Tempting Taylor. Joan Elizabeth Lloyd
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oddly shaped parcels to conform to the local zoning laws and wetlands ordinances, so although each house had a narrow frontage on the court, the driveways were long and the houses sat far back among the carefully arranged landscaping.
The Bonner house was the second on the right. Tay drove up the long driveway and pulled to a stop in front of the doors to the four-car garage. “We’re leaving the Mercedes and Daddy’s Corvette. You can keep the Toyota on this side,” Lissa said, using the remote button to open the leftmost of the two double doors.
Tay gazed again at the huge house. She was going to be house-sitting in this mansion, she thought. Amazing. The grass in the front yard was as slick as a putting green and several flowering trees were getting ready to bloom. The foundation of the house was concealed with azaleas, rhododendrons and mountain laurels, with several trellises covered with vining roses, none of it yet blooming. Tay knew that the backyard was as carefully manicured as the front and the area around the pool would be a riot of color from now until late into the fall, with flowers blooming everywhere.
“You might not meet any of the neighbors,” Lissa said, pulling Tay back to reality. “Everyone around here pretty much sticks to his or her own business, but as the weather gets warmer and dogs need to be walked, occasionally you’ll see some of the folks.”
Tay climbed out of the car and stared down the long driveway, then back at the house.
“You’re getting that deer-in-the-headlights look,” Lissa said.
Tay did feel like someone totally out of her element. Was she really sure she wanted to do this? Yes, she told herself. Lissa needs me and it’s only for six months. And there’s always the pool.
She’d arranged to telecommute every Tuesday and Thursday, starting in a week or two when she could get organized, but the other three days, and when her job needed her, she’d take the train into Grand Central. But what was she going to do on the weekends? Well, she’d have a train ticket and a car and she could go into the city on Saturday or Sunday and do what she always had. Movies, museums, visits with her few friends; she’d find things. And the Internet got her anywhere and everywhere.
She stared up at the three-story, white clapboard house with black shutters. “I guess I had forgotten how big this thing is.”
“It’s nothing so special,” Lissa said lightly, gazing at her friend.
“You’ve lived here since your dad bought this thing in 2004. I can remember back that far and I seem to recall you being very impressed at the time.”
Lissa smiled ruefully. “I guess you’re right. I had forgotten.” She took Tay’s hand and squeezed. “It really is just a house.” She giggled. “A big motherfucker, but a house nonetheless.”
Tension broken, the two women laughed easily as they began to lift cardboard boxes from the trunk. “That’s Pam DePalma,” Lissa said as a Lexus pulled into the cul-de-sac. “She lives in that one.” Lissa pointed to the driveway at the end of the circle. From her vantage point, Tay could just make out a cream-colored convertible as it pulled into the driveway. “She’s a delightful woman who throws parties for a living. I’ve seen a few famous faces coming and going, and when she’s entertaining, the street is full of limos. My father went to a few of her galas. A good-looking man with a worldwide reputation like Daddy is always welcome at any function.”
Dave Bonner certainly would be an asset to any gathering, Tay realized—broad shouldered, rugged looking, with bedroom eyes and the perpetual five o’clock shadow that seemed so in fashion. Sexy, actually. She’d never discuss this with Lissa, of course. Finding a friend’s father sexy was just too weird. “Is your dad around?”
“Nope. He’s in the city meeting with his agent. They’re going to some gallery opening. He’ll pick up some lovely woman, go to dinner and stuff, then adjourn to her place for ‘a nightcap.’” Lissa make quote marks in the air. “Ahh, the life. ‘I’m going to be on location in Africa for six to nine months,’ he’ll say. ‘Just me, my daughter and the wild animals.’ The women melt, thinking they’ll be the last sex he’ll have for all that time.” She giggled. “So he probably won’t be home until tomorrow, or maybe Monday.”
“You seem to know his routine pretty well.”
“Oh, I’ve watched him operate for many years, so I’m used to it. That was why I was so sure he’d never take me along. Now I guess he thinks I’m old enough not to cramp his style. Well, Daddy, I’m old enough to develop my own ‘style.’”
“It’s more difficult for us girls,” Tay said. “Guys have it pretty good. They can pick up women whenever they want.” She thought about Steve. “And toss them when they’re done.”
Catching the edge in Tay’s voice, Lissa said, “You’re sounding very jaundiced.”
“Sorry. A little of my ex-boyfriend crept into my thinking.”
“Well, toss him,” Lissa said, opening the front door and punching the security code into the keypad. “You’re starting all over.”
“True enough.” She put down the box she’d been carrying. “Okay, show me the security stuff I need to know.”
As Lissa showed her the code for the alarm system and told her the password for the alarm company, two cats, Ginger and Honey, arrived to spec out the visitor. Once they sniffed and ascertained that they knew Tay, they rubbed against her legs and snaked around her ankles. Precious stood in the doorway. If a cat could glare at an intruder, Precious was doing just that. However, she couldn’t be bothered enough to take any overt action.
“The dogs are in their area in the side yard,” Lissa said. “I’ll show you where everything is, including the vet’s number just in case. Come on out back.”
Tay knew that the dogs were perfectly happy in their partially covered enclosure with executive doghouses, but they did like to get walked and have a ball thrown for them from time to time. Lissa continued. “There is a pooper-scooper for weekly cleanups. The yard people try to do it, but at least one of them is scared to death of Mopp. Food is inside. I’ll show you where.”
The dogs were delighted to see the two women, and when they opened the gate to their enclosure both jumped and barked joyfully. Tay and Lissa picked up toys and played with the dogs until they were panting with exertion.
Finally they went back inside, picked up the boxes they’d set down in the hall and carried them up to the largest guest room. “I thought you’d prefer your own space, but please feel free to use any of my stuff,” Lissa said, then sized Tay up. “Looks like we still wear the same size, so go for it, and don’t worry about anything. You know how I enjoy buying more stuff, so if anything gets messed up, don’t sweat it.”
They made two more trips to the car and dumped the boxes in the large closet in the guest room. When the two women walked into Lissa’s room, Tay’s eyes widened. There were clothes everywhere, folded, dumped, draped and piled on every conceivable surface. “Lissa…”
“Okay, I know. But I can’t decide what to pack.”
Amazed but not surprised, Tay said, “You’re going to be dressed in grubbies for the duration, so what’s the big issue?” Then she grinned. “Okay, okay. In case of emergencies, right?” Despite the piles of clothing, Tay glanced into Lissa’s closet, which was still full.
“Oh, Tay, you know me so well. Just in case I need something for a dinner somewhere, I want to have something I can dress up in.”
Tay gave her what they both called the “hairy eyeball.”
“Okay, I get the point.” Changing the subject, Lissa said, “Why don’t you wait to unpack until later? I’m ready for the pool.”
The day hadn’t been particularly warm, but they’d been wrestling with boxes and dogs for over an hour, so Tay was ready for a swim. “Love to.”
Together, arm in arm like the dearest friends they were,