No easy way out (7 page)

For the first time Alex remembered there was a third person in
the lab. He gave his head a sharp shake, and his gaze reluctantly
left Virginia's slim throat to focus on Diane's innocent blue eyes
and apologetic half-smile. "I ... I beg your pardon?"

Diane settled herself comfortably on the corner of the desk,
taking the time to arrange both the pleats on her skirt and her
strategy.

She already felt enormously pleased at the shift in Alex's
attention, fancying herself the sailor who had successfully tacked
her ship. Now it was ploy, gambit, ploy. "I think we can trust and
confide in Mr. Braddock, don't you, Doctor?"

Virginia's eyes widened, and she nodded dumbly.

Diane favored Alex with her most disarming smile. "You know the
three of us were like . . . like triplets back in Idaho."

"Three of you?" Alex raised a skeptical dark brow, crossed his
arms, and leaned back against a tall crate.

She nodded and let her gaze wander from his quizzical expression
to Virginia's amazed features. "What can I tell you about two
sisters who are as different as . . . lumpy oatmeal and lemon
souffle?" Diane's mouth formed a petite moue. Her chest rose
beneath a heavy sigh. "Virginia here was the studious one.
Staggering IQ, astounding grades, teacher's pet, wet blanket,
antisocial, totally nonorgasmic." She blithely ignored the
malevolent daggers thrown in her direction.

"Ginger was just the opposite, despite the fact that they are
twins. She was always in trouble at school, the IQ of a
houseplant-getting a D was a major accomplishment. Why, she even
has trouble reading a digital watch! But Ginger is very popular.
She gets turned on by the navel in an orange!"

Diane's red glossed lips curved into a reminiscent smile. "I had
the best of both worlds living next door to the Farrell twins.
Virginia kept me sensible and did my homework while Ginger added
spice and excitement to my life."

Alex massaged his jaw with due consideration. "Are you telling
me that the woman I met at Quimby's was Dr. Farrell's twin?" he
asked, his eyes narrowing in doubt.

"It was all my idea." Diane nodded. "Ginger flew in for a
modeling assignment, and when I couldn't persuade the doctor to
attend the party, her sister was only too happy to substitute. I
didn't think anyone would notice. But that Ginger . . ." She rolled
her eyes, her tongue clicking against the roof of her mouth. "She
never plays it cool or safe. She has to get involved, has to get
intense, loves to play games." She gave a futile shrug.

Deciding not to wait for Alex's rebuttal, Diane plunged ahead
with vigor. "You know, Mr. Brad-dock, if you saw them side by side
you would realize just how different they really are." She favored
Virginia with a purposeful stare, hoping she would abandon her
mute, robotlike position and begin to cooperate and contribute.

"That's very true, when we are together the differences are
quite pronounced." The strength in her voice made Virginia feel
more secure. She decided to further pursue her advantage.

Virginia drew herself up to regal proportions, at the same time
managing to cave her chest in. "My sister is much shorter than I
am. Of course, you remember her height with heels." Her hands
flattened her tumbled hair and looped it behind her ears, making
her face resemble a square, stern block.

"Ginger is a blonde. It's all artificial, but then, models rely
on cosmetics to create various effects in their appearance." The
pomposity of her tone harmonized with her disdainful manner. "My
sister's eyes are more gray than blue and, since her arrival,
everything reeks of that cloying perfume she uses."

Diane exhaled a prisoned breath and slid off the desk. "When we
came in and found the rabbit's tail, well. . . you can imagine how
upset we were." She favored Alex with a wide stare. "Ginger told us
about her escapade with the Bandit, but we never thought we'd be
the ones dealing with him." Diane viewed the mottled red flush that
stained his features with well-concealed jubilation.

"Yes," Virginia inserted in a quick, brusque tone, "I really
must apologize for my sister. I should be used to her antics and
tidying up after her, but I still find these situations quite
abhorrent."

"I think I'm the one owing the apologies." Alex slid a long
finger between tie and collar, hoping to ease the discomfort. "The
more I look at you, Dr. Farrell, the more I realize just how
mistaken I am. It's very apparent that the frivolity of a
masquerade party is well beneath your dignified station."

"Correct," Virginia agreed haughtily. "My work is the only
source of enrichment I need in my life." Why did that statement
suddenly become the biggest lie told yet? Swallowing the sour taste
that had formed in her mouth, Virginia continued with brutal
determination. "My sister is the type who thrives on diversions,
whereas I thrive on constants."

"Your strengths are both commendable and admirable, Doctor."
Alex's smooth Southern drawl was once again full of compliments. "I
will, of course, keep your little deception a secret."

Diane grabbed his hand and pumped it in false gratitude. "Thank
you, Mr. Braddock. You don't know how relieved I am. I've worked at
AVELCOMP for three years and would hate to lose face with Mr.
Quimby."

Alex could do nothing but consolingly pat the small ringed hand
that held his in a Herculean grip. He found his eyes had once again
focused on Virginia; his mind, however, remembered Ginger. "Dr.
Farrell, I was wondering when your sister would be avail-" The
telephone's insistent buzz interrupted him.

Saved by Bell. Virginia breathed and scooped up the receiver.
She listened for a minute, gave a mental sigh, and hung up. "That
was the receiving dock, Mr. Braddock. Another equipment truck just
arrived, and they would like you to come down and assist in the
setup."

"I'll head right over." Alex nodded, reaching for the rolled
schematic on the packing crate. "I was wondering though when and
where I could reach Ging-"

"Mr. Braddock," Diane's sweet, melodic voice interrupted him,
"would you please scrawl your name on these insurance forms. I have
to process them today." She pushed the rescued, now neatly packaged
papers under his nose, flipped the pages, and pointed to the
appropriate dotted lines.

When Alex had signed in five places, Diane neatly juggled the
folder under her arm and escorted him to the door. "You really are
a pet." She smiled up at him. "I'm sure you'll enjoy working with
us at AVELCOMP, but one important rule here is never keep the boys
in shipping and receiving waiting." She unlatched the metal portal
and deftly shoved Alex into the air lock.

Diane collapsed against the closed doorway, shut her eyes, and
exhaled a musical breath. "That was a stroke of genius, if I do say
so myself." Her lashes fluttered open, her lips curling into a
cocky grin. "Now, don't thank me, it-"

"Thank you! I was thinking more of murder!" With narrowed eyes
and intent, purposeful strides, Virginia advanced on her.

"Wait just one minute!" Diane scooted behind a low, wide crate,
anxious to separate intended victim from assailant. "I'm the one
who just saved that
'memorable anatomy'
of yours."

"Saved it?" The words split on a high note of hysteria.
Virginia's clenched fist hit the crate, nearly splintering a wooden
slat. "It seems to me you've thrown it right into a raging inferno.
Whatever possessed you to make up such a story? How could you have
created another person? I may have been guilty of some big lies in
my time, but this . . . this .. . this . . ." Words evaded her; her
head collapsed into her hands.

"I don't know why you're so upset" Diane sniffed in an injured
voice. "I was only trying to help. I remembered all the times your
lies saved me."

Virginia looked up, opened one eye, and focused it on her
slump-shouldered friend like a malevolent cyclops. "We are not
teenagers, and this is not high school," she growled, then became
more demonstrative. "Lest you forget, Diane, we are nearly thirty,
much too old to play such games."

"Men and women have been playing games since the dawn of time;
you just haven't participated," she countered with haughty
self-righteousness. Then, as if to salve her conscience, she added,
"It wasn't actually a lie-we just economized the truth. You were
another person at the party and on that balcony."

"That was one night, after too many drinks," Virginia grated,
her lips thinning in anger. "You're trying to perpetuate a myth.
You're trying to mix fantasy and reality. That only works in
romances. This is real life!"

Diane favored her with a blithe smile and seemed totally
ignorant of the narrowed, intimidating glare cast in her direction.
"It also seems that you, as Ginger, made quite a memorable
impression on Alex Braddock."

Virginia opened her mouth, then closed it, unable to think of a
suitable retort.

"You obviously fascinated the man. Doesn't that tell you
something about yourself?" Diane's petite features turned serious.
She grasped Virginia's cold hands and gave them supportive warmth.
"With just a little initiative you can grab the gusto that is life.
Aren't you tired of sitting on the sidelines? Your job may be
mentally and professionally rewarding, but what about. . .
sensually? Believe me, an encounter with a flesh and blood man
beats a clunking, metallic robot any day!"

"What do you want from me?" The words were uttered from deep
within a lacerated, exhausted soul.

"I want you to take an interest in yourself for a change; to
stop being so insecure and appreciate what you've accomplished. You
have so much to offer. What makes you think you can't attract and
hold a man just because you've got brains and talent and a
high-powered career?"

"Because it's happened before."

"So what? Do you think that makes it carved in granite?" Diane
snorted derisively. "He was the insecure one. Why did you accept
the blame? And worse, why have you let it fester and infect your
life?"

"It's easier to blunt the senses than to keep getting hurt,"
Virginia explained in a weary voice. "My professional
responsibilities complicate my personal life."

Diane released her hold and looked at her friend's lowered head
for a long moment. A myriad of thoughts tumbled through her mind;
she took a deep breath and plunged ahead. "Are you attracted to
Alex?"

"Yes."

"Would you like Alex to be attracted to you?"

"Yes."

"Well then?"

Virginia looked at her. "He wants Ginger."

"You are Ginger!"

"No, I'm not!"

"But you could be," Diane prodded resolutely. "You were Ginger
once, and you were terrific."

Running her fingers through her tumbled hair, Virginia let her
palms ease the tension from the nape of her neck. "I refuse to
resort to any more trickery," she returned with equally stubborn
determination.

"All's fair in love and war."

"I am not in love!" she squealed through clenched teeth.

"But you do find Alex attractive," Diane pointed out
tenaciously. "Physically attractive, mentally attractive, and
sexually attractive."

"Yes, yes, yes, yes!" Virginia exploded. "But that's not love.
It's ... it's more like spontaneous combustion." Her last words
were mumbled.

"Well," Diane continued in a sly vein, "at least you admit the
man causes a definite chemical reaction. That's quite an
accomplishment." She cast her a glance. "Now that Alex believes
there are two of you, you'll be able to stay and work in the lab
and not worry about losing his respect."

"I suppose so," Virginia nodded in slow agreement.

"Although I don't know how you're going to do it." Diane tapped
the folder of insurance forms against her hip, then sauntered
toward the air lock. "It's going to take a lot of willpower to
ignore the sensations Alex can cause. Those broad shoulders, that
sensuous mouth, those bedroom eyes-it's going to be pure torture,
especially when you remember the balcony."

Diane circled her ruby-glossed lips slowly with her tongue, then
exhaled a dramatic sigh worthy of an Oscar. "Shoulder to shoulder,
thigh to thigh. Day in, day out. Look, but don't touch. So near,
yet so far. I could never do it. I'd have Alex Braddock out of his
clothes, on the floor, and in a state of rapture in no time."

She smiled into Virginia's distressed features. "But I keep
forgetting what a Rock of Gibraltar you are. Ginger's the one with
the warm, passionate, sensual nature; you're the unfeeling, frigid
fish."

A pair of brooding blue eyes stared at the slowly closing door.
For the rest of the afternoon, Diane's erotic words, coupled by
visions of Alex, tormented Virginia's resolve.

"Am I still invited for dinner?"

Virginia plucked the wine bottle from the ringed hand beneath
her nose, then looked down into Diane's pensive face. "Of course."
She stepped to one side, bowed, and made a grand, sweeping gesture
with her other hand. "I'm sure you'll find tonight's menu most
appropriate for this hostess." Her features were totally
unreadable. "I'm serving a relative -baked fish." "

Diane choked, cleared her throat, and flounced past her toward
the dining room. "All right, I admit my parting comment was quite
uncalled for. I'm sorry."

"That's all right." Virginia's mouth twisted into a wry smile.
"I've been thinking about some of your comments all afternoon."

"And?"

"I'm still thinking," came her dry rejoinder just before she
disappeared through the archway into the kitchen.

Diane made a face, extracted cigarettes, lighter, and an ashtray
from the pocket of her batik-print jump suit before settling
herself at the table. "Did Alex ever come back to the lab?"

"No."

She made another face, then sucked in a soothing lungful of
smoke. "Dinner smells great. I didn't think you had it in you,
Julia Child."