from her lobes. Her hair was cut very short and feathered toward her gamine face. She had just a hint of makeup, just enough to enhance her high cheekbones and perfect bone structure. She looked expensive, elegant, and six years older than she was.
âIâm absolutely shocked,â Lettie said after a minute. âMy dear, you are the image of your mother.â
Tiffanyâs face softened. âAm I, really?â
Lettie nodded. âShe was so beautiful. I always envied her.â
âI wish Iâd known her,â she replied. âAll I have are photographs and vague memories of her singing to me at night.â
âYou were very young when she died. Harrison neverstopped mourning her.â Her eyes were sad. âI donât think he ever will.â
âYou never know about Dad,â Tiffany remarked, because she knew how Lettie felt about Harrison. Not that she was gauche enough to mention it. âWhy donât you go out with us tonight?â
âThreeâs a crowd, dear. Mark will want you to himself.â
âIt isnât like that at all,â Tiffany said gently. âHeâs mourning his girlfriend and Iâm mourning King. We have broken hearts and our work in common, but not much else. Heâs a friendâand I mean that quite sincerely.â
Lettie smiled. âIâm rather glad. Heâs very nice. But heâll end up in Europe one day in a villa, and that wouldnât suit you at all.â
âAre you sure?â
Lettie nodded. âAnd so are you, in your heart.â
Tiffany glanced at herself in the mirror with a quiet sigh. âFine feathers make fine birds, but King isnât the sort to be impressed by sophistication or beauty. Besides, the tabloids are already predicting that heâs going to marry Carla.â
âI noticed. Surely you donât believe it?â
âI donât believe heâll ever marry anyone unless heâs trapped into it,â Tiffany said honestly, and her eyes were suddenly very old. âHeâs seen nothing of marriage but the worst side.â
âItâs a pity about that. Itâs warped his outlook.â
âNothing will ever change it.â She smiled at Lettie. âSure you wonât come with us? You wonât be a crowd.â
âI wonât come tonight. But ask me again.â
âYou can count on it.â
Â
Mark was broody as he picked at his mint ice cream.
âYouâre worried,â Tiffany murmured.
He glanced at her wryly. âNo. Iâm distraught. My girl is being seen around town with a minor movie star. She seems smitten.â
âShe may be doing the same thing youâre doing,â she chided. âSeeing someone just to numb the ache.â
He chuckled. âIs that what Iâm doing?â
âItâs what weâre both doing.â
He reached his hand across the table and held hers. âIâm sorry we didnât meet three years ago, while I was still heart-whole. Youâre unique. I enjoy having you around.â
âSame here. But friendship is all it can ever be.â
âBelieve it or not, I know that.â He put down his spoon. âWhat are you doing for Christmas?â
âIâll be trying to get back from a location shoot and praying that none of the airline pilots go on strike,â she murmured facetiously.
âNew Yearâs?â
âI have to go home and arrange a business party for my father.â She glanced at him and her eyes began to sparkle. âIâve had an idea. How would you like to visit Texas?â
His eyebrows arched. âDo I have to ride a horse?â
âNot everyone in Texas rides. We live in Jacobsville. Itâs not too far from San Antonio. Dadâs in business there.â
âJacobsville.â He fingered his wineglass with elegant dark fingers that looked very sexy in the ads he modeled for. âWhy not?
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