A Half Dozen Fools Read online

  The bartender finally pressed her sultry frame against the bar directly across from Elyse, who made it a point not to stare at her great glands. Instead, she looked into the woman's darkly outlined eyes.

  "Hi, there. I'm Giselle," the woman said. "What can I get you, honey?"

  "Ketel One straight up, please."

  Elyse tore her eyes away from Giselle's tattoo to scour the bar in search of Sharmaine. Scanning the crowd told her she was among high paid executives and other affluent professionals. Both older and up-and-coming captains of industry, along with different types of working girls, were numbered among the patrons.

  All of a sudden Elyse caught the vibe that someone was watching her. She turned to see a tall, blond man in a charcoal suit leaning against the maroon leather wall, ...ing with a couple of guys. He smiled when her eyes met his, but Elyse barely returned it and continued looking for her friend.

  "There you go, sweetheart." Giselle placed the martini before her. "Want to start a tab?"

  Before Elyse could answer, the man called over, "You can put that on my tab, Giselle."

  "Okay, James, I've got it."

  Elyse turned to see the blond man grinning down at her, handsome in a scrubbed, yacht-club sort of way.

  She raised her glass. "Why, thank you, sir."

  Before she sipped, she happened to glance at Giselle reaching across the bar to grab a glass on the other side. In doing so, her breasts nearly burst up over their horizon line. And if Elyse wasn't mistaken, the nipples peeked out before returning behind the line again.

  Here's to your maracas, sister.

  She sipped and let out a satisfied, "Ah."

  James smiled. Elyse placed her glass on the bar and started shimmying her coat off her shoulders. The man reached over in gentlemanly manner to help her take it off.

  "I've got it," she said, trying to shake it down on her own. But he insisted, so she finally succumbed with a, "Thank you."

  "You're welcome. By the way, I'm James Wentworth. And you are?"

  "Elyse. I'm looking for a friend."

  "I could help if you like. You might make a new friend that way."

  She shot him a bemused look.

  "Or not," he added with a laugh.

  Elyse sighed. She hadn't been out much lately, still traumatized by her domestic drama with Rick. She'd been going home after work to read and sketch, with a tiny bit of TV or going to the gym. Shar finally convinced her she was too young to spend night after night at home alone, so Elyse agreed to step out again. Tonight she was meeting Shar's new boyfriend for the very first time--this older guy who was a lawyer.

  Elyse would have preferred hanging out with Shar alone, since she wasn't much in the mood for making new acquaintances. But Shar was her truest friend, who had been especially helpful in the aftermath of Chef Rick's abuse. Therefore, Elyse pushed aside her own grumpiness for social time to please her friend.

  Small talk with some guy who was hitting on her, however, was an entirely different matter. Okay, he'd bought her a drink, so she owed him a few minutes. While he inquired where she was from and how long she'd lived in Manhattan, she gave him the basics and continued searching for her friend. She finally spotted her way over on the other side, dragging off a cigarette.

  Elyse gathered her coat, grabbed her glass, and looked up at James Wentworth.

  "It was nice to meet you, James, but I see my friend over there. Thanks a million for the drink. Catch ya later."

  He stepped back in surprise. "Oh. Well--but I--"

  Elyse smiled, ducked down behind him, and pushed her way through the crowd.

  After sharing a hug with Shar, Elyse was introduced to Jerry Bachman, a short, square-shaped man who politely gave up his chair to her. He ordered her another drink and gushed about what a wonderful girl Sharmaine was. Elyse agreed wholeheartedly, and Shar laughed at them both. Jerry then stated how excited he was about helping her build a new business.

  "What kind of business?" Elyse asked.

  "Trompe de l'oeil," Shar answered.

  "Trompe de l'oeil painting?"

  "Yes, darling. You know I used to paint, years ago. Not quite the artist you are, but I think I'll do well with this kind of thing. It can be very profitable, you know."

  "Where? What surfaces, I mean."

  "Anywhere--residential, business. For anybody who wants a wall painted to look like something else."

  "Here in New York?"

  "I doubt it. I'm still researching for the best place to start a company."

  Elyse marveled at how, once her friend decided to do something, she went at it with fervor. In fourth grade, she'd said she was going to become a great dancer and never wavered from her goal. Now she was going to create a business for trompe de l'oeil style painting, and Elyse figured she'd be a huge success with that, too. How ironic that Elyse, on the other hand, had much God-given talent for visual artistry, yet never quite figured out how to use it to her advantage. Her family had convinced her pursuing art for a living simply wasn't practical, so she'd gone into teaching instead. Yet her divorce had brought far more changes than she could ever have anticipated. She was still letting go lots of preconceived notions about what her life should be versus what felt right to her.

  Elyse happened to glance over and see James Wentworth standing a few feet away. She was about to quip about him stalking her when Shar called over.

  "Hey, James, how's it going?"

  "Fine, thanks, Shar. How are you?"

  Elyse watched in surprise as the two of them shared a friendly hug, and Jerry reached over to shake his hand.

  "Hey, Jimbo," Jerry said. "Elyse, this is James Wentworth. James, this is Elyse, Shar's friend."

  "Yes," Elyse said drily, "we've met."

  "Oh?" Shar asked. "You have?"

  "Over there, by the bartender with the tattoo on her neck. He even bought me a drink."

  She fluttered her eyelashes at Shar.

  "Well, I didn't put him up to it," Shar said defensively. "Did I, James?"

  James laughed, showing straight, white teeth. "Nope. I found the young lady all on my own. Pretty cool, though, that you two are friends."

  Elyse suddenly realized that this was the guy Shar had been trying to fix her up with the past week. She looked at Shar.

  "A real co-inky-dink."

  Shar laughed and sipped her chardonnay.

  "So," Elyse asked James, "you're a lawyer, too?"

  "Hell, I'm no lawyer! Although, I probably could be at this point. I'm very familiar with certain aspects of the law, you might say."

  Jerry guffawed and James cracked up, too.

  Elyse didn't know why, but she'd never liked getting set up with anybody, even James Wentworth. But this was Shar's friend, and Elyse loved Shar, so she played nice.

  "What is it you do, James?"

  Jerry butted in. "He manages the money of the rich. And even some of the famous."

  James shrugged. "Somebody has to." He placed his empty glass on the bar and called for another Grey Goose on the rocks.

  Elyse couldn't decide if James was cocky or uber-confident.

  "Cheers," he said with his refreshed drink.

  He clinked his glass against Elyse's martini. His eyes held hers as he tasted it.

  "Hey, you two," Shar said. "What do you say we all grab some dinner?"

  Elyse protested mildly, "I have to get up early for work."

  "We all do," James said.

  "Come on," Jerry said. "I've got it--it's on me. Let's go over to the Jade Bull."

  Shar nudged Elyse gently in the rib. "It'll be fun."

  "Hey, I'm up for that," James said with a grin. "Knowing it's on Jerry will make it all the more delicious."

  Elyse didn't get the joke, but Jerry cracked up laughing.

  Jerry asked, "You good with the Jade Bull, Elyse?"

  "Sure, of course. Wherever you say."

  "Good," Jerry said. "Drink up."

  As the men paid their tabs, Shar winked at
Elyse, who smiled back weakly.

  * * * *

  Unable to catch a cab, the foursome walked in the drizzle. James and Elyse followed Shar and Jerry under the umbrella James held. Since Shar stood three inches over Jerry in her stiletto-heeled boots, she held their umbrella up.

  Elyse shivered. "Are we almost there, Shar?"

  "Yes, darling. A block and a half more."

  "You cold?" James asked Elyse.

  Holding her by the waist, he pulled her in tighter. She tried to put some space between them by moving away.

  "No," she lied. "I'm good."

  At Madison Avenue, Shar and Jerry stopped short when the cross light changed, and Elyse and James bumped into them. While cars roared forward, Elyse moved farther away from James and pawed her feet at the sidewalk in search of warmth.

  "Hey," James asked her out of nowhere, "do you know Bobby Kressner?"

  "Bobby Kressner?" Elyse had to stop and think about this non sequitur. "Oh, Bobby Kressner... Well, I met him once, through a friend. A while back." She looked at him. "Why in the world did you ask me that?"

  James nudged his chin across the side street. "Because he's waving at you, over there--by Blarney's."

  Sure enough, there stood Bobby Kressner on the corner in front of the retail giant. With a grin, he waved at Elyse.

  "Oh, geez! Hey, Shar? I need to say hi to this guy over here, if you don't mind. Give me a minute?" Without waiting for an answer, she stepped out from under the umbrella and secured her hat in place. "I'll be right back, James."

  She bolted toward Bobby before James could offer to join her with the umbrella.

  Bobby was standing there rocking on his heels, raindrops bouncing off his stylish black hat, the collar of his Prada coat flipped up around his neck.

  "It's the girl from Gotham's Comedy Club," Bobby said cheerily. "Elyse, right?"

  "Right. And you're Bobby Kressner."

  "Right! How are you?"

  "Fine. How in the world did you recognize me?"

  "I was waiting to cross Madison and happened to glance over. There was your face, lit up under the streetlight."

  "Crazy!"

  Their breath showed white in the chill, night air.

  Bobby asked, "Is that your boyfriend, over there?"

  "No, I just met him tonight. It's a friend of a friend kind-of-thing."

  "Oh, good. Then I still have a chance."

  She laughed, tantalized by his good looks and easy charm.

  When he smiled, his trademark dimples surfaced, recognizable by millions of women across America--except Elyse, who hadn't been paying attention.

  "So, you're not involved with anyone, Elyse?

  "Nope. I'm a free agent now. Just broke up with an executive chef."

  Bobby reached inside his overcoat. "My card. If you'd like it."

  "Your card? Sure."

  "Just--well, keep it discreet, if you know what I mean. It's an unlisted number."

  She shrugged. "Okay."

  As she reached for it, he plucked it away.

  "Promise you'll call?" he asked playfully.

  She looked at him. "If you want me to."

  "'Course I do! Let's get together sometime."

  "That'd be fun."

  He handed her the card and grinned. She slipped it into her handbag and glanced over at her friends, then back.

  "Great to see you, Bobby, but I better run now--my friends'll kill me if we don't get inside for dinner soon!"

  "Hey, no shit--I'm freezing my butt off out here! Give me a call one of these days."

  "Okay! Have a great night."

  She skipped away to rejoin her group.

  "Sorry about that, guys," she said breathlessly. "I hope you didn't freeze out here."

  "Hey," James said sarcastically, "one can't just ignore a big TV star, can one?"

  Elyse didn't answer as the four of them huddled together to cross the avenue.

  Holding James's arm, Elyse was thinking of Bobby. Even after the night she'd met him at the comedy club, his celebrity status was still based on hearsay. She'd never seen the show that that had made him a household name, nor read the gossip rags contributing to his fame.

  Of course, rising stars had slipped by her in the past. As a teacher, she'd painted in her spare time, often out of the cultural loop until friends and coworkers pointed out the latest Hollywood flavor of the month, or some scandalous behavior of the rich and famous.

  But maybe she'd better start paying attention to what was going on in the industry. Especially as a makeup artist who wanted to get ahead.

  * * * *

  After a sumptuous dinner at the Jade Bull Restaurant, the foursome sat back and relaxed. The two gentlemen sipped cognacs while the girls shared a bottle of sake.

  Shar leaned over with lids at half mast. "Excuse Elyse and me, Jerry, while we go powder our noses."

  Jerry rubbed her forearm affectionately. "God forbid you have a shine."

  Inside the ladies room, Shar asked Elyse, "So, what do you think of James? You two seem to be getting along pretty well."

  "He's super polite."

  "Don't you think he's good-looking? I mean, do you find him attractive? I think he's adorable. Comes from an old blue blood family out on Long Island. Does well for himself, too. Great catch, as they say."

  Elyse plucked a rolled hand towel from the basket on the copper sink and dried her hands with it.

  "I don't know what's wrong with me, lately. I think I've lost all interest in men."

  "Well, after that debacle with Rick Giordano--the big jerk!--it's no wonder. Got you all depressed when he's the loser. James might be good for helping you get over that SOB."

  Elyse made a noncommittal shrug. "Maybe. I mean, I appreciate what you're doing, Shar--"

  "I'm not doing anything. I just noticed you two are getting along. I don't have an agenda, or anything like that."

  "I know..."

  "Maybe you should give James a chance, just to take your mind off that crazy chef, if nothing else. Dinner can't hurt, can it? I know he really likes you."

  "How do you know that?"

  "I know James. I can tell by how he acts."

  Elyse caught herself from wincing. "Anyway," she said brightly, "he's very nice. We'll see what happens."

  * * * *

  After the Jade Bull, James dropped Elyse off in front of her apartment building. She tried to keep him from getting out and walking her to the lobby door, but he insisted.

  "Please, don't worry," he assured her. "I have to, in good conscience." To the driver, he said, "Keep the meter running please."

  Elyse beelined for the door hoping to avoid the awkward moment of an unwelcome good-night kiss. But as soon as she turned the key in the outer door, James pulled it back. Caught between James and the doorframe, she found herself struggling to release it. She finally succeeded and tried to squish past him, but he stooped down and held her by the waist. When he went in to take the shot, Elyse turned her head to one side, and he ended up kissing her cheek.

  He straightened with a hurt puppy expression on his face. "Gee, should I take that personally--giving me the cold cheek?"

  "No. But we did just meet, after all."

  "I thought we really connected though."

  "Maybe we did," Elyse said dryly. "But best friends in seven hours--really?"

  "Oh, so we have to be best friends to share a kiss?" He laughed. "Don't worry. I'll respect your wishes, ma'am. So, tomorrow night at seven, right?"

  "Yes, James. I'll meet you in front of the Athletic Club."

  "If I'm not right there, just go inside. There's a bar on the ground floor. Get yourself a drink."

  "Okay, James. See you then." Elyse turned and went inside.

  Seated at the podium by the elevator, the young night watchman gave no indication that he'd been eavesdropping, but Elyse knew better.

  She smiled at him, and he nodded respectfully.

  The first thing Elyse did inside her apartment wa
s release her aching feet from the bondage of high heeled boots. Groaning in relief, she rubbed them and went in search of mindless noise to fill the silence. She turned on the television and walked inside her bedroom, taking off her sweater. As she pulled on her nightgown, she heard the TV announcer proclaim that New York's Finest would be airing next. She rushed back in and cranked up the sound up so she could hear it throughout the apartment.

  While she washed up in the bathroom, she chuckled to herself. Isn't that a coincidence? I just ran into Bobby Kressner, I've never seen his show, and now--here comes a rerun!

  She returned to the living room in time to catch Bobby onscreen.

  Wow, he looks even better on the tube than he did in person. Must be what they call the camera loving his face.

  She was soon mesmerized by Bobby as Police Lieutenant Benson Hathaway. She had to admit, he was convincing as the passionate, idealistic cop at odds with corruption not only among criminals but his fellow officers, too.

  During a commercial break, Elyse dug through her purse for the card Bobby had given her earlier that evening.

  When the show resumed, she observed it with a more clinical eye. She tried to gauge how much makeup Bobby was wearing, and how the lighting had been set up for different shots. She had to admit, not only was his acting terrific, he had major sex appeal, too.

  As the level of his fame and fortune finally dawned on her, a twinge of excitement tickled her midriff and she tapped her fingertips together like an excited little girl.

  Wow--I met a real star! And not only that--he gave me his card.

  Once the show had ended, Elyse went to bed. After tucking herself in, she slid Bobby's card underneath her pillow.

  Feeling more contented than she had in a long, long time, she slipped off to dreamland with a grin on her face and hope for the future.

  Chapter 8

  After tidying up her makeup studio, Elyse headed out to the retail area. Between the doorway and counter space, she slowed her pace. Judy was crouched behind a counter guzzling from a small, silver flask. Although hidden from the lobby and spa by the display case, Elyse had a perfect view from where she stood.