Rivals

1

Someone was watching her. She could feel the weight of a pair of eyes on her. It was hardly surprising in a room full of people--yet she had the strongest sensation.

Twenty minutes earlier, Flame Bennett had arrived at the DeBorgs' twelve-room aerie atop one of the gleaming towers on San Francisco's Telegraph Hill. Pausing in the marble foyer with her friend and associate Ellery Dorn, she'd hastily begun tugging off her black Fendi gloves, one finger at a time, as she turned to the waiting maid in her starched uniform. "Has Miss Colton arrived?"

"About fifteen minutes ago, Ms. Bennett."

The reply confirmed Flame's suspicion. They were late, later than even fashion allowed. Tonight's party was more than just an exclusive gathering of the San Francisco opera committee; it was a formal reception for the internationally acclaimed coloratura soprano Lucianna Colton, the guest diva in the fall season's opening production of Il Trovatore. Not being on hand to welcome her was the equivalent of being late for an audience with the Queen. It simply wasn't done.

"What a pity we missed her entrance," Ellery murmured dryly as he handed his topcoat and white silk scarf to the maid, then brushed absently at an invisible speck of lint on the sleeve of his black jacket.

Flame shot him a quick glance. His faint smile held a hint of mockery. That was Ellery--cynical and urbane and elegant, with a wry mocking wit that could be quite cutting. And, as always, he was impeccably groomed with not a single strand of his light brown hair out of place.

"How typical of you, Ellery," she laughed as he stepped up behind her and slipped the black fox jacket from her shoulders. "Your tears match your crocodile shoes."

"But of course." He gave the jacket to the maid, then tucked a guiding hand under her elbow. "Shall we make our entrance?"

"We don't have any choice," Flame murmured with a trace of ruefulness he didn't share.

Leaving the foyer, they passed through the reception hall and entered the small sitting area beyond it. Her glance touched briefly on the sunny yellow traditional sofa and black Regency chairs juxtaposed with a pair of eighteenth-century oriental cabinets, the room's decor indicative of the genteel blend to be found throughout the spacious penthouse. But her attention was drawn to the bright chatter of voices interspersed with soft laughter coming from the main sitting room on the right.

Unconsciously she squared her shoulders as she paused in the arch to the claret-glazed room. Flame was accustomed to heads turning. Long ago, she had come to terms with the fact that her looks attracted stares, both the admiring and the envious kinds. It was more than being model tall and shapely or possessing a strongly beautiful face. No, what set her apart was that rare and striking combination of ivory fair skin, jade green eyes, and copper hair with just enough gold in it to tone down the red.

But the looks directed her way now held a hint of disapproval at her tardiness. She knew all the guests. Most were old family friends who had literally watched her grow up. Flame was one of the few at the gathering who had the distinction of being a direct descendant of one of San Francisco's founding families. And that very connection gave her entrée to the elite circles, an entrée that new money couldn't necessarily buy. As Ellery had once caustically observed, the color of a person's money wasn't nearly as important in San Francisco as the color of his or her blood. With the latter, one didn't automatically need the former.

Their hostess, Pamela DeBorg, a bright bird of a woman with feathery ash blonde curls, spotted them and swooped over, the shawl scarf to her panne velvet Blass gown billowing out behind. "Flame, we had given up on you."

"It was unavoidable, I promise," Flame apologized. "The agency was filming a commercial at the Palace of Fine Arts. Unfortunately, we had some problems."

"Indeed," Ellery chimed in. "Our prima donna was a leopard--or should I say leopardess. I hope yours doesn't turn out to be as temperamental and uncooperative as ours."

"Lucianna is an absolute dear," Pamela declared, clasping her hands together in delight, the spectacular diamond ring on her finger flashing in the light. "You will love her, Flame. She is so warm, so affable ... what can I say? You must meet her yourself. Come. She's in the Garden Room with Peter." She caught at Flame's hand, drawing her from the arch, then paused long enough to include Ellery. "You, too, of course." Then she was off, somehow managing to stay a half step ahead of Flame while turning to her, talking all the way. "Did I tell you she changed the entire travel schedule and flew here on a private jet instead? It was absolute insanity this afternoon trying to get everything rearranged." Flame smiled sympathetically, aware no other response was required. "And wait until you see her gown. It's gorgeous. But the necklace she's wearing--a fabulous diamond and ruby bijoux that will make you die with envy. Jacqui hinted that she thought it was paste," she added, dropping her voice to a conspiratorial level when she mentioned the chronicler of San Francisco's society doings, Jacqui Van Cleeve, a former socialite herself before her divorce. "But those rocks are definitely real, Flame. That necklace reeks of Bulgari's touch. Believe me, I know."

Flame didn't doubt that. It had been said that Pamela DeBorg's collection of jewelry could rival the Duchess of Windsor's, both in quantity and quality.

Just ahead, a set of French doors stood open, leading into the Garden Room. Pamela swept through them, then paused a fraction of a second. The lengthy expanse of glass provided the grandly spacious penthouse with its de rigueur view of the Golden Gate Bridge and the bay. Intimate groupings of plushly cushioned rattan furniture were scattered among a profusion of potted plants and Chinese urns.

In the middle of it all, holding audience, stood the dark-haired diva herself, stunning in a back-plunging gown of scarlet that hugged her generous curves. She turned, giving Flame a glimpse of the ruby and diamond necklace and her much-photographed face, too prominently boned to be considered beautiful, although it undeniably commanded attention.

She certainly was the center of it now, Flame thought, glancing at the committee members clustered around her, including their host, the sandy-haired financier, Peter DeBorg.

"There she is," Pamela said needlessly and pushed forward. "Forgive me for interrupting Lucianna, but I have someone from the committee I want you to meet--Flame Bennett."

"How nice." Her glance swung to Flame, her dark eyes showing a perfunctory interest that matched her smile as she said, "It's my pleasure."

"I assure you it's all mine, Miss Colton. And I hope you'll accept my apologies for not being here to welcome you when you arrived tonight."

"Yes," Pamela rushed to explain. "Flame was filming a commerical and they had some sort of problem with a lion or leopard or something."

"You're an actress then."

"No," Peter DeBorg spoke up. "Flame works for Boland and Hayes, a national advertising agency with offices here in San Francisco."

"I'm not sure I understand." Her questioning look ran from one to the other. "Are you a model?"

Flame smiled faintly. "No. I'm a vice-president with the company."

"A vice-president." Her full interest was now focused on Flame, sharply reassessing. "How wonderful to meet a woman with power."

Flame acknowledged the compliment with a gracious nod, then half-turned, directing the attention to Ellery. "I'd like to introduce you to another officer of the company and my closest friend, Ellery Dorn."

"Miss Colton." Ellery stepped smoothly forward and took her scarlet-nailed fingers, raising them to his lips. "We are looking forward to your Leonora. Although, if I may be so bold to suggest, instead of having San Francisco at your feet as you do here--" With a sweep of his hand, he indicated the glitter of the city lights beyond the glass panes of the penthouse windows. "--you will have them on their feet."

"Ellery, how very clever of you!" Pamela exclaimed, clapping her hands together.

"And flattering," Lucianna Colton added with a regal incline of her head.

"I prefer to think of it as a portent of things to come," Ellery insisted as more guests strolled into the Garden Room, not to admire the view of the storied city but to have a closer look at the famous lady in scarlet. Catching sight of them, Ellery lightly took Flame's arm. "As much as we would like to monopolize your time, Miss Colton, I'm afraid we must deny ourselves. There are too many others eager to shower you with the same accolades."

After exchanging the usual pleasantries, Flame and Ellery withdrew. Almost immediately their place was taken and Flame heard Andrea Crane gush, "I was at La Scala last year when you performed so divinely in Tosca."

As they crossed the threshold into the main sitting room, Ellery glanced back and smiled wryly. "Amazing."

"What is?" Flame eyed him curiously.

Drawing her to one side, he nodded at the collection of guests, some seated, some standing. "Tonight's guest list reads like the Who's Who of San Francisco society. Yet ... there they are fawning over a woman from some little midwestern town just because she can hit a high F without screeching."

"It's a bit more than that," she replied, momentarily distracted by the odd feeling she was being watched. "She is an extremely talented artist."

"Artistic talent is the elevating factor, isn't it?"

That sensation of a pair of eyes on her persisted, stronger than before. "Is this going to turn into a philosophical discussion, Ellery? Because if it is, I don't think I'm up to it." She half-turned, trying to discern the source of the eerie feeling, and came face-to-face with a waiter, a hawk-faced man in his midforties. For an instant she was unnerved by the piercing study of his deep-set hazel eyes, hooded by a heavy brow. Then his glance fell as he stepped forward and extended the salver of wineglasses balanced on the palm of his right hand.

"Would madame care for a glass of chardonnay?" Not even the smooth, respectful wording could eliminate the rough edge to his voice.

"Thank you." She took one of the stemmed wine goblets from the tray, her glance running over him again. Had he been the one staring at her? Although she couldn't be sure, she suspected he was. Why had it bothered her? Why had she felt so uneasy? Men customarily stared at her--for all the usual reasons. Why should a waiter be different? He offered wine to Ellery, then moved on to another group of guests.

"Brown shoes and black pants." Ellery raised an eyebrow in disapproval. "The caterer should pay more attention to the dress of his help."

Flame glanced again at the retreating waiter, this time noting the brown of his shoes. Unexpectedly, he turned his head and glanced back at Flame. The instant he realized she was watching him, he looked away.

A hand touched her arm, then traveled familiarly down to cup an elbow. "I see you finally made it."

Recognizing the voice, Flame tensed briefly, then flashed a quick and warm smile at the man who was easily her most important and influential client. At fifty-six, Malcom Powell looked it, too--an imposing figure of only average stature but very powerfully built. His dark hair was leonine thick and shot with silver, but that touch of gray only added to the image of an iron man. Some said that was exactly the way he ruled his huge chain of department stores across the country, a family business that he'd inherited and on which he'd built his reputation, although they currently represented only a small portion of his vast holdings.

"Malcom, I didn't know you were back in town."

"I flew in last night." His gray eyes bored into her, seeking a reaction, then flickered with irritation when he found only calm. "I left a message with your secretary this afternoon, but you never returned my call."

"I was tied up all afternoon filming a commercial. I didn't have time to check with the office for messages. You surely don't think I deliberately ignored your call." She accompanied her reply with a bright smile. Long ago, she had learned that the best way to handle Malcom Powell was by not letting him intimidate her. Confrontation was always better--if done carefully.

"No, not really."

"What was it you wanted?"

His glance flicked to Ellery. "Get Flame another glass of wine." He took the crystal goblet from her and set it on the lacquered side table along the wall. "And make sure it's been properly chilled this time."

"By all means." Ellery bowed his head with an exaggerated respect. "I'll even corner the wine steward and express your dissatisfaction to him." To Flame, he added, "It shouldn't take more than five minutes."

When he strolled away, Flame turned to Malcom, the cornerstone of her entire career. She owed him a great deal, and he knew it. She hadn't been hired by the agency eight years ago because of her qualifications or her college degree. She had been window-dressing for the firm--with valuable connections and contacts, someone they could parade before a client during a presentation. That's when Malcom had seen her, over five years ago. Less than a year later--at his insistence--she had been put in sole charge of his account. Plus, he had directed other companies her way, especially ones he did business with. Within three years, she controlled several of the agency's largest accounts. Naturally, they had promoted her to a vice-president.

She let her gaze run lightly over his face, taking in the broad, square jaw, the jutting chin with its dimpled cleft, the deep set of his gray eyes, and most of all the power that was so indelibly stamped in every line. Gratitude, admiration, respect--she felt all those things ... as well as a trace of resentment.

"Have dinner with me Monday night." The invitation fell somewhere between a demand and command.

"Have lunch with me on Tuesday."

"Have you already made plans for Monday evening?"

"Yes," she lied.

"No, you haven't. I had your secretary check when I called this afternoon. We'll have dinner together Monday night."

"We'll have lunch on Tuesday," she countered. Again that feeling of being watched returned, but she couldn't let it distract her.

"Why must we always fence over such trivial issues?" Malcom grumbled in irritation. "Why can't you simply agree to dine with me on--"

"Tuesday at lunch. We made some changes in the holiday layouts. I want to go over them with you."

The look in his gray eyes took on a wanting quality. "Do we always have to discuss business, Flame?" he asked, holding her gaze.

"You know we do, Malcom." The entire conversation was an echo of hundreds that had gone on before.

"So you say, but I'll argue the point with you further--on Tuesday," he replied, conceding to her with a final dip of his head. "I'll have Arthur pick you up at twelve-thirty sharp."

"I'll be ready."

"So will I."

Flame knew she'd be in for another contest of wills on Tuesday. And she had to admit, if only to herself, that there was a part of her that enjoyed these stimulating duels of theirs--and Malcom's always challenging company.

As Ellery came walking back, that sensation of someone watching her resurfaced. "Your wine, m'lady." He offered a stemmed glass. "Chilled to precisely thirty-six degrees Centigrade. Or was it Fahrenheit?"

"There is a difference, my fine friend," she answered as she covertly scanned the room. Just as she suspected, the brown-shoed waiter with the hawk face was on the other side of the room, this time carrying a tray of hors d'oeuvres.

As she started to look away, her glance was caught and held by another man standing on the far side of the room, a shoulder negligently propped against the claret-glazed wall. His hair was as black as the tuxedo he wore. And despite the languid pose, the overall impression was that of a lean and rangy black panther, coiled energy held in check, ready to spring at a second's warning.

He stared back. She took a sip of wine without tasting it, conscious only of the unexpected quickening of her pulse. She thought she knew everyone at the party, but who was he? She looked again, telling herself that her interest was strictly curiosity--and not believing a word of it. His gaze never left her as he nodded absently to the person with him and raised a crystal tumbler to his mouth. For the first time, Flame glanced at the petite blonde beside him. Jacqui Van Cleeve, the columnist. Who was he? Obviously someone of importance.

"The man with Jacqui, Malcom, do you know him?"

But Ellery replied first. "I believe I heard someone say he's here with Miss Colton."

"Then it must be Chance Stuart," Malcom concluded, still trying to locate the pair.

"I think I've heard that name." But Flame couldn't remember where or why.

"I should think so," Malcom declared. "In the last ten years, Chancellor Stuart has become one of the largest land developers in the country. He has an uncanny knack for being at the right place at the right time." His expression grew thoughtful. "He's building that new resort complex in Tahoe. I wonder what he's doing in San Francisco."

"I expect that is precisely what darling Jacqui is trying to find out," Ellery surmised.

"My reason for coming here is hardly a secret, Miss Van Cleeve." Chance Stuart let his glance slide briefly to the persistent blonde, recalling Lucianna's warning that the woman was known for three things: her sharp eyes, her sharp nose, and her sharp tongue. He had to agree--everything about her was pointed, including her questions.

"Call me, Jacqui," she invited. "Everyone does."

"Then let me explain again, Jacqui. I was on my way to Tahoe to check on my project there when Lucianna mentioned she was coming to San Francisco. I suggested she fly with me since it wasn't that much out of my way."

"Then you aren't looking for more property?"

"I'm not here for that purpose, but I'm always looking." He absently swirled the Chivas in his glass, listening to the melodic clink of the ice cubes against the crystal sides. "If you were on vacation and a hot story landed in your lap, would you ignore it?"

"No," she admitted.

"Need I say more?" He lifted the glass to his mouth and tipped it, letting the cold scotch trickle and burn down his throat.

"You've known Miss Colton for some time, haven't you?"

"A long time, yes." He lowered the tumbler, his glance automatically straying to the stunning redhead across the room. She had stirred his interest from the moment she'd walked into the room with a stride that had in it the faintest hint of a swagger, with quick rhythm that synchronized and turned graceful the supple movement of her body. And her shoulders, wide and straight, had been presented squarely in a manner that flaunted her serene confidence. She was a woman all the way through--all lace and legs.

"Would it be safe to guess that your on-again, off-again romance with Miss Colton is back on again?" the columnist queried slyly.

"I hate to disillusion you, Jacqui, but all this on-and-off business is the product of your profession. Over the years, our relationship has never changed."

"I suppose you're going to try to convince me that you're just good friends." She openly mocked the cliché.

"It doesn't make good press, does it?"

"Not if it's true."

Ignoring that, Chance raised his glass and gestured toward the far side of the room. "Isn't that Malcom Powell?"

All the photographs he'd seen of the august lion of the retail world had depicted a somewhat stout and stern man. In person, he had a commanding presence, physically vigorous and trim despite that barrel chest.

"Yes, that's Malcom," the Van Cleeve woman confirmed. "Truthfully, I didn't expect to see him here. Diedre told me that he'd returned from a business trip only last night."

"Diedre?" He arched her a questioning look.

"His wife."

"Is that her?" His gaze sharpened on the pair, irritation flickering through him.

"No, that's Flame--Flame Bennett." During the brief pause that followed, Chance could feel the columnist carefully monitoring his reaction. "Gorgeous, isn't she?"

"Definitely." He continued to lounge against the wall, for the moment content to enjoy his unobstructed view of the woman so aptly named Flame, conscious of the hot, smooth feeling that flowed through him.

"Aren't you going to ask me about her?" The instant the faintly challenging question came out of Jacqui Van Cleeve's mouth, Chance knew she'd give him a complete rundown on Flame Bennett. She made it her business to collect every scrap of information--whether rumor or fact--on every person remotely important. And when a person had that much information, they could never resist sharing it.

"I was always told it wasn't polite for a gentleman to ask questions about a lady," he countered smoothly.

Her short laugh had a harsh and grating ring to it. "I have heard you accused of many things, Chance Stuart, but being a gentleman was never one of them. Granted, you have all the manners, the polish, the clothes of one, but proper, you're not. You're too damned daring. Nobody's sure what you're going to do next and you move too fast. That's why you make such excellent copy."

"I'll take that as a compliment."

Again he felt the speculation in her study of him. "It will be interesting to see how you fare with Flame."

"Why do you say that?" He glanced at her curiously.

"Because ... she's a woman of such contrasts." Her attention swung away from him, centering on the subject of their discussion. "She can be as fiery as the red of her hair--or as cool as the green of her eyes--and that quickly, too. I suppose that's part of the fatal attraction she has for men. You always see them fluttering around her like moths. She lets them get only so close and no closer."

"Why?"

"I'm not sure, but no man seems to last with her. It isn't even a case of off with the old and on with the new. No one sticks around long enough to be old. But there again you have the contrast. These romantic flings of hers are too few and far between. Therefore, you can't call her wild. Her behavior is definitely unconventional." After a fractional hesitation, she added, "Of course she was married briefly about nine years ago. Supposedly, it was one of those young marriages that simply didn't work. At least that was the official line at the time."

"And unofficially?"

"Truthfully? I never heard anything to make me think otherwise," the Van Cleeve woman admitted. "A failed marriage has made more than one woman wary of trying again. It could be as simple as that or it could be her career."

"What does she do?" Currently, careers were fashionable among socialites. But in his experience, Chance had found that the women were rarely more than dilettantes, dabbling in photography or modeling, owning art galleries, antique stores, or exclusive little dress shops invariably managed by someone else.

"Flame's a vice-president with the Boland and Hayes advertising firm," she replied, then added, "Of course, it's common knowledge that she has to work for a living. Even though she comes from one of San Francisco's founding families, there is little or no money left. No doubt a humbling experience, but I can assure you she's never suffered any hardship as a result. Like anywhere else, it pays to know the right people."

"Like Malcom Powell," Chances guessed.

"She handles his advertising account personally. And--there's been a lot of speculation lately about what else she might handle personally for him."

He detected something in her voice that raised his suspicions: "You don't believe it."

"No," she admitted. "By the same token, I don't believe Diedre when she insists that Malcom takes a fatherly interest in Flame. But what else can a wife of thirty-five years say? Believe me, if a father eyed his daughter the way he does Flame, he'd be subject to arrest. He wants her, but he hasn't had her."

"How can you be so sure?"

"If Flame was having an affair with him, she wouldn't try to hide it. It isn't her style." Jacqui frowned, as if aware she wasn't making herself clear. "I guess what I'm trying to say is--if Flame cared enough to get involved with a married man, then she wouldn't let herself feel any shame or guilt."

"What about the other man with her? Is he her latest fling?"

"Ellery Dorn? Hardly." She laughed, then explained. "Ellery is every married woman's choice for a walker when her husband isn't available. He's handsome, witty, charming--and gay. Surprised?" She shot him a knowing glance. "Not to worry. Few people ever guess that about him. That's what makes him so ideal."

"Then he's nothing more than a safe escort." Mentally Chance filed that little piece of information away along with all the rest. The more he learned about Flame Bennett, the more intrigued he became.

"They're good friends as well. As a matter of fact, Flame is probably closer to Ellery than anyone else. Of course, he's a vice-president in the same agency, so I'm sure the fact they work together has something to do with that."

"Probably." With a little push of his shoulder, he straightened from the wall. "Speaking of walkers, Lucianna is bound to be wondering what happened to me. I enjoyed the chat, Jacqui."

"So did I. And from now on, I'll be watching your progress with more interest."

"Not too closely, I hope." He winked at her as he moved away.