Convincing Alex Read Free Page B

things.”
    Bess had signed for her purse and its contents, still keeping an eye out for Alex. “Stanislaski,” she repeated to herself. “Is that Polish, do you think?”
    â€œHow the hell do I know?” Out of patience, Lori steered her toward the door. “Let’s get out of here. The place is lousy with criminals.”
    â€œI know. It’s fabulous.” With a laugh, she tucked an arm around Lori’s waist. “I got ideas for the next three years. If we decide to have Elana arrested for Reed’s murder…”
    â€œI don’t know about having Reed murdered.”
    With a sigh, Bess looked around for a cab. “Lori, we both know Jim isn’t going to sign another contract. He wants to try the big leagues. Having his character offed is the perfect way to beef up Elana’s story line.”
    â€œMaybe.”
    Bess slyly pulled out her ace. “‘Our Lives, Our Loves’ picked up two points in the ratings last month.”
    Lori only grunted.
    â€œWord is Dr. Amanda Jamison is going to have twins.”
    â€œTwins?” Lori shut her eyes. Soap diva Ariel Kirkwood, who played the long-suffering psychiatrist on the competing soap, was daytime’s most popular star. “It had to be twins,” Lori muttered. “Okay, Reed dies.”
    Bess allowed herself one quick victory smile, then hurried on.
    Â 
    â€œAnyway, while I was in there, I was picturing the elegant, cool Dr. Elana Warfield Stafford Carstairs in prison. Fabulous, Lori. It’d be fabulous. I wish you’d seen the cop.”
    They’d walked to the corner, and there wasn’t a cab in sight. “What cop?”
    â€œThe one who arrested me. He was incredibly sexy.”
    Lori only had the energy to sigh. “Leave it to you to get busted by a sexy cop.”
    â€œReally. All this thick black hair. His eyes were nearly black, too. Very intense. He had all those hollows and planes in his face, and this beautiful mouth. Nice build, too. Sort of rough-and-ready. Like a boxer, maybe.”
    â€œDon’t start, Bess.”
    â€œI’m not. I can find a man sexy and attractive without falling in love.”
    Lori shot her a look. “Since when?”
    â€œSince the last time. I’ve sworn off, remember?” Her smile perked up when she spotted a cab heading their way. “I’m interested in this Stanislaski for strictly professional reasons.”
    â€œRight.” Resigned, Lori climbed in when the cab swung to the curb.
    â€œI swear.” She lifted her right hand to add impact to the oath. “We want to get into Storm’s head more, into his background and stuff. So I pick this cop’s brain a little.” She gave a cabbie both her address and Lori’s. “After Jade gets attacked by the Millbrook Maniac, Storm isn’t going to be able to hold back his feelings for her. More has to come out about who and what he is. If we do have Elana arrested for Reed’s murder, that’s going to complicate his life—you know, family loyalty versus professional ethics. And once he confronts Brock—”
    â€œHey.” At a red light, the cabbie turned, peering at them from under his fading Mets cap. “You talking about ‘Secret Sins’?”
    â€œYeah.” Bess brightened. “Do you watch it?”
    â€œThe wife tapes it every day. You don’t look familiar.”
    â€œWe’re not on it,” Bess explained. “We write it.”
    â€œGotcha.” Satisfied, he punched the accelerator when the light changed. “Let me tell you what I think about that two-timing Vicki.”
    As he proceeded to do just that, Bess leaned forward, debating with him. Lori closed her eyes and tried to catch up on lost sleep.

C HAPTER T WO
    â€œM y wife went nuts.” Judd Malloy munched on his cherry Danish while Alex swung in and out of downtown traffic. “She’s a big fan of that