Read Online Microsoft Word - Rogers, Rosemary - The Crowd Pleasers by kps - Free Book Online

gave an expansive gesture-"which isn't really my style at all! I mean, I can remember that stubborn, stony-faced look of yours from the old days, and I'm not going to ask you any more questions or give you any more warnings. Little Carol has done her girl-scout bit for the evening and that's it!"
    "Thanks," Anne murmured, not knowing what else to say. She knew what she wanted-another martini, to take away the sick, self-hating feeling inside of her, and the voice that cried "Fool! You thought you were being adventurous, and you let yourself be used as a weapon in someone else's game that every-one but you knows about, didn't you?"

    She forced herself to shrug lightly. "You and Harris! All the warnings weren't really necessary, you know, but thanks any-way!" She pushed herself away from the dresser, glad to be standing on her own feet again.
    Carol stood up too, stretching lazily, then turned towards the mirror to run a small brush through her hair. "Oh well. As much as I hate the thought, I guess we'd better go back out there and face the crowds again." Carol frowned as she fought her curls into perfect disarray. "You'll stay for a while, won't you? There are some really nice people I want you to meet."

Chapter Six
    THREE MARTINIS LATER, Anne was wondering when she could decently make her excuses and leave. She should have forced herself to eat when she had the chance-now there were only nuts and olives to nibble on.
    Harris had found her another chair to sit on-really a bar stool with arms. He had his hand on her knee, while she explained to him seriously, hoping she didn't sound tipsy, that she had always wanted to be able to go to college here in the States.
    "Finishing school! My father is very old-fashioned, don't you think? What good was that? All I really learned was foreign languages, and things like manners and deportment. I told him I wanted to go to college, to be an anonymous face among other anonymous faces. I wanted to major in psychology. I had to write to him to tell him that-and you know what he said? He said, 'When you come back home, we'll see.' And then he sent Mr. and Mrs. Hyatt to take me out of school in Switzerland and take me on that world cruise I really dreaded. I don't get seasick, but I'm afraid of the ocean. And Craig was with them. He made me feel safe, and flattered of course. I kept wondering what he could see in me, what was interesting about me."
    "But you are interesting, Anne. And you have a classically lovely face. I think any man would find you fascinating." Harris Phelps's voice was soft and soothing, and Anne thought that after all, she did like him. He was understanding and seemed to enjoy her company. And she could be confident that he wasn't out to use her or exploit her. He was so rich that he could have his choice of women-any woman in this room, for that matter. And yet he chose her to sit by and talk to, neglecting even Carol. She didn't mind the slight pressure of his hand on her knee-Harris was a toucher, that was all. And his touch was safer than Webb's. Webb Carnahan-actor.
    She would like to blot out every memory of him if she could. Forget. Never think his name again. Recklessly, Anne began to sip at another martini, ignoring . Harris's disapproving, questioning look and his hand, which moved almost imperceptibly upward from her knee to her thigh, massaging gently while he continued to talk to her. "Are you really going to go through with a divorce, Anne? What are you going to do with yourself?"
    "I'm going back to Europe, Harris. On my own, this time. I think I need to travel, and find out things. Travel is supposed to be broadening, isn't it?"

    "You could stay here and go to college." "Yes, but it's a little late for that now, isn't it?
    Anyway, if I stayed here, I'd always feel-watched. And there'd be too much pressure.
    I think I'll feel more free in Europe. This time I'll travel where I want to go, not where somebody thinks I should go."
    "Where's that, Anne? I wish