"I'll gladly dance with my wife while you do all the heavy lifting on this one," Cain said, taking Emma's hand. "Ramon, Marianna, join us?"

Remi left her date talking to a director and couldn't believe her luck as she neared the bar. She took in the vision in the black dress who sat nursing a drink and appearing bored with the whole process, and her curiosity grew. "h.e.l.lo, stranger, come here often?" she whispered into Dallas's ear.

The low voice made Dallas visibly shiver. "My, but black is definitely your color," Dallas said. "Love the tux."

"Flatterer.I must agree on one thing though, Ms. Montgomery.

Black is definitely my color," Remi said, looking from the top of Dallas's head down to the black pumps. "You're a vision. I can see why the movie was namedLady-killers . Are you here alone or is that just wishful thinking?"

"No, Bob's around here somewhere pumping the flesh."

"Not a flesh pumper yourself?"

"Actually, I'd much rather be people watching in the French Quarter, but these gatherings are necessary in the industry if you don't want to be pa.s.sed over. Hopefully this guy won't be too long-winded and we can slip out of here early."

Remi had opened her mouth to tell Dallas to go home and do just that, when the voice she remembered from the plane boomed in her ear. "I thought I told you to stay away from her, pervert. You could ruin her image just by standing next to her," Bob said as he wrapped a proprietary arm around Dallas's waist. "Get lost."

Remi was about to comment he needed to have the jacket and the pants of his tuxedo let out some, but decided not to waste her time.

"Dallas, it was nice seeing you again. I'll do what I can about any long speeches." With that Remi turned and disappeared into the crowd.

"Bob, that was rude and unnecessary." Dallas pulled his arm away and wondered what her new friend meant by her long-speech comment.

"Looking after my property, babe.Can't have people thinking ill of you, can we? Look, the program's starting. Let's move where we'll be noticed." Bob pulled her off the barstool and started pushing people out of the way to get closer to the stage.

"Good evening, ladies and gentlemen and distinguished guests. I'm Robin Burrus of Gemini Studios, and I'd like to welcome you to our simple gathering tonight to welcome our new CEO.

"I've known Remington Jatibon for quite some time and am glad to see a Jatibon finally take the reins of the main offices of Gemini.

This is a family who'll work tirelessly until we dominate the moviemaking industry. Remi, I know you'll do your parents Ramon and Marianna proud. Please help me in welcoming Remington Jatibon." He turned and hugged Remi when she stepped on stage, patting her back several times before letting go.

When Remi turned to face the gathering Bob hissed, "What in the h.e.l.l is she doing up there?"

Dallas felt weak for a moment and uttered, "Oh, dear G.o.d, I'm screwed."

Lisa, standing behind them, answered Bob's question first. "She's up there because, d.i.c.key, that's Remi Jatibon." Then turning to Dallas she said, "Not yet, sweetie, but we're working on it."

"Thank you, everyone, for coming out tonight. I won't keep you long since someone just reminded me how people feel about long speeches." Her eyes cut to the right of the stage and met Dallas's.

Remi shrugged and smiled. Dallas crossed her arms and frowned slightly in return obviously not happy with her lie of omission as to who she was.

"Starting Monday, a new era will begin at Gemini. My team and I intend to build upon the great work you in this room have already done since the inception of the studio. Together we'll succeed in making Gemini better and more progressive than anyone else in the business.

"Through your craft you'll be present at many of our audience's first dates and first kisses. You'll touch people in ways you might not even realize. Our job is to help you continue to make the magic that has brought us to this point. My door is always open if any of you ever need my a.s.sistance." Remi looked back toward Dallas and smiled again.

"In closing, I'd like to introduce the new management team for Gemini Studio, Dwayne St. Germaine and Steve Palma." Remi waited for them to join her. "Thank you all for coming and good night. Please stay and enjoy the food and drink, and we look forward to Monday."

The inevitable press to the stage came, swallowing them as they stepped off of it. When they emerged, Dallas saw a striking woman take Remi's hand and figured she was Remi's date for the evening.

"I'll be lucky to get cast as a stand-in extra now."

"Okay, babe, we've got some major damage control to do, starting now," Bob said from behind her. "But this isn't anything we can't fix."

"We?Whoiswe , d.i.c.key? I'd get used to the name because, believe me, she isn't going to forget it anytime soon. I am so screwed. Do you think she'll forget, let's see," Dallas started counting off on her fingers, "'d.y.k.e,' 's.h.i.t for brains,' 'moron,' and 'pervert'? Oh, yeah, she'll be in a big-a.s.s hurry to forgive us both."

The furor in the room died away when the doors the Casey's and Jatibons had departed through closed. Some people returned to the dance floor and most went back to the bar, but Muriel and Shelby kept their seats.

"Are Cain and Remi Jatibon going into business together?"

"This is a date, Shelby, not a fishing expedition." Muriel took a sip of her whiskey and thought about how quiet Cain had been around them in the short time she was there. It wasn't anger in her face, more like disappointment.

"Just a simple question."

"Tell me truthfully that the simple answer won't end up in some official report." She drained the gla.s.s and along with it went any good feelings left from the beginning of their evening.

"I can't do that."

"Then it's not really a simple question, is it?" She stood and held out her hand. "Let's call it a night."

"Cut me some slack here. I'm sorry."

"No need to be sorry, I'm just ready to go." There was no commotion when they left and no conversation in the limo on the way to Shelby's small house uptown.

"Thanks for coming," Muriel finally said when they stopped and she walked Shelby to the door. "I'll call you."

As Muriel turned, she thought she heard Shelby say "I bet you don't," but she couldn't be sure.

"We have one thing going for us," Merrick said as she and Katlin got ready for bed. Katlin had moved out of Jarvis's pool house and in with her.

"We have plenty going for us, but what are you talking about?"

"Cain might not be thrilled we're together, but Muriel's love life should shift the limelight, don't you think?" She pulled the covers back and draped her leg over Katlin as soon as she lay down.

"I'm still trying to wrap my head around that one. My Uncle Dalton is probably spinning in his grave at what she's doing."

Merrick ran her hand down Katlin's abdomen and sighed. "We can't always pick who we fall for."

"But sometimes we can make sacrifices for the sake of what we believe in, if the person we choose doesn't respect it." She slapped Merrick softly on the a.s.s and pulled her closer. "That's for Muriel to decide, though, and right now I'm not worried about her and her problems."

"How long will you be gone this time?"

"Just a few days while we close the Capri deal. You'll barely notice I'm gone."

Merrick laughed at the gentle teasing and decided to do some of her own by squeezing Katlin's upper thigh between her legs.

"Need help with anything?" Katlin asked.

"You're still here? I didn't notice," Merrick said, letting out a shriek when Katlin slapped her a.s.s again, making it sting this time.

The night would have to last them until Katlin got back.

Chapter Ten.

"Tell me, Simon, why are women so complicated? You'd think I'd know since I'm a woman, but I've never been able to find an answer."

"That question has no right answer, since all women are different.

The best solution I've found, instead of wasting my time trying, has been to give diamonds for every occasion and in any circ.u.mstance."

"I'll keep that in mind," Remi said as she walked through the Quarter to the address her a.s.sistant Juno had given her that morning.

Juno had worked for her mother in Cuba and defected with the Jatibon family. Marianna had accepted the young girl's relationship with the quiet Simon, who at the time was Ramon's bodyguard, for what she saw it, love. As Remi grew and her father gave her more responsibility, he also gave her Simon. The strong woman would kill someone, if necessary, to protect one of Ramon's beloved children. Juno came along as part of the package, and together they kept Remi's life centered and on schedule.

"Just remember we have to be at the airport at ten," Simon said as they stopped in front of a plain building on Bourbon Street.

"The cup of coffee I'm planning on should take ten minutes." Remi glanced back when Simon cleared her throat. "What? You think she won't like coffee?"

"I'm sure she loves coffee, but telling her you're taking ten minutes out of your busy schedule isn't going to win you any favors."

"You should write a self-help book." Remi smirked as she pushed the buzzer.

"Can I help you?"

Remi recognized Dallas's voice and was surprised she'd answered the buzzer. "Good morning, Dallas, it's Remi."

"I'm sorry, who?"

She took her finger off the intercom and looked at Simon. "h.e.l.l, ten minutes might have been an overestimation."

"In these situations groveling and heartfelt apologies work just as well as precious stones."

"Remi Jatibon," Remi said, returning to the paces Dallas was putting her through.

"Sounds familiar...hmm...have we met?"

"I have some aliases you might recognize." Remi shook her head and took her finger off the b.u.t.ton, then pointed it at Simon to make her stop laughing. "There's 'd.y.k.e,' 's.h.i.t for brains,' and 'moron.'

Did I leave any out?"

"You left out 'pervert,' I believe," Dallas said, then laughed. "You have to realize Bob suffers from a chronic case of foot in the mouth."

"Let's not waste our time talking about d.i.c.key. Can I come in?"

A buzzer sounded, unlocking the door, and the plain exterior gave way to a beautiful courtyard and garden sprinkled with pieces of outdoor art and wrought-iron furniture. The place felt more like home than a temporary location rental. One of the chairs under the largest shade tree had a book on it, and Remi figured that must be Dallas's reading nook.

She stepped onto the patch of gra.s.s, curious as to what Dallas was reading, and smiled when she sawTurn Back Time , by Radclyffe, with a bookmark close to the end. "Now I'm more curious than ever," she whispered.

Footsteps on the slate floor made her look up to find Dallas wearing worn jeans and a loose white shirt, with her hair pulled into a ponytail.

"Good morning," Remi said.

"Yes, it is." Dallas stopped when she reached the edge of the gra.s.s.

"You're here, we both know who we are, and no one's wearing a tux."

"Not much on studio parties, are we?"

"I'm more of a barefoot and jeans girl, actually."

Remi glanced down at the sandals. "You put on shoes for me?

That's flattering."

"I figure if you're here to fire me, it would be more professional if I was dressed somewhat like an adult."

The reasoning made no sense to Remi, and she glanced back at Simon. "Your ideas on women are sounding better all the time," she said, then laughed and shook her head. "I'm not here to fire you, since at the moment you don't actually work for me, but I am here to ask you for a favor over coffee."

"Have a seat and I'll go make some."

"We can go somewhere for coffee. I didn't mean to put you out."

She nevertheless picked up the book and sat down.

"I promise not to poison you.Drip or espresso?"

"Espresso, with lots of sugar,thank you."

Dallas walked away but left her sandals behind. It amazed Remi that for all the foot traffic outside, Dallas's little patch of garden was as quiet as a church. She enjoyed the stillness with her eyes closed.

"Makes me want to sell the penthouse," she told Simon.

"Maybe you won't have to," Simon said. She sat close by with her head back.

"Do you read tea leaves down in Jackson Square in your spare time?"

"That's fun to do every so often," Dallas answered, making Remi's head jerk up. She put down the tray she was holding and handed Simon a cup first. "What can I do for you, Ms. Jatibon?"