipping blissfully from reality.
And just as she did one thought boiled to the surface with blazing clarity. It was crazy, unheard of, unbelievable ... but Eva knew it was the truth.
She was madly in love with Martin Sellers.
CHAPTER TEN
Eva lay quite still, listening to the rain on the roof, feeling contentment spread rapidly through her body. Now that it was over she tried to push back the cobwebs in her brain and think. Was she crazy, thinking that she was in love with the man beside her? That emotion didn't exist, at least that's what she'd told herself ever since she'd made the discovery that Ralph was a conquest from her sister ... and not love as she'd supposed.
As far as Ralph was concerned, he was just a meal ticket to her, no more. As long as he couldn't give her what she wanted she'd get it someplace else.
Eva twisted her head so that she could see her man, Martin. He didn't say anything, just smiling, his hand touching her as if she'd become his personal possession.
Damn him, Eva thought. It was all over and still she felt the way she had before. That wasn't the way it was supposed to work. Once she was satisfied she usually wanted no part of the man who had done it. But this was different, her heart still beat like a trip hammer just looking at him.
Eva twisted onto her side. She felt her breast brush against the hair on his chest. "It was wonderful," she said softly, running her hand through his damp hair.
"It was." His voice was husky. He added, "It's still wrong."
"I know," Eva agreed. "Are you sorry?"
"No," he said soberly. "I'm not."
Eva wiggled closer until she could feel his warmth against her. "Neither am I."
"But I'm a married man, Eva," Martin said. "I've got two children."
She shook her head then kissed him tenderly. Their lips clung briefly together as she drew away. "Make it three, darling," she whispered. "Let's have one."
"We're both fools," he snapped.
Eva laughed lightly, rolling onto her back, pulling him to her. "Give me a son," she panted.
Martin looked up at her, a slight grin on his lips, his chin digging into her stomach, his face framed by her breasts. "Is that what you want? he said huskily.
"Yes ... yes ... yes," Eva cried. "Darlin," she whispered. "I'm yours, all of me."
Eva smiled and then the ecstasy came, and the lovers in the room were only a single shadow. The flickering fire caught flesh and movement and the depths of a woman's unseeing eyes. The rain rattled on the roof, thunder boomed its music but inside all was strangely quiet.
It seemed to remain that way endlessly until a woman's voice shattered the illusion. "Ah," it said, followed by a long sigh.
There was no more. The movement ceased. The couple seemed asleep.
* * *
Martin threw a log on the fire and stood for a moment watching a blaze of sparks shoot up the chimney. He then moved a short distance from the hearth and sat on the floor, picking up his cup of coffee and enjoying it's warmth. Eva smiled at him and leaned forward, tilting her mouth to be kissed. He didn't disappoint her, caressing her lips with his.
"Lovely," she sighed softly as they parted.
Martin grinned, looking at the woman sitting cross legged across from him. The flickering fire played on the lovely, naked body, creating light and shadow on the flawless skin. "You are lovely," he said.
"I'm glad you think so."
"I do."
She took a sip of coffee, spilling a drop in the process. It splashed against her breast then trickled down. "I love you," she said softly, teasingly, as she saw Martin's eyes on her.
"You're terrible," he accused.
"I'm," Eva admitted, pulling his face forward to her body. She shivered as part of her figure vanished momentarily from sight. "I wish we could stay here forever," she whispered.
Martin looked up at her. "It would be nice," he admitted.
"We'd never wear clothes."
"I'd have to go out and chop wood."
"I'd let you have shoes then," Eva laughed. She sobered, looking deep into his eyes.
"You know what, darling? I'm yours ... all yours."
"That makes two women I own," Martin said, soberly.
"Which one do you like best?"
"Don't make me answer that."
Eva kissed him tenderly, at the same time covering his hand with hers, holding it tightly against her body. "Which one?" she said down his throat.
Eva wavered in passion as his eyes gave her the answer. "You're a minx," he accused.
She reached out. "This minx knows that you wan her."
"How can you tell?" he grinned.
"Braille," she explained, tightening her grip. "I'm your possession, darling. Use me."
Martin looked briefly around the room. It was dark outside and the rain had stopped. "We really should go."
"Do you want to?"
Martin looked down at the body of the beautiful woman. "No," he admitted. "Not just yet."
Eva lay back, knowing that she wanted him more this time than any other. And, as the pleasure of his body suddenly returned, Eva knew that she could never let this man go.
* * *
The drive through the desert was quiet excepting for the hushed purr of the Caddy's engine. Eva lay back against the seat, studying the stars overhead that studded the blackness like diamonds. It had been a wonderful day, she thought happily, unlike any that she'd ever known before.
Eva took a deep breath of the fresh, dry air, completely content with the world. She was glad that Martin had decided to return to L.A. by way of the back door. The highway leading down out of the mountains and then across the Mojave Desert was longer and more deserted as it snaked a curved path towards the city.
She looked down at the outline of his hand beneath her skirt where it'd been practically since leaving the cabin. It felt wonderful. This was the only way to travel.
Eva leaned across the seat and kissed his cheek. "Thanks for a wonderful day," she said. "I've never been so happy."
Martin glanced at her and grinned. "It's been that," he agreed.
"Are you sorry?"
He shook his head slowly. "I don't think so." A car's lights suddenly showed in the distance. When it had drawn close enough to illuminate the couple in the front seat, Eva pulled her unfastened blouse together. "I'm happy to see that you have some modesty," Martin chuckled.
Eva waited until the other car had swept noisily past before she answered him. "I'm just hiding your property," she smiled.
"You belong to your husband."
Eva shook her head emphatically. "No, darling." I "I'm yours. You made me that way."
Martin didn't answer, excepting to squeeze her bare body beneath the skirt.
Eva shivered at the motion and lay her head contentedly on his shoulder. Life was wonderful.
She must have fallen asleep for when she opened her eyes the car was stopped. Eva looked around in momentary confusion.
"We're almost to the main highway," Martin explained.
Eva followed his eyes. A short distance away she saw a string of headlights weaving a bright thread of light through the night. She knew the spot. It was where the desert highway joined 395 and became suddenly very populated with people traveling the length of the state. "So?" she asked.
Martin leaned closer to her. "It's time to get dressed." ; "But I don't want to," Eva pouted. She reached down and pulled the skirt to her waist. "I don't want to hide anything, not from you."
"You want us to get arrested? Martin grinned.
."I don't care," Eva pouted. "As long as I'm in the same cell with you."
"You're hopeless," Martin chuckled.
Eva cuddled closer to him, her hand reaching for his body. "I can get worse," she promised. A zipper sounded in the momentary quiet. "Damn you," he swore.
"Damn me why?" Eva grinned, watching the effect of what she was doing to him play across his face. "Don't you ever get enough?"
"Do you?"
"Not from you," Martin admitted.
"I'll have to get undressed to dress," Eva said. "Take off my blouse."
He did, with no further protest.
"And my skirt," she panted, the strain building in her voice.
He did, almost ripping the material from her slender body.
Naked, Eva moved towards the opposite door for room. She stretched languidly, placing a foot against each side of the car and raised her arms to him. "Love me," she commanded softly.
He did!
* * *
After a ten minute pause that refreshed them both, the couple were underway again. This time Eva was fully dressed, although somewhat rumpled.
Martin drove silently until they passed through San Fernando, the northern entrance to the valley. He turned to Eva, his face serious. "Let's stop and have some coffee," he suggested. "We'd better talk this thing out."
"I'd like some coffee," Eva smiled. "But what's to be discussed?" She stroked his chin, adding, "Please, darling, don't spoil today."
Martin brushed her hand away somewhat roughly. "Can't you ever be serious?"
"Not where you're concerned."
He pulled the car off the road at the next drive-in along the busy highway, coming to a stop beneath the brilliantly lighted canopy. Immediately a lightly clad girl with large breasts and bigger hips thrust a small menu through the open window.
Martin shook his head. "We'll just have coffee," he said.
The carhop smiled her understanding and left, returning almost immediately with a tray and two cups. When she'd again vanished, Martin took one of the coffees and handed it to Eva who opened the glove compartment and placed it on the door. But before she drank it she leaned over and kissed Martin on the cheek. "You're sweet," she said.
Martin blushed and looked quickly around at the other cars parked close to them. "Be careful," he warned. "We're in the big city now. People have eyes."
"I don't care," Eva pouted. "I want everybody to know how I feel about you."
Martin looked at her hard. "And how is that?"
"I love you, darling."
He tore the top off the sugar and let it flow into his coffee, his eyes moody. At last Martin looked up at the girl beside him again. "Look, Eva," he began soberly. "Let's face a few facts. We're both married. Doesn't that mean anything to you?"
"No," she said simply.
"Well it does to me," Martin said.
"You haven't acted that way today," she reminded him.
He sighed and lighted a cigarette. "It's been wonderful," he said slowly, carefully choosing his words. "I won't deny that. I think something like this happens to every married man and woman somewhere in their attached lives. It's just a ... well, it's an...."
"Affair?" Eva finished the sentence for him.
Martin nodded, looking graver by the minute. "That's about it. We've had our fun. But now it's finished. I'll go back to my wife and you go back to your husband."
"Just like that?" Eva said evenly. She knew that she should be mad at his passing her off as a passing fancy. But she knew men that well. They always fought for reasons to excuse what they'd done. But Martin was different. She could tell from the way he looked at her and the ardor he showed that he really didn't mean what he was saying. But why not let him get it out of his system?
And Eva had been doing some thinking while they drove home. Up until today she'd been drifting with Ralph, using him for a meal ticket while getting what she needed on the side. She'd had no particular future in mind, other than continuing on the same hopeless path.
But now things were changed. She could see a direction ahead. It was obvious that Martin liked her body. And she in turn loved him. What better combination could there be?
But beyond that there was still more. Martin was wealthy. He could give her the things that she deserved. With him there'd be luxury instead of a boxy house in a dreary subdivision.
So he was married? What did that matter? It wouldn't be hard to get him away from his wife and a couple of snot-nosed kids. Didn't she have the ammunition for that?
Eva glanced at the man sitting silently beside her. She tried not to smile at the excitement she felt. Before too long she'd make him her husband.
CHAPTER ELEVEN
Martin looked across at her, his eyes concerned. "You do understand, don't you?"
"Yes," Eva lied.
"Sorry," he muttered.
"Don't be, sorry" Eva said softly. "I'll be waiting for you whenever you need me."
"We won't be able to see each other again, ever," Martin said soberly.
"What about your husband?" Martin asked suddenly, shocking Eva from her thoughts.
"What about him?"
"It's late. Won't he suspect something when you come home?" Martin laughed gently, motioning at her clothes. "You aren't exactly a fashion plate at the moment."
Eva smiled, patting his hand. "I should be insulted but I know it's the truth. Anyway, don't worry about Ralph. He's a spineless clod who wouldn't suspect anything if I came into the house stark naked."
Martin snuffed out his cigarette and lighted a second one thoughtfully. "Don't be too sure. Ralph's a smart man. Perhaps much more clever than you give him credit for."
"Don't be silly," Eva scoffed. "He's stuck in a rut and is content to spend his life there."
Martin opened his mouth as if to say something. But he changed his mind and closed it again, instead shrugging, "Just be careful."
"I will," Eva promised. "We'd better get home," he announced.
Eva nodded. "Anything you say."
Some of Eva's bravado evaporated as she stood on her front steps and watched the tail lights of Martin's car disappear down the street. A chill swept over her body. But it wasn't from the warm flow of air sweeping down through the valley. The cold realization had struck her that she didn't have the beginnings of an excuse to tell Ralph. How could she just explain away a day?
But all of her worries were groundless. As Eva looked around the litter-cluttered living room, she realized that Ralph wasn't home yet. She exhaled a sigh of relief and lighted a half-smoked cigarette she found in the tray.
Eva would have liked time to go back over the events of the day, to re-live the pleasures that still caused her body to ache.
But she knew there wasn't time for that ... not now.
Eva moved quickly to the bedroom, listening for the sound of Ralph's car. She stripped her clothes off and for a moment stood in the center of the room, admiring her slender body. There were dark welts scattered here and there across the smooth skin. She smiled to herself as she saw them, knowing what had accompanied the possession of each one.
There wasn't time for more. She headed for the shower, anxious to wash as much of the evidence from her flesh as possible.
Eva just made it. She was settling beneath the covers when she heard the front door open. Looking up, she saw Ralph come into the bedroom. He didn't look so hot himself. His eyes were haggard and the rough, mountain clothes unkempt. Well, she thought, trying to suppress the smile she felt flitting beneath the surface, there were two ways to have fun in the mountains. She liked hers better.
He saw her and grinned. "Still up?"
Eva nodded. It was a statement typical of the man. Even a moron could see that she wasn't asleep. "I've been reading," she said out loud. "How was the fishing?"
Ralph shrugged. "So so. A storm came up today and pretty much ruined it."
"Too bad," Eva said, forcing the sarcasm from her voice.
He stripped off his clothes and sat on the other twin bed. "In a way I suppose it was a blessing. Everything's so dry in the mountains everybody's afraid of fire. We got some rain but not enough I'm afraid."
Now wouldn't that be too bad, Eva thought to herself, if his precious mountain cabin burned down. Then he'd be stuck here with her over the weekends. She didn't like the thought. But on the other hand, what did it matter? Now that she had Martin to go to she knew that she wouldn't be around here much longer. Then he could go to the mountains as he pleased. It was pleasant thinking, knowing there was at last an end in sight to this treadmill she'd been on. And a wealthy conclusion at that.
"Good night, Ralph," she said.
Her husband leaned across the bed and kissed her on the cheek. "Pleasant dreams," he returned.
Eva knew they would be. Martin would be the central character.
When Eva awakened, the other bed was empty. She lay still for a moment, listening for sounds in the house. There were none. Ralph had already left for work.
She stretched languidly, feeling the stiffness of her body. It was a pleasant way to begin the day, a reminder of the exercise she'd had yesterday.
Humming softly to herself, Eva padded into the kitchen and poured herself a cup of coffee from the pot Ralph had thoughtfully left on simmer. Then she sat in the front room and began to wake up.
As she did, her feelings toward Martin grew to clarity. What he'd done to her no man had ever been able to do before. It was an exciting feeling. If this was being in love, she thought happily, she liked it.
And why should she stay with Ralph? He was a nothing going nowhere. Eva knew one thing, she was a beautiful woman. And it was all wasted on a man like Ralph. Even more important than that, what if he found out about the men she'd been seeing? He'd be the first one to kick her out. Eva shook her head, thinking of what she'd just thought. Ralph wouldn't do a-thing like that. It wasn't his nature. The poor oaf was deeply in love with her. No matter what she did, even if it included making a man beneath his nose, he'd be understanding.
And what of Martin? Did he love his wife? She doubted it. No man could make love as he had to another woman and really belong at home. No, it wouldn't take much to make him go away with her.
Eva sipped her coffee and leaned back, her mind absorbed in the excitement a marriage to Martin would bring. There'd be a big home, expensive things that she'd always wanted, travel around the world ... she'd only have to ask for what she wanted and it would be hers.
She knew she'd have to pay for them. But the price would be pure pleasure, giving her body to a man who really appreciated it.
Eva got to her feet and looked out the window, feeling the same old revulsion hit her. Now that she'd thought of a way to get rid of this monotony, it was even worse. Some day she'd come back to this street, driving an expensive car and wearing the latest furs. Then let these stuffy-nosed neighbors grovel at her feet. She'd spit in their faces.
As Eva stared through the blinds, a cab drew up in front of the house. When the passenger left the car and started up the walk Eva recognized her sister.
She hesitated a moment before going to the door, taking time to look at the plainness of the woman. It was hard to believe that they were sisters, Eva thought. Ruth was a mousy woman dressed in an austere black suit with her hair tied tightly at the back of her head.
And what would Ruth say, Eva thought, when she found out about Martin? Eva knew the answer. Her sister would probably pull out a bible and begin quoting.
She laughed to herself. It would give her double pleasure to see Ruth's face when she found out.
Eva knew the real reason for Ruth's feelings. She was jealous. She didn't have a man of her own and she resented anyone else having one ... particularly her.
It was no wonder Ruth couldn't catch one. Who liked a mouse who ran at the first sign of a male removing his pants?
But what was Ruth doing here at this hour of the day? She should be at work. Even more important to Eva was how long it would take her to get rid of her. Eva was expecting Martin to come by. Despite what he'd said last night she knew he'd come. He too would be thinking of yesterday and it would draw him like a magnet.
Eva opened the door just as the bell rang. "I didn't expect you," she said.
Ruth bit her lip, her face pale and drawn. "I had to come," she explained. "I've been worried about our fight all week-end."
"You shouldn't waste your time, Ruth," Eva said. "I hadn't given it a second thought."
Ruth stepped across the threshold hesitantly. "I want to talk to you. May I come in?"
"Be my guest," Eva smiled, waving her into the house. "Want some coffee?"
Ruth nodded and sat on the edge of the couch, removing her gloves finger by finger. "I could use some."
Eva found a cup and filled it, setting it on the coffee table. "Aren't you supposed to be at work?"
"Yes, but I took the morning off."
"To see me?"
Ruth nodded. "That's right."
Eva set herself for what was coming. This was to be a continuation of the lecture, keeping on the straight and narrow. But at the moment she didn't really mind. She wanted something to occupy her mind while she waited for Martin's call. "So go ahead," she prompted.
Ruth looked bewildered, as if she didn't know where to start. She covered her confusion by taking a sip of the coffee. "Eva," she said at last. "You've simply got to stop chasing around with other men. It isn't fair to poor Ralph."
"I thought we were over all that last Friday," Eva said impatiently. "You know how I feel."
"This is entirely different," Ruth said slowly.
"You've got something on your nasty mind," Eva snapped. "Spill it."
"It isn't easy," Ruth admitted.
"Damn it," Eva exploded. "Spit it out or get the hell out of here."
Ruth leveled her eyes at her sister. "What were you doing up in the mountains yesterday with Martin Sellers?"
CHAPTER TWELVE
Eva managed to smother a gasp and maintain a straight face. It wasn't easy, considering the surprise that she'd just been given. "You're crazy," she said.
"No I'm not," Ruth said evenly. "You were seen."
Suddenly Eva remembered the fat woman at the tavern who had called out her name. That was it. But how in the world had she ever told Ruth? "I stayed home all day yesterday," Eva maintained.
Her sister shook her head. "No you didn't, Eva. You're lying. I can tell. Ever since we were children I've known when you were telling a fib."
"All right then," Eva snapped. "So I was up there with Martin. What of it?"
Ruth sighed and settled back against the couch, shaking her head. "You're a sinful person," she said slowly. "I'm ashamed to call you my sister."
Eva found a cigarette and blew reams of smoke through the air. "That goes both ways, sister dear," she sneered. "I'm certainly not proud of you. Every-time you come over I'm afraid the neighbors will think I'm taking in immigrants."
"Since when have you cared what the neighbors thought?" Ruth countered.
Eva let the comment pass. She walked to the window and stood for a moment watching the kids play hopscotch in the street.
Ruth's voice drew her back into the room. "What about Martin?" she said.
"What about him?"
"Are you going to keep seeing him or will he be just another one of your brief conquests?"
"I can't see how that concerns you," Eva said.
"Oh, Eva," Ruth burst out, tears welling in the corners of her eyes. "What's happened to you?"
"I've gotten smart," Eva snapped. "I've found out that the whole world doesn't live in a one bedroom, plaster house on a street filled with noisy kids and nosy neighbors. I've learned that there are nice places in the world that can be had for money." She moved closer to her sister, getting warmed to her subject. "I've discovered that I'm married to a plodding clod who hasn't any brains and can't take care of me physically the way he should. But most important I've found a way to get all of these things ... and I intend to." Eva stopped talking, aware that she'd said too much already.
"Meaning Martin Sellers?" Ruth said, her face drained of all color.
Eva could have bitten her tongue off. Supposing Ruth went to Ralph and told him everything? Just the same, she doubted it. Her sister was a lot of things but she wasn't a gossip. And Eva enjoyed the shock she saw in Ruth's eyes. Out loud she said, "Meaning Martin Sellers."
"You can't do it," Ruth said slowly. "He's a married man."
"So what?" Eva snapped.
"This is a terrible thing you're planning. Besides you've only known Martin since Saturday. How can you be so sure I
"I'm sure all right," ' Eva said. "He has the one thing I've always wanted ... money. On top of that I believe that I'm in love with him."
Ruth kept silent for a moment. She leaned forward and finished her coffee. During the intervening silence a plane flew low over the house, rattling the dishes in the kitchen sink. When the noise had subsided, she said, "How would you know what love is, after all the men you've allowed to come into your life. Besides, what do you know about Martin, other than what he's told you and that he drives an expensive car?"
Eva had to admit that Ruth made some sense. She really didn't know a great deal about the man, not that it would matter anyhow. And at the same time she had a thought. "His company has an account with your bank. What do you know about him?"
Ruth shook her head. "I'm not getting mixed up in this."
"Don't be such a damned prude," Eva snapped. "It's about time that you grew up and learned the facts of life. A woman has to look out for herself in this world. If she doesn't, every man in sight will take advantage of her. Some day even you might accidentally get married. What you've seen me go through should be a good lesson. Pick a rich one, sister dear ... although I doubt you could possibly be that lucky." Eva paced the room, strutting slightly. "It takes brains and beauty to snag a wealthy one."
"Thanks for the compliment," Ruth said wryly. "But you never can tell, I may just fool you."
Eva laughed heartily. Even the idea of her sister being that fortunate was amusing. Just the same she saw the flit of a smile across Ruth's face and it bothered her. But she tried to bring the conversation back on course. "Now," she said, "what do you know about Martin Sellers?"
Ruth shook her head. "Not a great deal. He has a partner and between them they own this diamond business.
During the past several years it really has prospered."
"Good," Evca said eagerly. "How well does he know Ralph?"
"They're good friends," Ruth said. "The partnership has been quite active lately and the bank has been keeping a close look at their books. Ralph of course is in charge of the account and it's been his personal job. He spends at least three days a week over at the firm."
"Anything else?"
Ruth shook her head and rose to her feet. "I shouldn't have told you that much. I feel dirty, being a part of your scheme. I should tell Ralph."
"But you won't, will you," Eva smiled.
Her sister exhaled her resignation. "No," she admitted. "I won't. I've never meddled in your marriage and I don't intend to start now. But that doesn't mean I look on with approval. When that final judgment day comes you'll have to answer for your sins to someone far more important than I. I just pity you, Eva, I really do. There'll come a time when this little house you call a shack will look awful good to you."
Eva laughed. "Don't be silly, sister dear," she said. "I know what I want and I'm going to get it." She pushed Ruth towards the door. "You will hurry along, won't you? I'm expecting a man to call."
Ruth stopped with one hand on the knob and looked into her sister's eyes. You're awfully sure of yourself, aren't you?"
"I am," Eva admitted. She looked at the empty curb in front of the house. "Do you want me to call a cab?"
"No," Ruth said. "I can walk to the boulevard and get one there. I want some fresh air. I need it."
Eva ignored the final comment and slammed the door on her back. Then she hurried to the telephone, confident that Martin would be calling her any minute.
Three days later, Eva was still waiting by the telephone.
And now she wasn't at all sure of herself. With each passing hour her confidence had slid down another notch.
The first day he hadn't contacted her, Eva told herself that he was probably busy. On the second she began to worry. And now it was late afternoon on Wednesday as she paced the floor nervously, stopping at every sound, moving quickly to the window, hoping against hope she'd see the familiar Caddy.
Eva was confused and hurt and frustrated. She'd never believed for a moment what Martin had said about not seeing each other again. But it had slowly come to her that he might actually have meant it.
She told herself over and over that it was impossible, no man would be able to stay away that long ... not after what she'd given him.
But the facts were cold reality. Martin had neither tried to phone nor see her.
Eva snuffed out a cigarette and lighted another one, trying to make some sense out of what had happened. Martin wasn't out of town. She'd been able to pry that much out of Ralph without him suspecting anything.
So why didn't he call? Eva stared at the phone as if it were her worst enemy. "Damn him," she exploded, picking up a vase and smashing it on the floor in anger.
Eva knew all too well that everything she'd planned revolved around Martin. Without him she was still stuck in her rut. With him she'd be somebody.
And more than anything else she'd begun to realize that perhaps she really did love him, that the feeling hadn't been associated only with his use of her body. In truth Eva was miserable. She felt alternately hot and cold just thinking about the man.
She'd tried to drive the feelings away but they wouldn't leave. They were a permanent part of her.
And even worse than anything else was the return of pressure that went with desire. Sunday, Eva had thought that she'd never again be forced to take a man just because her body demanded it. Martin would be able to fullfill everything she needed.
But over the last day Eva had begun to feel the need of a man spread through her system. It was something she'd never understood but it was there just the same.
The pattern never changed. With the single exception of Martin, as soon as she was finished with sex she never wanted to see it again. That lasted for less than twenty four hours. But then she'd catch herself gradually looking at men, feeling a strange surge within her. Eva knew she could fight it for a time. But in the end it usually got the better of her and she had to have sex ... from anyone, despite the chances she had to take.
This had been the way it'd been since her husband had grown cold to her.
Eva shivered, despite the heat of the room. The feeling was back. And it was worse than she could ever remember it. It was almost a fight to keep herself from running out onto the street and pulling in the first man she saw.
How could she feel this way and still love Martin? Eva Eva shook her head hopelessly. She didn't have an answer.
But this time she was determined that it wouldn't lose her the golden oportunity she had with Martin. She knew that he had to be thinking of her. Perhaps he was too ashamed to face her.
Eva stared at the telephone a moment longer then picked up the directory. She'd call him at work. It was a risk but she'd have to take it. Her hands shook as she sought the name of his company. When she didn't find it, the brief fear surged through her that perhaps he'd been lying about being in business.
"Get hold of yourself," Eva snapped. "You're falling apart." Hadn't Ruth told her that Martin owned a diamond business? Didn't Martin come here last Saturday to see Ralph on business?
Why wasn't the name in the book? Then it dawned on Eva that she was looking at the Valley section of the phonebook. She threw it to the floor and picked up the phone to dial information.
As the smooth voice of the operator came from the instrument, Eva suddenly changed her mind. Why call him? Wouldn't it be better if she went downtown and just 'happened' to be near his office when he left for the day?
There was a certain element of risk. Ralph might see her too. But she knew she'd have to take that chance. She meant to see Martin, no matter what the cost.
With that in mind, Eva hung up the phone and went to the bedroom. She'd wear the sexiest clothes she could find. Martin didn't know it yet but he had a date this evening to seduce her.
CHAPTER THIRTEEN
Eva hadn't realized how long it had been since she was last downtown. But as she left the cab at Fourth and Broadway she knew. It hadn't been long enough. The air was heavy with gray smog, burning her eyes, making the already hot day that much more oppressive.
She glanced around her, at the busy crowds jostling each other for room, at the dirty buildings with equally filthy signs.
This was the heart of Los Angeles, she thought wryly. It was repulsive and made her sick to the stomach. The people around her were dressed in a hundred ways, each of them equally sloppy. Shorts, sports shirts, little dresses on big women and the reverse. She'd heard there were towns where people actually dressed up to go downtown. Eva wondered if this could be true.
But she hadn't come down for the fashionless show. Eva started up the street towards Third, moving slower with every step, suddenly completely unsure of herself. How could she possibly run into Martin in this mess?
She hadn't gone half a block before she received her first whistle. Eva looked around in time to see a delinquent in a loud shirt wink at her. She ignored him and moved faster through the crowd.
By the time Eva reached the corner of Third and Spring she was out of breath. She paused in front of a store window in order to rest a moment. As she did, Eva caught her reflection in the glass. Despite her confusion she had to smile. No wonder she'd been stared at, she thought. In dressing for her meeting with Martin she hadn't taken into account that she'd be out on the street.
The white skirt clung to her as if it were glued on, allowing just the faintest suggestion of the edge of her panties to show through. The deep V neck of the blouse plunged down the deep canyon of her breasts, exposing a great amount of smooth swells that moved slightly every time she did. Eva knew that she didn't dare to bent over. If she did, a lot of her would come into the open.
All in all the effect was what she'd been after ... if she could only save herself for Martin.
Eva looked down the street. She recognized the tall Diamond Mercantile Building just about a half a block away. The streets had suddenly filled with businessmen hurrying home.
Her heart beat faster at the possibility of soon seeing Martin. As yet she hadn't even thought an excuse to cover her being here. Well, she thought, she'd think about that when the time came.
As Eva turned to move on, she felt a hand grasp at hers. She swung around and recognized the youth who she'd seen earlier, the one with a whistle. He grinned broadly, exposing a line of unclean teeth, the action threatening to unseat the cigarette drooping from his lip. "I been following you, baby," he said. "And I figure it's about time you and me got acquainted."
Eva struggled to free her hand. "Let me go," she demanded hotly. "I have to meet someone."
The young delinquent snorted and shook his head. "Not any more. You just met him. Let's go someplace and have a beer and talk this over."
Eva was suddenly scared. None of the passing crowd seemed to notice her dilemma ... or care if they did. The mass of people just parted as they came to the couple on the walk, like the sea flowing around a rock. "I'm late," she cried.
"My name's Harry, baby," the youth said, his fixed grin welded in place. He ran his eyes up the length of the young woman before him. Harry'd seen a lot of dames before but none put together like this one. Everything was in its right place and there was plenty of it. Harry knew that he could have caught up to her earlier. But following the girl had been pure pleasure. Her hips filled the skirt to perfection. And when she walked ... wow, just the right amount of movement. He leaned closer, sweat showing on his face. "On second thought, baby," he grinned, "Why don't we just go straight to a hotel? It's too damned hot for clothes anyhow. A little joy juice and we'll have a real ball."
Eva's head spun. She couldn't believe that this was happening to her ... not in broad daylight. She gasped as the youth calling himself Harry made an obscene gesture and pulled her closer. "I'll scream," she warned him.
He only laughed. But his mirth stopped suddenly as his eyes shifted from the girl to beyond her.
Eva followed the eyes and felt sudden relief as two policemen walked towards them. One of them, the taller of the pair, pointed his nightstick at the youth. "He bothering you?"
Eva nodded, tears of relief flooding her eyes. "He ... he was trying to pick me up," Eva sobbed.
"That a fact now?" the shorter cop said slowly. He turned to Harry. "This true?"
The youth shrugged, still defiant. "Can't a guy talk to a broad without you guys busting in?"
The shorter cop shifted his gum to the other side of his mouth. He tapped his nightstick on the youth's hand still clenched over Eva's arm. "Let go," he ordered, "or I'll break it."
Harry couldn't have released a cobra quicker.
The tall cop pointed down the street. "Now get lost, buddy, before we take a notion to run you in."
Harry needed no second invitation.
Eva watched the retreating back for a moment then shifted her eyes to the policemen. "Thank you, officers," she said sincerely. "It's getting so a girl isn't safe on the streets anymore."
She had expected compassion from the pair. Instead they looked at her coldly, the shorter one making no secret of where his eyes were riveted. "Some girls are safe," he said slowly.
Eva shook her head. "I don't understand."
The tall cop looked down at her. His expression wasn't friendly. "I think you do," he snapped. "How the hell can you blame a man for hooking onto you when that's what you're after. And then when he isn't your type you come running to us, crying for protection."
Eva began to get an inkling of what they were driving at. She felt her mouth open in surprise. "You think...?" she began.
"We do," the shorter of the pair cut in. "In the first place you're off your beat. Broadway's a block down. And in the second place street walking's against the law. We should run you in."
Eva's face flushed red, both from anger and embarrassment. "I should report you," she snapped.
The taller cop's expression grew menacing. "Yeah," he agreed. "You do that. And to make it easier why don't we take you down to the station?"
Eva was suddenly frightened. They weren't kidding. "I'm not what you think I'm," she said. "Really I'm not."
The shorter cop spat into the gutter then looked at his partner. "Let her go this time, Charlie. We can grab her later if we need to."
The taller cop hesitated, pushing his cap to the rear of his head. "Okay," he said at last. "Let's not see you around here."
Eva swallowed and moved away quickly, hoping that her weak knees would hold her until she got out of sight from the pair.
She walked a block in a trance, trying to figure what there was about her that had made the policemen think the way they had. Eva knew one thing, if she had money they wouldn't have talked that way. It was just one more score that she intended settling when the proper time came.
So intent was she on her own problems that Eva didn't see the figure coming at her until he blocked her path. When she did it took her a moment to recognize the man. Her reaction was immediate. She threw herself into Martin's arms, all of a sudden the tears she'd been holding in flowing like water from a tap.
He pushed her away quickly, looking around furtively. "Here here," he scolded gently, holding her at arms length. "We're in public."
"I don't care," Eva sobbed. "I don't care about anything excepting you."
"We have to be careful," he warned. "A lot of people know me around here."
Eva looked hard at the man. Was it really Martin? She felt the strength of his arm and saw the soft ruggedness of his face. It was him all right. Her heart almost burst into song on the spot. "Why haven't you called?" she said breathlessly. "I've waited and waited until I was nearly crazy."
He started walking slowly along with her. "You know what I said, we couldn't see each other again."
Eva stopped and looked directly into his eyes. "Is that the way you really want it?"
Martin hesitated a moment before answering, emotions playing across his face. "No," he said huskily.
"Let's go someplace quiet and talk," she suggested.
"I should go home."
Eva squeezed his arm. "Please," she implored.
"All right," he said at last. "But we'll have to be careful." I'll have to call Helen and say I have a business appointment. Then I'll pick up the car at the lot." He looked up and down the street, stroking his chin reflectively. "You walk up to Hill and meet me in the middle of the block across from Pershing Square. I don't know many people in that section of town."
"You'll come won't you?" Eva said, worried.
Martin smiled for the first time since they'd met. "Of course," he promised. "I want to see you as badly as you do me."
As he walked away, Eva moved quickly after him. "Tell your wife that you'll be late ... very late."
Martin grinned broadly and hurried away.
* * *
Eva had begun to fidgit at the end of twenty minutes. She stood at the curb, aware that every passing man hesitated long enough to take a second look at her. She watched the seemingly endless stream of cars wind their way down Hill to the escape route of the free-ways, anxiously scanning each one for some sign of the Cadillac.
The longer she waited, the harder her heart pounded at the prospect of seeing Martin alone again. She needed this time with him if she was ever to begin her campaign to win him away from his family. But there was more to it than that. She wanted his mouth, his hands and his body on hers. She needed him with a desperation born of want.
And so it was that every passing moment brought new agonies of suspense. Had it been that he was just stalling her again, hoping that by leaving her standing at the curb he'd have time to get away.
Eva found it hard to believe. But she also found it harder to understand why he'd made no effort at seeing her this past week.
Just at the moment that her hopes were at new depths, she saw a familiar car swing in towards her. As the door opened, she jumped in and slid across the seat, feeling the welcomed relief of air-conditioning sweep across her.
Before she had a chance to catch her breath, Martin pulled her to him. Ignoring the frantic honking of the cars piling up behind him, he kissed her with uncontrolled emotion.
"You little bitch," he swore down her throat. "What have you done to me? I'm afraid that I'm in love with you."
Eva smiled through the embrace, hearing his words, wishing she could frame each of them. Everything was going to be all right after all. She would soon be a wealthy woman.
CHAPTER FOURTEEN
They drove along in silence, plunging down the freeway with ten thousand other cars storming home after a day's work. Eva nestled contentedly on Martin's shoulder, feeling the weight of his hand on her thigh, liking it. After the kiss he'd remained silent for the most part, apparently wrapped up in his own thinking.
She looked up at him, kissing his cheek gently. "A penny for your thoughts," she said, breaking the quiet of the mood.
Martin shrugged and swung the caddy around a slow moving car. "They aren't worth that much," he admitted. "I was just going over how fast things have changed."
"In what way?"
"Just a week ago I didn't even know you. Then I met you, after Ralph asked me to bring any changes in the audit to him on Saturday."
Eva looked at him. "Did he ask you to come over?" she said, surprised.
Martin nodded.
"That's odd," Eva said. "He knew he was going fishing." She realized that there were a lot of strange things beginning to show up about Ralph lately. At the same time she scolded herself for looking a gift horse in the mouth. Wasn't Ralph going to be surprised when he found out he was responsible for her meeting the man that took her away from him. Eva wished she could be around when he found out. "What else are you thinking about?" she prompted.
"Just that all this has happened in less than a week. If seven days ago someone would have told me that I'd be riding down the Freeway with another woman I'd have called him mad."
"Are you?" Eva smiled.
"About you," he admitted, squeezing her leg.
"Then why didn't you call me?" she said.
Martin's face sobered. "I wanted to, Eva, believe me I did. First there was an extra rush of business. We're expecting a million dollar shipment in towards the end of the month. And then I was afraid of my own feelings."
"Aren't I worth a lot more than an old million dollar shipment?" Eva chided.
"A lot more I'm afraid," he admitted. "But I wanted time to sort out my thinking. I don't believe I could have gotten through the week without seeing you."
"I'm glad," Eva said softly. She looked up as Martin bent the car onto an exit road from the freeway. "Where are we going?"
"I thought I'd drive you up to Malibu for dinner. Then we can take a long drive and talk." He looked across the seat at her. "What time do you have to be home?"
Eva shrugged. "It doesn't really matter. I wrote Ralph a note that I was going to see my sister. He won't expect me until real late." She added, "I suppose I could stay out all night and he wouldn't suspect anything."
A shadow passed across Martin's face. "I think you're still not giving him credit for the intelligence he has."
"Phoo," Eva scoffed. "You only know him in business. At home he's a real soft-head." She cuddled closer to the man beside her. "Do we have to go to a restaurant?"
"Aren't you hungry?"
She laughed gently. "I am, but not for food." Eva pulled her skirt higher until the dark stockings gave way to lighter colored flesh. Then she took his hand and pressed it to her hot lips, feeling a wave of excitement at the touch. "That's what I'm hungry for," she said softly. We've got three days of making up to do. Maybe we can have food sent up."
"You're shameless," Martin laughed.
"I'm in love," Eva said matter-of-factly.
Martin drove onto Wilshire and headed towards the beaches, passing through the heart of Miracle Mile at a crawl in the rush-hour traffic. "All right," he said at last. "We can go to the Monica Towers. They know how to keep their mouths shut."
Eva gave him a happy squeeze. She knew the hotel he'd mentioned, but she'd never dreamed in her wildest moments that she'd ever have a chance to go there. It was the show place of the beaches, built on a high bluff overlooking the Pacific.
Even more important was her conquest of getting Martin to. go there. With a man this was important. Once he accepted the fact that they should be together, a woman usually has things her way. Eva was now confident that it wouldn't be long before Martin would be her property alone.
Eva stood open mouthed with Martin before the register desk, unable to take her eyes off the ornate lobby. Never in her life had she seen anything so magnificent. The luxury took her breath away. If this was what living with Martin would be like, she adored it.
Beside her, Martin was scrawling a name on the registry. The young clerk swung the book around. "Welcome to the Monica Towers, Mr. Smith," he said. "Now if you'll give us the keys to your car I'll have the boy get your luggage."
"Here are the keys," Martin said. "Have him park the car. But there isn't any luggage."
The clerk's expression didn't change a line. "I see," he continued, deadpan. "In that case I'm quite sure that you understand the policy of the hotel."
Martin nodded and reached for his wallet. "I do," he admitted, spilling green onto the counter. "This should buy the suite for two weeks."
"It's more than enough, sir," the clerk said, a broad smile now covering his face.
"In that case supposing you take a short course in memory lapse," Martin suggested.
The clerk nodded and pointed down a long, marble hall leading away from the desk. "Your accomodations are on the tenth floor, Mr. Smith. Why don't you take the self-service elevator. It's more ... shall we say private."
Martin nodded and held his arm for Eva to take. When they were a short distance from the clerk she looked at Martin in awe. "I never heard so much said with so few words," she admitted.
He grinned broadly. "You forget, darling, we live in L.A., home of the sin towns, Hollywood and Beverly Hills. There have to be certain arrangements available for the sinners."
"Are we sinners?"
He chucked her beneath the chin. "We are. Sorry?"
"No," Eva smiled. "I'm just anxious to show you how sinful I can be."
When the elevator door opened they stepped in. As soon as it closed again and Martin had pressed the proper button, Eva threw her arms around him. "I love you," she whispered.
"Me too." he said huskily, holding her close.
Eva pulled away, breathing hard. "Take off my blouse."
"Here?"
"Here."
His fingers fumbled with the buttons until they burst apart from the pressure beneath. "Now the bra," she panted. "It's hooked."
"Rip it off," Eva cried, her emotions beginning to leave her control.
Eva moaned in pleasure at his touch. Three days of frustration burst to the surface. Her head spun wildly with the ecstasy of his mouth.
All of this had happened before they reached the seventh floor. And Eva knew that she couldn't wait until they were in their room. She needed him now, this minute. She reached for the emergency button and pushed it hard.
Martin looked up as he felt motion cease. "Why did you do that?" he grinned.
"It's an emergency isn't it?" Eva smiled. "I want you.
"Can't you wait?"
"No," Eva cried. She kissed him with all stops pulled, whispering, pressing herself to his body.
"This is crazy," Martin protested mildly. "Supposing someone wants to use the elevator."
"Let them find their own," Eva said softly. "Love me, never stop loving me."
He bent down. You're wonderful," he said, breathing hard.
Eva felt weak in his arms, her whole world spinning violently at the caress of his hands. The fingers played her body like a tune, drawing sparks from her flesh, bringing her emotions to new heights.
And her ecstasy turned into a jumble of sounds but they faded as Eva rose to heights never attained before.
And then it was over, just as quickly as it'd begun. Eva opened her eyes regretfully, fighting to gain strength. The first thing she saw was the switch panel. Every floor had a lighted bulb. She smiled.
Martin managed a grin of his own and followed her eyes. "We got company," he said, his own breathing still coming hard. "We're crazy for pulling a stunt like this."
"Sorry?"
"No. But how do we get out of this box and maintain our dignity?"
"We could tell them it broke down and this was the only thing we could think of to pass the time of day."
Martin chuckled at the suggestion. "Nice try. But before we do anything you'd better get dressed."
"Do I have to?"
"What goes on can come off," Martin reminded her. "Is that a promise?"
He took his hand and squeezed her breast. "It is."
They both heard the sound at the roof of the elevator at the same time. Eva swung her eyes in that direction just in time to see a swarthy, mustached face poking through an opening. "What'sa matter down there?" the newcomer said in thick Italian. "Who are you?" Martin asked, somewhat surprised by the intrusion.
"Who you think I am?" the man said. "I'm the hotel maintenance man. This elevator, she stuck, they call me ... right in the middle of spagette dinner." He looked at Eva and smiled broadly, showing a broad row of teeth. "Whooeee, she beaut."
Eva sudden realized that with the exception of the garter belt, stockings and shoes, she was quite naked. She scooped up her blouse.
"You pressa the emergency button?" the swarthy figure asked.
"I did," Eva admitted.
"What'sa matter, couldn't you wait? " He glanced around the small elevator and then at Martin. "How you manage to do it in there? Some trick eh." He winked, adding, "You showa me sometime?" He looked at Eva again. "You better getta dressed. We gotta get this thing going."
Martin handed up a couple of ten dollar bills. "Supposing you report that a fuse blew," he suggested.
The Italian kissed the money and stuffed it in his greasy overall pocket. "You betcha. Giva me a few minutes to get out of here then press the starta button. But the girl better get dressed. She canta get out like that." His face vanished from the opening.
"Nice guy," Martin said as the emergency hatch clattered back into place.
Eva nodded. "He is. But I hate to get dressed."
Martin slapped her playfully on her bare hip. The blow rang loud in the small chamber. 'It won't be for long," he promised.
Eva put on the blouse and skirt but no more. She was well aware that the thin material hid little but figured she could get by in the darkness of the hall. She then picked up her bra and slip and rolled them into a tight ball. "I'm ready," she announced.
"You're going out in public like that?" Martin grinned.
"Why," Eva smiled, looking down. "Is something wrong."
"You're indecent."
"Where?"
He didn't answer, but pressed the start button.
When the door slid open, Eva tried to maintain a straight face as they stepped into the hall. There was only one couple waiting and from the way their arms were wound around each other they couldn't have cared less about transportation.
"Why is it," Eva said as they walked down the dimly lighted hall, "that the more a woman loves a man the less she wants to wear."
"Is this your theory?" Martin grinned.
"It is."
"In that case you can't love me very much."
Eva made a face. At the same time she unhooked the skirt. It slid downwards until the swell of her hips prevented any further motion. "That better?" she laughed, borne.
She removed her blouse with an easy motion."
"You're getting there. You'll have us arrested yet."
Eva ignored his warning, feeling the strong draft flow across her exposed skin. "There's something exciting about being partially undressed in a public place," Eva said. "I remember when I was a little girl I'd sneak out onto the street after my folks thought I was stand there without any clothes. It was wonderful."
"And now?" Martin grinned.
"It's even better," Eva said softly, squeezing his arm. I get the thrill and when I'm hot you're there to cool me off. Life couldn't be more wonderful."
Martin stopped before a door and fitted the key.
He pushed Eva through the opening gently. "You'd make a good strip teaser," he said, slamming the panel behind them.
She laughed lightly and spun away from him, going into a series of happy gyrations, moving her hips sensuously so that the already unhooked skirt slid lower and lower until it dropped to the floor. Warming to the dance, enjoying the eyes of the man before her, Eva kept time to an unheard drum, unhooking the garter belt, then the stockings and rolling them downward. She kicked off one shoe and then the other, all in rhythm.
Her eyes slightly glazed, Eva moved her hips in a seductive circle, designed for only one thing. She emphasized the flow of her body by moving her shoulders until they were almost a . blur of motion.
The finale was her arms, held out the length of her body, the red nails on her fingers brilliant against her light colored flesh. Her breathing heavy, from both the emotion and exercise, she said: "Forever, darling, love me forever."
Tenderly, Martin drew her into his arms.
Minutes, hours later, Eva didn't know or care which, she opened her eyes to stare at Martin looking down at her.
"You're quite a gal," he said slowly. "I've never in my life met anyone like you. I didn't even know such a woman existed."
"You know it now," Eva smiled.
Martin nodded. "I do. And there's something I want to ask you."
There was a tone in his voice that made Eva pay attention, to forget for a moment the happiness of her body. She stroked his cheek gently. "What is it?"
"Will you marry me?"
CHAPTER FIFTEEN
Although Eva had been confident that she could win Martin for herself she wasn't prepared for it to happen so quickly. In the back of her mind she'd envisioned a series of trysts in which she'd have gotten him so drunk with the want of her body that he could think of little else. Then would be the time he'd ask the question he just had.
At the moment he'd caught her completely off balance. "You're kidding," she said spontaneously, almost biting off her tongue after she'd spoken the words.
"I was never more serious in my life," he said. His face showed what he said to be true. Deep lines shown beneath the dark eyes.
"I don't know what to say," Eva lied. It was all she could do to keep from screaming, yes ... yes ... yes. For the first time since they'd come into the room, Eva looked around briefly. It was beautiful and luxurious. And she knew that's how life would be with Martin. She'd have everything she'd ever wanted. No longer would she be the little suburban tramp from Boyle Heights. She'd be Mrs. Eva Sellers, woman of affluence, able to snap her fingers and have people jump to her command.
Eva knew there would be more to marrying Martin than just the money. She felt his bare body beside her, the warmth tingling her skin. He could take care of her the way she deserved to be taken care of. No longer would she have to wander around and seek out strange man with long hormones and short memories. Marriage to Martin would be absolutely perfect.
But still, she played it slow. "What about your wife?"' she asked.
Martin shrugged. "I'd just as soon not talk about it."
"But we have to," Eva pressed. "This is a serious thing."
"I know that," Martin agreed. "But it isn't something new. I've been thinking of it for a long time." He swung his feet over the edge of the bed. "Suppose I order dinner. We can talk about it while we eat."
"I'd like that," Eva agreed. "I'm famished."
While Martin shaved, Eva strolled out onto the balcony of the suite. The sun was just settling into its watery bed on the horizon of the Pacific Ocean. There was a strange tranquility about the scene that moved Eva deeply.
Far below, on the spacious grounds of the hotel, a few couples rushed to finish off their game on the pitch and putt course. In the distance, at the end of a canopy stretching down to the beach, a few shadows strolled along the sand, keeping out of reach of the endless breakers.
Eva took it all in, including the chill in the night wind. It was lovely. This certainly wasn't like suburbia. It had class and wealth written across each brick and grain of sand. She'd tried years ago to imagine what it would be like to have money. But as a child her memory hadn't been that good. Then it meant only an endless supply of dolls and candy. As she grew older, wealth took on a different perspective. It was an expensive car, dining at the best places, clothes that made people look up and notice.
But life had none of that in store for her. She'd had to settle for a plaster house with an ice cube for a husband.
Eva shivered. Now all that was past. Now she could have the dolls and the candy, along with the car and clothes. She looked down at her body, now lightly covered by the blouse and skirt. Eva knew she had it to thank. She'd always thought it would get her what she eventually wanted.
Eva strolled back into the room, admiring the heavy gold drapes and the expensive looking furniture. There was a television set along the wall. Eva turned it on, killing time while waiting for Martin. When the picture came up it was in color. Eva looked at it, fascinated. Never in her life had she seen color television.
The knock at the door startled her. Martin's voice shouted from the bathroom. "That's probably dinner. Sign for it. And don't forget the name's Smith."
When she opened the door a waiter bowed slightly from the waist and wheeled in a cloth covered cart. "Where would madam like it served?"
"Over there," Eva said, pointing to the general vicinity of the couch.
The white coated figure bowed again and did as she suggested. When he was finished he handed her the check. She hesitated for a moment, then stuck her head in the bathroom. "What will I give him for a tip?" she whispered.
"Use your own judgement," Martin grinned. "Just write the amount on the check."
Eva returned to the room and tried to maintain her dignity. It was a little hard considering that the waiter's eyes kept returning to her cellophane covered breasts. She took the pencil and scrawled five dollars on the paper and handed it back. That took his eyes off her body. Grinning from ear to ear he backed towards the door, bowing every step of the way.
Eva liked that. She liked it very much. It was the first time since she could remember that someone had acted as if she were important.
Martin came out of the bathroom wearing a pair of shorts. When he reached for his pants, Eva stopped him. "Don't bother, darling. You'll only have to take them off again."
"You've got clothes on," he pouted.
"Have I?" Eva said, moving towards him. By the time she wrapped her arms about his neck she was again an Eve. She felt the dampness of his body against hers. "You're wonderful," she said softly.
"Let's eat," Martin grinned. "We'll need exercise after dinner." He added, "Put on some clothes so I can keep my mind on food."
Eva went half way, sliding into a pair of panties.
It was a dinner unlike any she'd ever had before. There were things on the table that were strange and odd tasting to her. But she liked them. "This is wonderful," she said happily, unable to conceal her excitement.
"You're the damndest woman I've ever met," Martin said. "It's almost as if you're seeing the world for the first time."
"I am," Eva admitted. "When I was a girl we lived in Boyle Heights. You know what that is."
"It's a poorer section of town," Martin agreed.
"It's the slums," Eva snapped bitterly. "We were poor and hungry. I never knew anything but poverty until I was almost twenty."
"That when you married Ralph?"
Eva nodded. "It is. I thought he was a white knight with silver armor who was taking me away from all that. It just turned out he was taking me to a different neighborhood."
"It looks all right to me."
Eva shook her head. "You don't really know," she said hotly. "The so-called suburbs are nothing but slums with window dressing. The kids are still there, so is the poverty. But everybody tries to pretend that it doesn't exist. They make believe that they like staying home very night, sweating out an existence in a box looking at some drivel on a screen." She shook her head, warming to her subject. "And then to be married to a man who's so deep in a rut that he'll never be able to climb out."
Martin leaned back in the chair and lighted a cigarette. The glow of the single lamp in the room caught the glitter in his eyes. "Don't be too sure of Ralph and his rut," Martin said slowly. "You've called him dumb. He isn't. Take my word for it, Ralph's a brilliant man. And he'll show it one of these days."
"I'll be old by that time," Eva snapped. Just the same, the words Martin spoke had an authentic ring to them, as if he knew what he was talking about. It bothered her. At the moment she didn't want to hear anything good about her husband. She'd have been much happier if Martin had agreed with her. "What about your wife?" Eva said, trying to change the subject.
A cloud passed across Martin's face. "What about her?"
"You've asked me to marry you, remember?" Eva reminded him. "Will she give you a divorce?"
"I think so," Martin agreed. "How long have you been married?"
"Why all the questions?"
Eva put her hand on his, gently stroking it. "I just want to know about the competition."
Martin chuckled and leaned forward. He gave her a kiss. When he pulled back, the cloud had vanished.
"I suppose you have that right." He was silent for a moment, watching the progress of a fly on his plate. "We've been married about ten years. There are two children, Pete and Charles, ages eight and nine years and six months."
Eva raised one eyebrow. Before she had a chance to count on her fingers, Martin broke in again. "That's right," he said slowly. "When I was going with Helen we made a slight miscalculation. I hadn't really intended to marry her." He shrugged his shoulders. "But I did. Pete almost arrived in time for the wedding."
"Do you love her?"
"No," Martin said. "I never really have. She just got to be a habit I couldn't break."
"You said before that you'd been thinking of leaving her," Eva reminded him.
"That's right," Martin agreed. "I've been thinking that way for almost ten years." He brushed Eva's cheek with his hand. "But until I met you I really couldn't see any reason to do it. Besides, I knew that in California she'd bleed me white."
Eva felt momentary panic. Suppose Helen did get all the money. Where would that leave her? Eva knew that she wouldn't bother marrying anyone for just love alone. That was silly.
But Martin's next sentence calmed her. "But business has been exceptionally good latey. We've wanted to branch out for a long time, maybe open an office in San Francisco. But as I told you before we have to depend on the bank for our stock. Last week they finally agreed to back our new inventory. That's where the million dollars worth of diamonds come in."
"But they belong to the bank," Eva said. "How does that affect your personal fortune?" Martin chucked her beneath the chin. "You let me worry about that," he grinned. "It's just with a bigger inventory we'll make more money. Anyhow, none of that matters. I don't intend to leave Helen with a dime. My money will be all ours."
Eva liked that much better. She had never been able to see why a woman who'd been a failure as a wife should get any of the money anyhow. And as far as the kids were concerned, they'd be able to get along. The wife could go to work. It would probably do her good anyhow, after all those years of easy living.
Eva leaned across the table and kissed him hard, letting her desire tell him what she wanted for dessert. "When will we be married?" she said softly. "I hear that it takes years to get a divorce."
Martin shook his head. "Not the way that I've planned it. Just trust me."
"When?" she pressed.
"Within two weeks," Martin promised.
"Oh, darling," Eva squealed. "That's wonderful." She thought of something and pouted. "But how will I see you? I can't keep coming downtown and meeting you. We'd be seen sooner or later."
Martin looked around them. "This," he said, "will be our home away from home. I've taken it for two weeks. You can stay here when you can manage."
"It's beautiful," Eva said sincerely. "And if Ralph goes to the mountains we can stay together the whole week-end."
"Whoa there," Martin cautioned. "You can, but I'll have some trouble getting away."
Eva's face fell. "But you have to. I can't live without you."
"Don't be silly," he scolded, as if talking to a small child. "I'll get away all right. Besides, it's only for two weeks ... or less."
Eva got to her feet and walked slowly through the room. "It's hard to believe," she said, wonder in her voice. "That all of this could happen so quickly."
"Hey," Martin grinned. "That's my line." He patted his lap. "Come here," he ordered.
"You have a beautiful body," Martin said. He was having a little trouble with his breathing.
Eva said softly. "Just lovely. You know what you're doing to me don't you?"
"Yes."
"Do you want me as badly as I do you?"
"Yes," he said, breathing hard. A cool breeze swept her body.
Martin looked at the slender figure sitting on his lap. "Lovely," he said huskily.
Eva kissed him again, this time feeling all restraint begin to leave. "Are you going to romance me?" she sighed.
"Yes."
"Where?"
She felt herself being twisted in his arms. "Here."
"Here?" Eva said, surprised. "That's impossible."
Sometime in the next five minutes a table loaded with dishes clattered to the floor, followed by the odd sound of wood squeaking. But when silence returned to the room and Eva relaxed, she had learned something.
A chair was a wonderful place to make love.
* * *
Martin looked down at the girl on the bed and fastened his tie. "You sure that you don't want me to take you home?"
Eva shook her head. "If you don't mind, I'll stay here tonight. It's so lovely."
"What will Ralph say?"
"He'll think I'm staying at my sister's."
"Supposing he calls her and checks?"
"He wouldn't," Eva said confidently. "And even if he did, she'd back me up."
"Just the same I think you're being foolish."
"I just don't want to leave, darling. I want to stay right here and think of us. I may not even sleep."
"You're crazy," he laughed, bending down and kissing her. "But I guess that's why I love you."
Eva jumped up from the bed. "I'll walk to the elevator with you."
"Like that?" he grinned, staring at her naked body. "You don't love me," she pouted. "I do, that's why I want to keep you all for myself."
"When will I see you?"
"I'll try and get back tomorrow after work but I can't promise. I'm having dinner with Ralph."
Eva looked at him, surprised. "You two are getting chummy," she said.
"Business darling," he smiled. "I promise I won't tell him about us."
"You'd better not."
"You'll need some clothes tomorrow if you stay here," Martin said, changing the subject abruptly. "There's a shop downstairs. Just call and they'll send some things up. Charge them to me."
Eva kissed him. "You mean to Mr. Smith?"
He let go of the door knob and pulled her tightly against him, returning the embrace. For a moment the couple clung together, swaying back and forth as their emotion charged bodies fed each other.
At length he pulled away reluctantly. "I've got to go," he said. "It's late. Let's not spoil a good thing." Before Eva could protest, he opened the door, went through the opening and closed it behind him.
Eva turned back into the room, humming softly to herself. She'd never felt so wonderful.
CHAPTER SIXTEEN
Eva picked up the phone and gave the switchboard her sister's number. She'd been awfully confident with Martin that Ruth would cover for her.
But as the number began ringing, Eva had misgivings. Ruth had been pretty righteous the last time they'd been together.
But before she had the chance to further ponder a sleepy voice came on at the other end of the wire. "Yes?" it said.
"Let me speak to Ruth," Eva asked.
"This is she."
Eva wondered why she hadn't recognized her sister's voice. "I want you to do me a favor," she said slowly. "If Ralph calls, tell him that I'm spending the night with you and that I'm asleep."
Eva had expected a lecture. Instead she heard her sister answer calmly, "Does he know?" , "I left him a note."
"Don't worry, Eva," Ruth said. "I'll take care of it." The connection went dead.
Eva stared at the phone in her hand for a minute, puzzled at what had just happened. If she didn't know Ruth better, she'd swear that she'd sounded happy at the information. On top of that there weren't the usual questions.
But Eva was too tired to think about it now. She replaced the phone in the cradle and crawled into bed. Before she even had a chance to think of Martin again she was asleep.
* * *
But the first thing Eva thought of in the morning was Martin. Stretching awake, looking down the length of her body at the fresh bruises were enough to bring back the evening before.
Eva slid out of bed and padded to the large picture window. It was a lovely view. The sun glittered on the beach and the smell of the water brushed her face on the breeze. She stretched again, feeling more alive that she had in years. She started to walk out onto the balcony but decided against it. There were windows on the other wing of the hotel and she thought she saw a man's face in one of them.
Let them look, Eva thought. It was as much of her as they'd get. From now on her body belonged to Martin and no one else. As long as he was paying for it he might as well get his full share.
She moved back into the room and looked for a cigarette. Finding none she decided to go downstairs. But one look at her clothes scattered on the couch changed her mind. Everything was either ripped or crumpled into a hopeless mess.
For a moment, Eva stood in the center of the room, puzzled as to what she'd do next." Without anything to wear she was trapped in the room. And then she remembered the telephone. That was it, she thought happily. Martin had said there was a shop downstairs. She quickly picked up the instrument and ordered everything she thought she'd need.
Eva had just finished her shower when the knock came at the door. She quickly toweled herself off and walked to the door, remembering at the last instant that she was still indecent. Eva retrieved the towel and held it in her hand for a moment, debating which half to cover. The material was too skimpy for both. She decided on her waist. Holding the towel in place with one hand Eva opened the door with the other.
A tall, lanky bellhop stood on the other side, almost hidden by the packages in his arms. "Here's the stuff you ordered, Miss," he said, his eyes dead center on the breasts in front of him.
Eva ignored the stare. "Put them on the couch," she said, aware that her attempted haughty tone didn't come off too well in light of her exposure.
When the bellhop had disposed of his load he extended a piece of paper to her. "Sign here," he said.
Eva tried her best to hold the tab and scrawl a signature. But with one hand holding the towel the bill kept skidding off the table.
"Let me hold it," the bellhop volunteered.
Eva thought he'd meant the paper. But when he reached for the towel she knew her mistake. What did it matter anyhow?, she thought. Why not give him a thrill. She'd just finished putting down Martin's false name when the towel slid from his grasp and fell to the floor. Eva looked at the youth reprovingly.
"It slipped," he smiled broadly.
She handed him back his bill, not bothering to retrieve the towel. It was too late for that. "Have you seen enough?" she snapped.
"There ain't no more is there?" he grinned, his eyes drinking in the bare body in front of him.
"You'd better get out before I call the manager," Eva snapped.
"Sure, sure," the bellhop agreed, walking to the door. "Some guys got all the luck," he muttered unhappily as he closed the door behind him.
Eva felt suddenly depressed. First this awful policemen yesterday and now this kid, they'd both treated her as if she were a whore. She didn't understand it at all. What was there about her that made them think that way?
But the remembrance of the packages cheered her considerably. Soon she was too busy enjoying the expensive things she'd bought to worry about anyone but herself.
* * *
Eva sat in the booth, watching the activity around the nearby pool through the tinted glass. She sipped her third cup of coffee, completely content with the world.
The dining room of the Monica Arms Hotel was almost deserted excepting for herself and a table full of men who were obviously talking business.
Eva watched them for a time, slightly miffed that not one of them had payed the slightest attention to her. She looked down at what was visible above the table. She certainly was sexy enough, she thought. The new bra gave her breasts a fresh shape, helped along by the sweater which she'd purposely purchased a size too small.
At length she tore her eyes away from their conversation and drifted back into her own little world. She thought of Martin and what he'd said yesterday, that they'd be married within two weeks. Eva had to admit that she didn't know how he'd manage it but just the idea was exciting.
All his money at her disposal. It was far beyond her wildest dreams. Eva was rational enough to realize that there would be a few problems. It wasn't Ralph that bothered her. Eva knew that she could talk him into a divorce whenever she was ready to leave him. The poor fool was still so much in love with her that he'd do anything she wished to make her happy.
The real problem came with Martin's wife. Would she be so willing to give up a man as wealthy as Martin? Surely she'd raised some kind of a fuss.
Eva shook her head, unable to cope with the problem. After all, she thought, it wasn't really her worry. If Martin wanted her as badly as she thought he did, he'd see a way clear. And it seemed that he had. She wished the two weeks were over. Now that she'd begun to grow used to this luxury it would be even worse to be suddenly without it.
Eva glanced back at the pool. The water looked inviting. If she felt that way why didn't she go in? But there wasn't any bathing suit. Eva scolded herself for still thinking like a frowsy housewife in the suburbs. She had money at her disposal ... and plenty of time. She could buy the suit.
She signed the check and started from the room. Eva would have appreciated the four male heads that turned in unison and followed the movements of the too-tight skirt.
The Monica Towers is located at the end of a very busy boulevard leading away from Los Angeles, in the city of Santa Monica. Most traffic going up or down the ocean highway feeds past the hotel, bending slightly around the terraced grounds and able to look down into the sunken pool area.
And so it was that in the middle of the afternoon a snarl developed in the usual rapid flow of vehicles. Anyone with good eyesight would have immediately spotted why extra policemen had to be called out to handle the tangled intersection.
As each vehicle passed the hotel it slowed perceptibly, setting up a chain reaction. The cause was simple. A single figure in a black bathing suit laying stretched out on a lounge chair within view of the road.
The pool area itself had developed a greater usage than it normally received at that hour of the day, thus winning for this girl the ever-loving devotion of the sweating, overworked waiters toting drinks to cool the crowd off.
Other than the sun there was good reason for the heat. The girl on the lounge had on a bathing suit that came with two parts. The lower was simply a triangular piece of cloth designed to keep her from being raped on the spot. And the upper, even though it had more to cover, was smaller. It consisted solely of two small circular cups joined by a bridge of ribbon, held on by absolutely no visible means of support.
The total effect was dramatic. When she moved in her sleep, each breast moved in its own fashion. When she turned over and leaned on her elbows, the breasts hung downwards, swaying gently like plumb pendulums.
More than one bet changed hands that afternoon on the length of time those cups would stay in place.
Eva came out of her nap, well aware that she was being stared at. For a moment she wondered what had awakened her. Then she decided it must be the traffic which seemed much thicker than it had been earlier.
She sat up in the chair and stretched. At the height of the motion she noticed an old geezer close by lose his balance and fall into the pool with a mighty splash. His cries for aid went unheard as the lifeguard had his mind in another direction. Finally, the man's wife had to jump in and get him to safety.
The salesgirl had told her the suit would create a sensation, Eva thought. She'd certainly been correct. There were eyes in every direction. Eva liked it. She knew what they were staring at and she was proud of her body.
Eva wondered what would happen if she plucked one of those cups from her body. She smiled at the reflection. There'd be a riot sure. The thought intrigued her. Any woman would be happy to create a riot. There might even be pictures and she would be famous.
But she shook her head reluctantly. That wouldn't do. Not right now. There were much more important things ahead for her.
So she pulled her robe around her and started for the hotel.
* * *
An hour later, Eva paced the room restlessly. Why didn't Martin call? She looked at the clock for the tenth time. It was only four. There wouldn't be a chance of seeing him before eight at the earliest.
She tried to sit still for some crummy television show but it wasn't in color. Reading didn't help either. Eva ended up by sailing the magazine across the room.
She finally settled for a walk out onto the balcony and watching the heavy traffic pour out of the city towards the beach.
All at once it struck Eva that this sitting around was no different than being at home. She wanted company, somebody to talk to.
Eva scolded herself sharply. That was no way to think. Things would be different when she and Martin were married. Then she could go out in public and shop at all the expensive stores. If she were lonely they could take a long trip, perhaps even around the world. She'd like that. That was the difference with money, it bought what you wanted.
But at the moment she was neither fish nor fowl. She had to wait for Martin, to have him give her a fresh injection of confidence, to tell her again what it would be like as his wife.
Deep in thought, Eva didn't hear the knock at the door until it was repeated a second time. She snapped out of her daydreams quickly. Martin had managed to get away earlier.
She ran to the door and threw it open, prepared to spring into his arms.
But it wasn't Martin. The figure grinning on the other side of the panel was a stranger to her ... or was he. There was something awfully familiar about that face.
"Hi ya, Eva," he snapped, waving a friendly greeting. "I missed you."
It was the uniform that finally gave her the clue. A little label sewn above the breast pocket read; JOHNNY'S TV SERVICE.
As recognition came, Eva tried to slam the door in his face. A protruding foot, his, got in the way. He pushed the panel open and sauntered in. "You remember me, don't you, honey?"
Eva did. This was Johnny, the man who'd taken a week to fix her television set.
CHAPTER SEVENTEEN
"You," she spat."
"So you work here, too?"
"That's right, baby," he admitted. "Me." He strolled through the room, taking everything in, finally emitting a long, low whistle. "Some joint," he said. "You really come up in a short time."
"What do you want?" Eva said, afraid of the man, not quite sure why.
"Me?" he said, shrugging. "Nothing at all. I was just passing through and thought I'd drop in." He turned and looked at her, thumbing a cigarette to his mouth. "Ain't you happy to see an old friend."
"No." she snapped. "I'm not."
"I figured maybe you might not be at that," Johnny admitted. "When you made me it was all you could get at the time. Now...." he waved a hand airily at the surroundings. "It looks like you really hooked onto a live one."
"How did you find me?" Eva repeated.
Johnny went to the open glass doors looking out onto the balcony and ocean. When he turned back into the room his smile was still frozen in place. "It's a funny thing," he said. "I always heard this was a small world. Now I believe it. I had to come out of the valley to Santa Monica this afternoon for some parts. I was passing this hotel and got caught in one hell of a traffic jam. When I looked to see what was holding everything up there was this broad taking a sun bath by the pool with almost no clothes on." He snapped his fingers then continued, "I said to myself, I know her. And sure enough, I did. It was you. So I parked the truck and passed a few bills around trying to find out where your room is. And here I am.""
"Well you can just get lost again," Eva snapped, getting over her first shock at seeing him. "If you don't leave I'll call the manager."
"That's just what this bellhop I talked to told me," Johnny grinned. "He said you told him those very words this morning ... when he saw you without duds." His eyes drifted down the length of the girl before him, taking in the tight sweater and skirt. "Speaking of clothes, those are really nifty."
"Well, the fashion show's over," Eva said hotly, reaching for the phone. "Get out or I will have you thrown out."
Johnny grinned even broader, waggling a finger beneath her nose. "Now that wouldn't be nice," he said. "I happen to know a girl who has a husband out in the Valley and is staying in an expensive suite in town. I'd be willing to bet this husband ain't what's keeping her in clover. In fact he might like that information ... so he can wail the tar out of the two-timing broad."
Eva set the phone down. Despite the warmth of the room she felt a sudden chill. "You wouldn't," she said, her voice almost inaudible.
"Don't bet on it, sister," Johnny snapped, his tone suddenly sinister. "I ain't forgotten being given the bum's rush that afternoon. 'I'll call your wife,' you said. That was hiting below the belt after I spent a week servicing you."
A lot of things flew rapidly through Eva's mind. From the look in Johnny's eyes she knew he'd do exactly what he said, go to her husband. And it was one thing for Ralph to be blind to what was going on but another to find out his wife was acting as a mistress on the side. The information would spoil everything she and Martin had planned. She could see the glittering future she'd built over the past week shattering into glass. "What do you want?"
"That's better." Johnny's face softened into a smile again. "First get rid ' of that sweater. I'd like to get more personal while we talk this problem over."
Eva backed a step away. "No," she said.
"The shoe's on the other foot this time, sister," Johnny snapped. "You ain't got no choice. Strip."
This was some kind of a nightmare she'd stepped into, Eva thought. Maybe if she closed her eyes it would go away. But when she opened them again, he was still in front of her, his face twisted into a leer. What else could she do? He would tell Ralph.
Eva sighed in resignation and grasped the hem of her sweater, sweeping it over her head.
"That's better," Johnny grinned. He moved closer, reaching and putting his fingers in a cup of the bra. Using the material as a handle, he pulled her against him. "Now for a kiss."
Eva twisted her face away. "Please, don't," she pleaded. But the plea went unheard as his mouth found hers. The kiss was all animal.
When it was finished, Johnny twisted her around in his arms.
"You shouldn't, Johnny," Eva protested. "I'll give you anything you want but not this." She fought against his grip. "You'll spoil everything."
His answer was a wild laugh while his hands fondled her.
Eva felt her struggles getting weaker by the moment. Her back pinned against his body, she tried to ignore the pleasures his fingers were giving her, fought to remember that she now belonged to Martin.
But as the moments passed, the present became more and more important and the future more remote. And when his hands down onto her stomach, she shivered at the caress, watching his sweep lower on top of the skirt.
And Eva cursed her body when it betrayed her mind, moving against the hand, at a command she hadn't given it.
His touch was wonderful. She relaxed slightly, leaning her head against his shoulder, her hair spilling partially down his back. "If I give you what you want will you go away?" she whispered into his ear.
"We'll see," he said.
"Promise."
"I know you too well, honey," Johnny grinned. "You couldn't stop now if you wanted to."
"I can," she protested.
His hands returned to her waist, unhooked the skirt, "Can you?" he grinned.
Eva's head began to spin. This was crazy, she told herself. It couldn't happen to her. Everything would be spoiled.
Just the same, she whimpered in pleasure despite her thoughts. And she heard a strange voice, certainly not hers, begging for more. The world of the present seemed to blank out as a strange fog of passion rolled into the room. She melted against his body, her mouth a dark tunnel of love.
And suddenly the couple in the center of the room became animals. Entwined in each other arms they whispered words designed for greater fulfillment, the movement of their bodies matching each word.
* * *
As Eva dressed quickly, a thousand thoughts went through her head. Uppermost was the surprise that she'd enjoyed Johnny to the fullest. And, watching him button up his shirt, she knew that she'd have no objection to his making love again.
But at the same time a new worry entered her head. Up until now she'd been telling herself that once she had Martin she'd have no need for another man. But that no longer seemed true. Despite what he'd done to her the night before, she knew that she'd wanted more today. So in the future she knew she'd have to make certain adjustments after they were married, perhaps just a discreet romance on the side now and then.
But certainly not with anyone as coarse as Johnny. In her new social level she'd have to find someone more her equal.
Eva finished dressing and sat on the couch, lighting a cigarette. Right now the problem was getting rid of Johnny before he really did spoil everything. Eva wasn't naive enough to think that one loving would do it. And she had no intention of keeping this affair alive. The thought of losing a wealthy man for a low class television technician was repulsive to her.
"I think you'd better go," Eva suggested out loud.
Johnny lighted his own cigarette and sat down beside her. "Not yet. We have some talking to do." He looked around the suite. "Who's paying for this? Could it be Mr. Smith?"
Did he know about Martin? Eva doubted it. That would be too much coincidence. And there'd been enough of that already today with him showing up out of the blue. "That's none of your business," she said.
"I suppose not," he agreed. "But I know you're pulling something ... and I've got the feeling that I'm a big fat monkey wrench." He shoved his face closer to hers. "Right?"
Eva pushed him away. "Please go," she repeated.
Johnny got to his feet and crossed the room, turning back towards her. "Not a chance. I've got a notion to just hang around and see who comes through that door."
"What is it you want?" Eva implored. "Me again? Don't you ever get enough?"
"Do you, baby?" he grinned. "From where I sit you could spend the rest of your life on a mattress." He moved closer, adding, "Why don't you get smart and start charging. You'd make a fortune."
Eva lashed out and slapped him before she even realized she'd done it.
Johnny's face flamed instant red. He rubbed the spot, anger clouding his eyes. "That'll cost you, honey," he spat. "I just thought of what will get rid of me. Business has been bad lately. We're expecting a kid. So some money would help."
"How much?"
"I was figuring on a couple of hundred before that slap," he said. "Now it will cost you a thousand."
Eva gasped. "But I haven't got that much money. Where would I get it?"
"That's not my concern," he spat. "Tell your boyfriend you need it to buy some new underwear."
"And you won't bother me again?"
"Not at all."
"How can I be sure?"
"You're only good for a piece of tail," he snapped. "And I'm sick of that. Let someone else have the trouble you bring. Get the money and give it to me and I'll be gone."
"When do you want it?"
"Tonight or I'll tell your husband about this cozy little love nest."
Eva shook her head hopelessly. "Where would I get that kind of money on such short notice?"
"I told you," he barked. "That's your problem."
Eva moved towards him and attempted to put her arms around him. "Let me have some time," she said softly. "Just until after the weekend." In the back of her mind she wondered if she couldn't talk Martin into leaving before then.
Johnny shoved her roughly away and started for the door. "There's a cab stand about three blocks from your house. I'll be hanging around there after eleven tonight. If you don't show up with the money I'm taking a little walk to your place. Me and your husband will have a nice long chat." Without any further comments, he left the room.
For a long time Eva stared at the closed panel, not quite believing what had just happened. She'd never been blackmailed before. It was a unique and frightening experience.
For once her body hadn't bought her what she'd wanted. This time it had to be in cold cash.
* * *
There were two problems, Eva thought. Was it worth the money to get rid of him and where would she get it? The answer to the first was obvious. She wanted nothing to interfere with her marriage to Martin. He was worth far more than a thousand dollars to her.
The second answer was harder. Where in the world would she get a thousand dollars? Eva knew there wasn't near that much in their saving's account. And she could hardly ask Martin for it ... not yet anyhow. She shook her head, swamped by the problem.
The knock at the door startled her. Thinking it was Johnny back, Eva opened the panel wide.
It wasn't Johnny. It was a woman. Eva made a quick inventory. She was old but she was also young. The lines about her face aged her terribly. And the effect wasn't helped by the dowdy clothes that hung from the shapeless figure. "What do you want?" Eva snapped, taking some of her anger at Johnny out on the stranger.
"I'd like to talk to you," the woman said, smiling sadly. "May I come in."
"No," Eva snapped. "I'm busy. If you're selling something I'm not buying."
The woman shook her head. The dim hall light fell across her dull, lusterless hair. "I really should talk to you," she insisted.
"Who are you anyhow?" Eva asked angrily. "You've got a lot of business busting into my place."
The woman pushed past Eva and moved into the room. She then turned slowly, the same sad smile spread across her face. "I thought that I'd better meet you," she said slowly. "You see, my name is Helen Sellers. I'm Martin's wife."
CHAPTER EIGHTEEN
Eva felt her knees threaten to give out beneath her. She closed the door and sat down. "You're Helen?"
"Surprised?"
Eva nodded. "I am," she agreed. "I ... I had you pictured differently."
"You didn't think a man such as Martin would have a plain looking wife?"
Eva ignored the comment. "What are you doing here? How did you find this place?" Eva began to get the feeling that she should have taken up residence in a gold fish bowl.
The woman walked to the balcony and looked out onto the ocean for a long time then turned back into the room, staring at Eva. "I must say," she said at last. "Martin's taste is improving."
"You didn't come here to pass around compliments," Eva said, regaining her composure after the shock of seeing the woman.
"You're right," Helen smiled.
"Then why are you here?"
The woman didn't answer right away. She appeared to be thinking. "Did you know that Martin has two sons i
"So what?"
"I should have known you'd take that attitude," Helen said. "You don't look the type to care about anything but yourself."
"I don't have to sit here and be insulted," Eva snapped angrily. "Not in my own room."
Helen shook her head. "Not yours," she corrected. "Martins. He paid for all this didn't he?"
"That's my business."
"He always takes them to this hotel. But you're to be congratulated. These are the finest quarters he's ever put one up in. He must think a lot of you."
"Enough to marry me," Eva snapped without thinking of what she was saying.
Helen didn't seem surprised at the information. "That's what he tells all the girls, that he's going to marry them and take them away." She hesitated, then continued, "I would say that in your case it might actually be true."
Eva could recognize jealousy when she saw it. And the woman in front of her was mad with the emotion. That's why she was making up all these awful things about Martin. "I should throw you out," Eva snapped.
Helen nodded, that same sad smile on her face. "That is your privilege. But you won't. Not until you've heard what I have to say." She took a deep breath then continued, "I know what you've been thinking. You're going to marry Martin after he gets a divorce and all his money will be yours. Then all the fancy trappings will be yours forever."
Helen shook her head, her dark eyes picking up a glint of anger. "It isn't that easy, honey. He's married to me ... for better or worst. The house, the car and the money, they're all mine and I won't let them go. If you want him without these luxuries, you're welcome to him. But he won't leave me, not as long as everything is tied up in my name. Martin worked too hard to get the money he has and I don't believe he'll ever leave it behind for the likes of you."
She warmed to her subject. "This isn't the first time he's had ideas about leaving me. There have been other women. But I still have Martin."
"You're mad," Eva accused.
Helen laughed. The sound confirmed Eva's accusation. "Perhaps I am," she admitted. "But I know my husband better than you. He's a weakling and he's stupid. Because of this, he needs me more than anyone else."
"I think you're bluffing," Eva cut in. "Look at you, what can you offer a man like Martin? He's worldly and intelligent. I can give him the one thing you can't, beauty and plenty of sexual satisfaction."
Helen shook her head slowly. "There's more to life than a fast pair of panties," she said.
Eva had heard enough. "I think you had better leave," she suggested angrily.
"I'll be happy to," Helen said. "I just thought that you should know the facts of life." Without a further word she left the room.
Eva sat on the couch until darkness had long since invaded the room. She couldn't deny it, what the woman had said bothered her. Not that it wasn't all a pack of lies. But how could she be sure? Eva had no intention of marrying a man without any money, no matter what she thought of him. That would be a frightful waste of her talents.
She told herself over and over that Helen was just a jealous woman. And that kind wasn't rational.
And shouldn't she be a good judge of a weak man, Eva thought. After all, Ralph was the weakest of them all. Martin wasn't at all like him.
Sitting all alone in the darkened room, Eva was startled when the telephone rang. She picked it up and felt a flood of relief when she recognized the voice at the other end as Martin's.
"Oh darling," she cried. "I'm so glad you called." Without stopping, she spilled out everything his wife had told her.
When she'd finished there was a long silence at the other end of the wire. "That bitch," he said at last. "I should have figured she'd do something like this. She's a terribly jealous woman."
"Is it true?" Eva asked. "Can she keep everything if you marry me?"
"We should talk about this in person," he said.
"I want to know," Eva insisted.
"It's true," Martin admitted.
Eva felt her knees once more grow weak.
But Martin quickly strengthened her. "But don't worry, darling," he soothed. "Everything's all right. I've been working for years to get free of her and still have money. The problem is solved."
Eva's world once fnore grew rosy. "When will I see you? Are you coming over?"
"Not right away." His voice sounded strangely excited. "That two week delay I spoke of is off. Things are happening fast. I can't tell you when but it'll be soon. I want you to go home and stay there until you get a call from me. Understand?"
Eva nodded at the invisible face. "I do. I love you."
"And I love you." He hung up the phone.
Now Eva felt immensely better. But no sooner had one problem been solved than she was confronted with another. Johnny. He'd said to meet her this evening with a thousand dollars.
Let him tell her husband, Eva thought. What could Ralph do if she wanted to go away? On the other hand he might actually get violent. Men were strange. In either case it was taking a chance that she'd lose out with Martin. And could she afford to take that risk?
Eva sat down in the darkness, trying to think of what she should do. She knew that if she had a thousand dollars she'd give it to Johnny just to get rid of him. But where could she get the blackmail money?
Blackmail. The word struck a memory chord. If Johnny could use it, why couldn't she? Eva smiled and reached for the phone. She had an idea where she could get the money.
* * *
The Valley Hospital was quiet as Eva strode down the fourth floor hallway. It was after visiting hours and most of the rooms were dark. Once or twice a nurse looked at her but she just kept on going as if she knew where she was heading.
When Eva saw the room number she was searching for, her heart beat faster. Would the idea work? She really didn't know but she was desperate.
Eva cracked the door until she saw the man laying in bed reading under the dim lamp. She smiled as recognition came. And there didn't seem to be anyone else in the room. Of course, she knew she should have known that, this was a private room. That's why she was able to get in after visiting hours.
Eva pushed the door open and walked boldly over to the bed. "Hello, Sam," she smiled.
The pudgy man looked up, startled at the intrusion. And, as recognition came, his face turned the color of chalk. "Hell," he spat. "What are you doing here?"
"I came to visit," Eva explained. "Aren't you glad to see me?"
"Get out of here," he snapped, waving at the door. "My wife is downstairs getting some coffee. If she finds you here she'll kill us both."
Eva ignored his frantic gestures, patting the leg hanging in the air solicitously. "Why," she pouted. "Doesn't she know how you broke your leg?"
"You know damned well she doesn't," Sam spat. "If she did I wouldn't be here. I'd be down in the morgue."
"That's just what I wanted to know," Eva smiled. "I thought I might as well be honest and tell her about that morning in my house. It should make very interesting conversation."
Sam's face turned purple and he had trouble with his breathing. "You wouldn't." The words kind of hissed out through his windpipe.
Eva ran her fingers idly down the edge of her low cut blouse, noting how full the partially exposed breasts were after her afternoon's activities. She looked up at the man who was now on the border of apoplexy. "Oh but I would, Sam," she smiled. "I like to be honest."
"Now look, Eva," Sam said, trying to regain his calmness. "Be sensible. I'm an old man. We didn't do anything. And I love my wife. Why try to bust up our marriage?"
"Well," Eva hesitated, her heart pounding rapidly, wondering if he'd take the bait. "There is one thing that might change my mind."
Sam leaped at the opportunity. "What's that?"
She smiled broadly at him. "Money."
Understanding came quickly. "So that's it," he snapped. "I might have known. What I heard around the neighborhood about you was the truth after all. "How much?"
Eva took a deep breath and got the words out quickly lest she falter. "A thousand dollars."
Sam's redness came back. "You're out of your mind."
"I suppose I am," Eva admitted. She turned to leave. "I'll find your wife and tell her the whole story."
"Wait," Sam said anxiously. He collapsed back on the bed. "You win. I guess I deserve it for my own stupidity. Get my wallet from that drawer."
Eva found it and handed it to him, congratulating herself on her cleverness. She watched as he brought out a piece of paper from the fold and scribbled out a check with a pen off the nighstand.
"I made it to cash," he said angrily. "Now get the hell out of here."
Eva didn't need any second invitation. She'd been successful. Why hang around with the old fool.
* * *
Eva had the driver take her directly to the meeting place Johnny had suggested. She thought of going to her house and then walking over but two things prevented this. First, she might get into some kind of a discussion with Ralph. And second, it was already after eleven.
As she paid off the cab, Eva saw Johnny's truck parked in the supermarket lot. She walked over, feeling a fresh breeze on her cheek, listening to the loud music spilling out of the local malt shop.
"Get in," he ordered when she was close enough to hear him.
Eva did as he said. The seat was hard and cold and the cab stank of age. "I came as soon as I could."
Johnny looked across at her, through a halo of smoke from his cigarette. "Did you get the money?"
Eva opened her mouth and handed across the check. "I did," she said triumphantly. "Now you can let me alone."
Johnny fingered the piece of paper, turning it over in his hands. "How do I know this is good."
Eva smiled crookedly. "Don't be silly," she scoffed. "The man I got that from wouldn't dare stop it."
"I suppose he wouldn't," Johnny mused. He looked up, a strange expression in his eyes. "I've done a lot of thinking since I left your place."
Eva couldn't have cared less. She reached for the handle of the door.
Johnny strong grip on her arm stopped her. "Like I said, I been thinking. Now I ain't the smartest guy around and I'd be the first to admit it. And I like some new lovin' now and then. But after I got out of the hotel I felt all dirty. I got a wife and a kid coming and when I first thought of this dough I knew it'd solve a lot of problems." He lighted another cigarette, holding the flame on the lighter, his expression angry in the yellow glow. "But I don't need this kind of money. And I got a damned nice wife and it's about time I quit cheating on her." He stuck his face closer to Eva's. "You know what made me decide this? You. I got the crap scared out of me that I might have gotten stuck with somebody like you." He put the check over the lighter flame, watching it begin to char.
Eva grabbed at it. "What are you doing?" she cried.
Johnny kept it away from her, not speaking until the paper crumpled into ashes in his lap. "Saving some other poor sucker from the likes of you," he spat. "Now you can get the hell out of here. I don't like tramps hanging around my truck. It makes me feel dirty."
CHAPTER NINETEEN
Eva had stopped shaking in anger by the time she reached her house. Who did Johnny think he was, saying things like that to her? He was nothing, a low class moron.
But as she walked up the path, Eva knew she had other thinks to worry about. Ralph would want to know all about her stay over at Ruth's.
She let herself in quietly, hoping that her husband might be asleep. It appeared that she was lucky at that. There was no light in the living room. Eva tiptoed into the bedroom and waited for her eyes to become adjusted to the dimness. When they did she realized there was no one in Ralph's bed.
Eva switched on the light, the truth dawning on her. Ralph wasn't home. Now that was odd, she thought. One thing about her husband was his regularity. He was usually in bed and reading by eleven.
She moved through the house to see if there was any clue as to where he could be. The same dirty dishes she'd left behind the morning before were still in the sink. It was obvious he'd been here since then because a half-made pot of coffee was on the stove. Eva turned on the flame beneath it.
It was Thursday night wasn't it, she asked herself. It was, she decided.
Maybe Ruth would know. Eva picked up the phone and called her sister. The voice that answered wasn't Ruth's "May I speak to Ruth please," Eva said.
"She isn't here," the party said.
Now that was even odder, Eva thought. Ruth of all people never ventured out at night. The amusing reflection came to her that perhaps her sister had a date. But she dismissed the thought as being too ridiculous. "Thank you," she said into the instrument and hung up.
As she did, Eva heard the coffee boiling in the kitchen. She made herself a cup and wandered through the empty house studying it, trying to make some sense from the mystery.
Twenty minutes later Eva was no closer to a solution. She couldn't express it in thought but something about his not being here bothered her.
When the phone rang Eva jumped a foot. That would be Ralph, she decided, picking up the instrument. And just when she was giving him credit for doing something unusual.
Eva was understandably surprised when the voice on the other end turned out to be Martin. He sounded strange and excited, running his words together in his anxiety to get them out.
"When can you be ready to leave?"
Eva caught her breath, not sure she heard him correctly. "With you?"
"That's right."
"You tell me," Eva said happily. "Anytime."
"Fine," Martin agreed. "I'll be over in less than an hour."
"But Martin," Eva said. "How long will we be gone? Where are we going?"
"Don't ask so many questions. I can tell you one thing, we won't be back here."
"Your wife?"
"That's right." He didn't sound convincing.
"Ralph isn't here," Eva said. "So you can come right up to the front door. But on the other hand he might return. Supposing I meet you at the cab stand."
"Ralph went to the mountains," Martin explained. "He told me at dinner that he'd taken tomorrow off in order to have a long weekend."
That solved the mystery. "In that case I'll leave the front door open," Eva said. "When you get here you come right in."
"There won't be much time."
"There'll be enough," Eva said softly. Humming to herself, Eva packed quickly and laid out the clothes she intended to wear. She could never remember being so happy. It was as if this was her wedding night all over again.
She debated whether to leave Ralph a note and decided against it. He'd find out in time.
There were other small nagging worries that she couldn't see solutions for. Wha did Martin intend doing about his business if he left town so abruptly? And why had he decided to leave at this hour of the night?
Eva scolded herself for being silly. Those were his problems and she was certain that he was quite capable of solving them himself. The important thing was that they were getting away so quickly. It was far more than she'd ever hoped for.
Eva straightened up from her packing and looked around the house she'd come to detest. She had absolutely no regrets about going. She smiled to herself, reflecting that she was leaving behind enough gossip material to last for years. The nosy neghbors should give her a medal. The block might become famous. But time was passing too quickly and she still had so much to do. Eve undressed rapidly and showered. When she was finished she picked out her most attractive negligee and put it on, fastening the material at the neck only and studying the effect in the mirror.
Eva had to admit that it was striking. A four inch gap of womanhood was exposed from her neck to the hem, not that much more was covered by the filmy nylon.
At that point Eva realized there was someone standing in the doorway. She spun around and saw Martin grinning at her. Eva's response was spontaneous. She threw herself into his arms and began crying in happiness.
"Here here," he scolded, pushing her gently away. "That will never do."
"Is it really true?" Eva sobbed. "Are we going away together?"
He chucked her beneath the chin. "It is."
"Tonight?"
"As soon as you get dressed."
Eva threw all of her joy into a single kiss, feeling the roughness of his clothing against her bare skin. She pulled away briefly, looking deeply into his eyes. "Make love to me, darling," she pleaded. "Make me scream so that all our neighbors will know what's happening. I want these women to know what they've been missing."
He set the small attache case he was carrying carefully on a chair. "There isn't time," he said regretfully.
"Make time," Eva pouted. "Look what you're missing," she smiled.
Martin slid his arms about her. "You're something," he grinned.
Martin made time.
A short time later, Martin sat in the chair watching Eva put the final touches to her hair. Finished, she reached for the clothing she'd previously laid out on the bed. As she picked up the bra and panties, Martin shook his head. Eva shrugged and threw them in the suitcase. He did the same for the slip. Now only a sweater and skirt were left.
"You're terrible," she scolded, pulling on the remaining cloth. "I'll catch my death of cold."
"I wouldn't bet on it," he grinned.
Eva laughed and snapped the suitcase shut. "You're really awful."
He glanced at his watch for the fifth time since he'd entered the room. "We'd better hurry," he suggested, picking up her case, along with the one he'd brought in.
Although Eva was happy beyond description and her body was still warm from his, she hadn't lost her head completely. The words of his wife came back to her. She put her hand on his arm. "Don't be angry, darling," she said slowly, trying to choose her words carefully. "But are we leaving the city broke? Have you given Helen everything as she said you'd have to?"
Instead of being annoyed, Martin laughed. "Don't be silly," he scoffed. "I'm not that crazy." He lay the attache case on the bed. "Open it," he suggested, handing her the key.
Eva did as he asked. When the cover folded back she gasped. It was filled with nothing but hundred dollar bills.
"I liquidated my share of the firm," he explained. "We'll let Helen fight out her own share of problems."
Now Eva was completely content. It was very obvious that she was a very wealthy woman.
As Martin started the engine of the Caddy, Eva took a last look at the house. A load lifted from her shoulders as they moved slowly down the street and the building vanished from her sight. It was like leaving a bit of the ugly past behind.
They were well on their way out of the valley before Eva asked where they were going.
Martin looked across the seat at her. "Las Vegas," he said.
Eva clapped her hands happily. "I've always wanted to go there, she said.
"Don't get too excited," Martin warned. "We'll only be there a short time. We're catching a plane to South America."
Could this be happening to her, Eva thought? It was a dream. Surely it had to be. She'd always wanted to travel and now the wish was coming true, with a man at her side who was capable of taking care of her. And at the same time she thought of something. "Why don't we go directly to South America from here?" she asked.
Martin shook his head, keeping his eyes on the busy San Fernando road. "I just thought a brief vacation would do us both good."
Eva squeezed his arm. "You're wonderful," she sighed.
* * *
By two in the morning they were again on the desert road they'd taken previously back from the mountains. Only this time they passed the cut-off and kept going on towards Victorville and Barstow.
Eva had never been frightened in a car before. But this time Martin's driving left her uneasy. As the desert floor rocketed past them she caught the speedometer needle on 100....She looked up to say something but his grim face prevented it. Every now and then he'd look behind them, as if he expected someone to be following. But Eva knew that at this speed he wouldn't be looking for the police. He'd be inviting them. It was four when Martin finally relaxed as they came to the outskirts of Barstow. He glanced across at Eva. '"Care for something to eat?"
Eva knew she had no business getting out in public the way she was dressed but anything to get away from the car for a short time.
And when the light of the small cafe struck her, Eva was certain she shouldn't have come in. Her body did interesting things as they moved towards a booth, stopping all conversation among the assembled truck drivers.
Eva tried to ignore the stares and keep her own eyes on Martin. "Where will we be married?"' she asked.
"We have to get a divorce first," he answered. "This can be done in South America. After that we'll be married."
"How long will we stay down there? I'd like to go to New York too. They have wonderful clothes."
He patted her hand. "Be patient," he smiled. "We'll cover the world before we're through." He stopped talking and his face paled slightly as his eyes left hers and looked across her shoulder.
Eva twisted around and saw two highway patrolmen settling down at the counter for coffee. "They can't arrest you for sitting here," she smiled. "It was on the highway that you were speeding."
"Yeah, I know," he said, the frown remaining. Martin threw some money on the table and got to his feet. "We'd better be going."
Eva sensed that there was something in the air. But whatever it was she was sure it didn't concern her.
CHAPTER TWENTY
Dawn had broken by the time they saw the first signs of Vegas in the distance. The mountains stood out black and ominous against the early orange glow spreading across endless sand. The heat had already begun to build and wipe away the coolness of the night.
For the first time in the past three hours, Eva relaxed a little as Martin slowed the car down to below ninety. She was certainly glad they were flying to South America and not driving.
The first civilization they came to was the airport on the outskirts of town. Eva looked at Martin as he swung the car onto the wide drive leading to the terminal building. "I'll be right back," he announced as he parked and walked beneath the canopy to the entrance, carrying the briefcase beneath his arm.
He was a man of his word, returning in a few minutes with a broad grin on his face. "That's settled," he announced. "We leave for Brazil via Mexico City at four."
"This afternoon?" Eva asked, surprised.
"That's right," he agreed, sliding the Caddy back onto the main highway.
Eva was disappointed. She'd hoped to be here longer. But in a short time she forgot everything but staring at the ornate hotels that paralled the road. They left her speechless. It was only then that she really believed that she'd actually left Ralph and run away to another, more glamorous life.
A feeling of joy and freedom surged within her, as if all shackles had been cut. She leaned across and kissed Martin firmly on the mouth.
"Hey," he grinned. "What was that for?"
"For making a new woman out of me," she answered.
Martin pulled into the fanciest of the buildings and was met by a small army of bellhops that surrounded the car. They practically carried the couple, along with their luggage, into the lobby. Eva was all eyes. Although it was only seven in the morning the gambling room was crowded. The muted sounds of gaming devices blended with a red-eyed trio playing on a raised platform above the bar.
The registry signed, they were escorted to a bungalow at the far end of the pool area. Eva hesitated at the open door.
"What are you waiting for?" Martin asked.
"To be carried across, silly," Eva said. "I'm your wife now, remember?"
Martin chuckled and hoisted her into the air.
Eventually, Martin set her down and closed the door. When he turned back into the room. Eva already had the sweater off and her skirt down over her hips. "You're a fast worker," he grinned.
"You made me this way," she pouted.
He took her into his arms. "How?"
"Terribly. Don't you want anything to eat?"
"What I want's already in the room."
"Where?" she teased.
He showed her. Eva moaned and pulled his head tighter against her body.
One thing led to another and it wasn't long before Eva was smiling, watching Martin struggle out of his clothes. When he stood beside the bed she wrapped her arms about him and kissed him, her golden hair brilliant against his darker skin.
"Are you happy?" he asked.
Eva looked up at him. "Terribly," she admitted. "Will it be like this always?"
"I hope so."
She raised her arms to him. "Come to bed, my husband." He did.
Eva sat by the pool, allowing the warmth of the day to soak into her body. She hadn't been able to sleep much and had left Martin behind in bed. Now she watched the activity in the water and felt her body begin to relax. She'd worn the same suit that had created such a sensation back in L.A. but here she discovered that she was just another female. There were women draped around pool side wearing things that made her clothing look like a Mother Hubbard.
So far not one man had paid the slightest bit of attention to her. Eva wasn't sure whether that was a compliment or not.
Eva stretched languidly and enjoyed the wonders of her new life. This was living, she reflected happily. It made her sad to think of how long she'd wasted back in that miserable hole in the suburbs.
Eva tried to imagine what it would be like in Brazil. She'd read about the city but never in her wildest imagination had she thought she'd ever get a chance to go there.
Now, thanks to dear, sweet Martin, she would.
And Eva thought of other things. Of her poor sister slaving at that hot bank back in the city. Wouldn't she be livid with envy if she could see her now. Poor, plain Ruth, a professional old maid.
Between the pleasant thoughts and the sun, Eva gradually grew drowsy. Before she knew what had happened she was asleep.
But she awoke from the nap some time later with a start, aware that she was no longer alone. Eva looked up and saw a short, fat figure grinning down at her, an unlighted cigar stuck in the corner of his mouth.
"Sorry if I frightened you, doll," he said, a grin splitting his chubby cheeks. "I was enoying the scenery."
Eva looked around to see if Martin was in sight. Unfortunately, he wasn't. "Well, go enjoy it someplace else," she snapped.
The stranger chuckled, shifting the cigar to the other side of the mouth. "You got spunk," he said, squatting down in front of her. "That's good. How's business?"
Eva shook her head, not understanding. "Just what do you mean by that?" she said angrily.
"You know what I'm talking about," he said. "Business, hundred bucks a night stuff."
Eva's face turned crimson as understanding came. But this time she held her temper. Maybe for once she could find out what there was about her that made people think that she was a whore. "How can you tell?" she asked, forcing calmness into her voice.
He shrugged and struck a match to the cigar, great clouds of smoke rolling across the pool area. "Simple," he admitted. "First, there's a kind of tired, hungry look in your eyes. All the dames for hire got it." He waved at her body. "And there's the bathing suit. The only babes that wear 'em that brief around here are the ones that are looking for someone to take them off."
Eva had heard enough. She started to her feet, only to be pressed back down with his hand on her arm. "Easy, kid," he said, smiling. "I'm not on the make. I got a proposition for you." He tapped an ash on the ground before continuing. "I got a show at the El Palmetto down the highway. It's a Paris review. I need some fresh stuff. With that chest of yours we could knock the customers clear out of the first three rows. I pay a hundred bucks a week and all the romance you can handle between shows is yours.
Eva felt her mouth grow dry at the unexpected offer.
"You get out of here," she said, so angry that she could hardly make herself be heard.
"Now don't be like that," the man protested. "It's a legitimate offer. The name's Max." He got to his feet, turning around for a parting shot. "Think it over. The job'll be there when you show."
Eva looked around for something to throw but there wasn't anything close. She felt the heat boil to her head. She'd never been so insulted.
By the time Eva reached their cabin she had cooled considerably. She decided not to tell Martin. It would only get him all upset.
Eva pushed through the door quietly, careful in case he was still asleep. She smiled when she saw him awake on the couch. "Hi," she smiled.
Martin looked up from the papers he had spread in front of him. His face looked strained and it seemed an effort for him to smile. "You been up long?" he asked.
Eva bent down and kissed him. "I have, sleepy head." She glanced at the papers. "You looking for something?"
Martin shook his head. "Just keeping up with the news." He looked at his watch. "We better get packed. There's only an hour to catch the plane."
"We have some time," she said suggestively.
Martin shook his head. "No," he said nervously. "We'd better get going."
Eva stared at him for a moment, wondering about his strange anxiety. But she told herself it was natural, after all he was running away from his faimly. And in California that's illegal.
She stripped off the remaining half of her bathing suit and started for the bathroom. "I'm taking a shower. Care to join me?"
Martin didn't hear. His eyes were back scanning the paper. Eva shrugged her disappointment and took the bath alone.
The closer they drew to the airport, the more nervous Martin seemed to become. Eva was aware of it, watching his eyes dart from side to side as they sped down the highway well above the legal limit.
As they pulled into the terminal parking lot Eva thought of something. "What about the car?" she said. "You just going to leave it here?"
Martin nodded grimly. "That's right. In a week they'll check up on the registration and send a notice to my home. I'm sure Helen will be only too happy to come and claim it."
"That bitch," Eva spat.
He patted her leg, showing one of his few smiles of the day. "Don't worry," he soothed. "We can buy ten like it."
"One for me?" Eva said. "With a pink ribbon yet."
Eva liked this kind of life where money seemed to mean absolutely nothing.
They checked their luggage and validated their tickets at the counter and then strolled through the small terminal, waiting for the announcement of boarding. Only-after the details were finished did Martin seem to relax.
Eva saw the slot machines against the wall and turned to Martin. "I haven't even played one of those. May I?"
He reached into his pocket and handed her some change. "Be my guest."
Eva used the dollar machine. She cranked in two coins and nothing happened. On the third three oranges lined up in a row. Eva squealed happily as silver dollars spat into the tray. She scooped them up and had counted to fifteen when Martin grabbed her by the arm.
"Come on," he said anxiously. "They're boarding our plane now." He led the way, clutching the small attache case beneath his arm.
The noise outside the terminal was deafening as an incoming plane taxied towards the ramp.
Eva was almost out of breath from keeping up with the hurrying Martin. They had to slow down at the gate. As he handed over his ticket for inspection, Eva noticed that his hands were shaking. She saw something else too that was puzzling.
Standing in the intervening space between the gate and the ramp were two men dressed in uniforms. They each held a rifle beneath their arms. As Martin stepped into the clearing the men nodded at each other and moved towards him.
Eva started to run to catch up to him. But before she took a step, Martin looked up and spotted the policemen coming towards him. His face went ashen and his expression turned to pure terror.
Eva stood rooted to the spot, unable to believe the melodrama she was seeing. She screamed Martin's name but he didn't hear over the noise of the arriving plane.
For an instant the three men stared at each other. It was Martin who made the first move. He bolted and began running. One of the policemen raised his gun but when he saw the belly of the incoming plane in his sights he lowered the gun.
The second cop was quicker. He started after Martin, yelling something as he went.
It was the woman standing beside Eva who saw the obvious danger first. "My God," she screamed, "He's going to run into the propeller."
Martin, in his anxiety to get away, wasn't paying heed to where he was going. But at the last minute he did look around, only to see the deadly whirling blade of steel directly before him. He threw up his hands to his face. But it was too late. Above all other noise there was a deadly 'whump' and the airport apron was suddenly filled with the solid rain of hundred dollar bills.
Eva saw little of this. She lay crumpled on the concrete in a dead faint.
CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE
Eva opened her eyes and saw the solicitous face bending over her. "Are you all right?" the woman asked.
And Eva remembered what had happened. She opened her mouth to scream but nothing came out. She was shivering violently. The woman lifted her head and gave her something to drink. Eva choked on the liquid, feeling its warmth spread through her body.
"I think I'm all right," she said at last, glancing around the small room. She was in some kind of a dispensary.
"This is the emergency room of the airport," the woman said. "I'm a nurse."
"Is he ... is he...?" Eva was unable to finish the sentence.
The nurse nodded, her face grim. "He was killed instantly."
Eva turned her face to the wall and began to sob. She didn't understand any of this, not at all. Why had Martin run? Why?
When she looked up, the nurse was still there. "Do you feel able to talk now?" she asked. "These men want to ask you some questions."
Eva glanced at the two figures standing against the wall. They were the same men who had chased Martin. "Why?" she asked. "Why did you make him do such a thing?" Eva struggled to a sitting position with the help of the nurse.
The men came forward, twisting their ten-gallon hats nervously in their hands. "We didn't want it that way, ma'am," one of them said. "It just happened."
Eva felt her head clearing slightly. "What had he done?"
The second policeman cleared his throat. "We're deputies, ma'am," he explained. "This morning we received a notice from the Los Angeles police to hold a suspect named Martin Sellers. It was thought he'd try to leave the country by way of the Vegas airport. I'm sure sorry it had to end this way," he said unhappily. "The L. A. police wanted him alive."
"What had he done?" Eva repeated.
The second deputy came forward. "He and his partner, with the help of a third man, embezzled his firm out of one million dollars in diamonds. They sold them to a fence and vanished with two hundred thousand dollars apiece."
"I don't believe it," Eva said.
"It's true all right," the first deputy said. "The trouble is that now both partners are dead. The other one ran his car off a cliff last night trying to escape the San Diego police. We needed this Martin Sellers real bad to give us the identity of the third embezzler. We thought you might be able to help us. What were you doing with him?"
For a moment Eva thought that she might become involved but as she told the whole, sordid story, it appeared that they believed her ... although their lack of respect was all too apparent.
It was dark when Eva left the terminal building. She stood on the walk a long time, her mind confused, her future uncertain. Then she called a cab. She knew what she would do.
Eva was stiff from sitting in the cramped position all night. She rolled with the motion of the bus, looking dully out of the window at the passing scenery just visible in the dawn.
What was past already seemed like a nightmare to her. She'd asked herself over and over how she could have been taken in by Martin. And what was even worse was his obvious lack of skill in planning his escape. She could have forgiven him ... and even helped him spend the money ... if he'd been smart enough to get away. But all he'd done was to run like a frightened animal, not to mention even using his real name when he'd purchased the plane tickets.
Eva shook her head, unable to understand how anyone could have been that stupid.
She knew that now that it was finished she'd have to accept it as just another affair. It had been fun while it lasted. And it made her more than a little sick to realize just how close she'd come to being a wealthy woman and having everything she wanted.
But Eva was above all things practical. Now that Martin was finished she had herself to look after. She'd done a lot of thinking last night before taking this bus. It would be possible, she supposed, to continue running and try to make a new life for herself.
But why should she? There was still Ralph. And even if the house was shabby it served as a home for her operations. There were certain advantages in having a man who isn't too bright for a husband.
Eva sighed to herself. She'd almost caught the gold ring this time. Perhaps she'd be more fortunate the next.
As the bus pulled into San Bernardino, Eva saw a red glow up in the mountains on the distant horizon. It puzzled her for a moment but she forgot it as they entered the terminal. Eva closed her eyes to wait out the stopover period.
She was lucky in one way, Eva thought to herself. With Ralph up in the moutntains he wouldn't even know that she'd been gone. Of course, Martin's capture would be in the papers. She could only hope that they kept her name out of it.
And, as Eva sat there, idly watching the new passengers filing into the bus, a thought occurred to her. Wouldn't Ralph be pleased if she showed up at the cabin?
The more Eva thought of it the more she liked the idea. If there had been any suspicions in her husband's mind, her coming to him would erase them.
Eva left her seat and hurried out of the bus.
The glow in the sky grew more intense as the cab climbed higher into the mountains. The driver glanced around at his passenger, enjoying the view of much leg and more breast protruding above the low cut blouse. "They got some fire going up here," he said, grinning. "Been burning since Friday morning. It's really doing a hell of a job in Big Bear Valley."
Eva nodded absent-mindedly. She'd seen his leering looks but she really didn't care. Her mind was on her reunion with Ralph. She had a certain amount of fence mending to do.
But even at that, Eva knew she'd been lucky to find a driver interested enough in her looks to take her into the mountains. None of the others wanted any part of the trip, not with the fire out of control. The fare would take her last ten dollars but it really didn't matter. Ralph would drive her home.
When they came to the dam at the entrance to the valley, a trooper waved them to a stop. He thrust his face in the open window. "You better turn around, buddy," he said to the driver. "All hell's broke loose over there."
For the first time Eva awakened to what was happening. Ahead of her, the mountains looked like a solid sheet of flame and smoke. The thick, acrid clouds boiled and danced on the winds, making her choke on the smell.
And at the same time a chilling realization came across her. Ralph's cabin was right in the middle of the fire. Panic nibbled at her heels. "But I've got to get through," she cried. "My husband's in there."
The trooper shifted his glance to the cab's passenger, his face suddenly concerned. "Are you sure."
Eva fought back the tears. "Yes ... yes. He came up here for the week-end."
"What's his name?"
"Ralph Hobson."
The officer flipped through a small note book. When he looked up again his eyes were concerned. "You're right," he agreed. "We've got a list of all the people known to be in the valley when the fire started. He was seen in the village early Friday morning. Who are you?"
"I told you," Eva snapped. "I'm his wife."
The trooper consulted his book again. This time when he looked up he was puzzled. "I'm sorry, miss," he said slowly. "But that's impossible. My notes tell me that Mr. Hobson's wife was with him in the village."
Eva's mouth went dry. She didn't understand what she had just heard. "But I'm his wife," she insisted. Your notes are wrong."
"That could be," the officer admitted. He looked back at the driver. "You'd better follow me. We'll get this straightened out."
The cab moved slowly down the south side of the lake which so far had prevented the fire from coming this far. At the far end they crossed to the other side on a small road and entered the village which had been saved by backfiring.
The officer left his cruiser and opened the door for Eva. "Come with me," he said.
Together they entered a small wooden building with the name, SHERIFF OF BIG BEAR painted on the door. Inside was organized confusion as a half dozen men worked frantically, trying to direct the campaign against the fire.
"This woman claims to be Hobson's wife," the trooper told a stolid looking man behind a scarred desk.
The sheriff grunted and fumbled through a sheet of papers, finally selecting one and staring at it for what seemed to Eva like forever. At last he looked up. "What are you trying to pull, honey?" he snapped. "You a photographer for a big shot paper trying to get some exclusive stuff?" He glanced at the trooper. "Check the cab for a camera. She sure as hell ain't got one on under that outfit."
Eva felt the floor bend slightly beneath her feet. Everybody had gone stark raving mad. "But I am Ralph's wife," she cried.
"In a pig's eye you are," the sheriff spat. "I know Ralph. He and I been fishing almost since he started coming up here with his wife four years ago. Ruth's cooked meals for us out at his place many a time."
"Ruth?" The name escaped her lips before Eva could stop it. Something horrible began to make sense.
But the sheriff broke into her thoughts. He tossed a piece of paper across the desk. "There's a picture of the three of us if you want more proof."
Eva's hands shooks as she looked at the print. She had to smother a gasp as the woman's face came into focus. She was beautiful, her hair draping down across her shoulders, the light features soft and gentle. And there was no doubt about it, the woman in that photograph was her sister. The truth exploded in Eva's face.
Ruth had been coming up here with Ralph all these years and posing as his wife. No wonder that woman in the tavern had called her by name from the rear that day. Eva licked her dry lips, trying to make some sense from the madness.
But again the sheriff cut in. "You should be glad you're not his wife," he said unhappily. "For two reasons." He waved at the fire visible through the single window of the office. "First, the poor kids are probably dead by now." He slammed his desk angrily with his fist, getting to his feet. "In a way I hope they are."
"Why?" Eva asked, almost afraid of what was coming.
The sheriff looked her directly in the eyes. "Because I got a warrant for Ralph's arrest Friday. It seems he helped a firm juggle their books so that the partners could escape with over two hundred thousand dollars apiece."
And now Eva knew. Her husband had been the third man. She walked to the window and watched the fire consume the mountain. Her sister and Ralph, something she'd never dreamed of.
And, as Eva studied the billowing smoke, she became certain of something else. When the fire was out and the police arrived at the cabin, there would be no bodies. Ralph had planned this, right down to the last detail. It was he who had set the blaze to cover their escape. Right now both of them were probably far away, enjoying the money she'd almost had a piece of.
In that moment, at the window, a lot of the past years flashed through Eva's head. No wonder Ralph had gone cold, he'd returned to Ruth. And he'd probably known about the men his wife had been seeing, not caring, hoping one of them would take her away.
And when, they didn't, Ralph had seen to it that Martin had to come to their house, knowing full well what might happen when they met.
Eva sighed heavily, feeling the weakness of her body, amazed at her own stupidity. And she'd thought Ralph was dumb. It was funny ... but she didn't feel like laughing. No wonder Martin had warned her that she had a smart husband.
The sheriff came up beside her, waggling the picture he'd taken from his wallet beneath her nose. "You still claim you're Mrs. Hobson?"
Eva drew in a long breath, staring into the lawman's beady eyes. What good would it do to tell him her suspicions? She shook her head sadly. "No," she said, her voice but a whisper. "You're right. Ralph's wife is dead."
"In that case you'd better get the hell out of here," the sheriff exploded. "We got enough work to do without having cranks on our necks."
Eva left the office, walking back to the cab in a trance. The driver grinned as he looked at her. "Get it straightened out?"
Eva nodded. "I did," she said wearily. "You can take me back down the mountain." She remembered something, adding, "I'm afraid that I don't have enough money for the return trip."
The hackie chuckled, staring down at the exposure as Eva purposely pulled her skirt to the waist sliding onto the back seat. "That's all right," he said. "We'll just take it out some other way."
Eva nodded agreement. Perhaps she'd go back to Las Vegas and accept Max's offer.
She had the merchandise. There was nothing left for her to do but sell it.
