Episode 31

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Episode 31

Scene 1:

Brushing her hair back from her face, Jillie gazed around the room, her pale blue eyes thoughtful. She found it rather odd that neither the bride nor the groom-to-be were anywhere in sight, and while she usually would have made assumptions...the most obvious possibility was rather nauseating.

Turning, she swiped another glass of champagne from a passing waiter, the delicate crystal meeting her lips scant seconds after. She was definitely going to have a few on Rick before this thing was over.

Then again, she doubted she'd be staying all that long, Luke's "special" night or not.
Slender fingers idly twirled that crystal stem, boredom turning her thoughts elsewhere. While she'd pushed it to the background of the evening, her "discovery" in Maura's bedroom was still nagging her.

Tristen. Who was she? What did she mean to Maura? Certainly she wasn't from around here, or Jillie would have known.

The chilled liquid slid past her parted lips, cooling her throat and yet warming her body. There was a reason she'd never envied Hallie...and this was it. The finest clothes, wines, delicacies...and yet these people still didn't know how to live. The entire party seemed like an overcompensation...but for what? If you believed everything you heard, the Masons had it all.

Oh, this was turning out to be quite depressing. Here she was, at one of the events of the year, and she was relying on her overeager imagination to keep her occupied? Living vicariously had never been one of her strong points.

Settling the now empty glass on a nearby table, Jillie smoothed her hands down the front of her dress, the deep pink satin molded to her body, flaring gently from the knees down, light crystal beading around the bust showing off one of her most favorite assets. This was a party, for God's sake, upper crust or not. Something needed to be livened up...turned on.... And when had she ever been concerned about the reputation people pinned on her?

Rick tried not to look back at Maura as he strode away in search of her sister. That was history, he reminded himself, ancient history. His future was with someone else, a rotten marriage spent pining over Maura should have taught him that. Then again, here he was in her town simply because she was here. Tonight, he decided all of that was going to change. No more Maura Conlan, ever.

He entered the ballroom, feeling ill at ease with the members of Conlan's Glen high society. He caught sight of Phoebe looking just as out of place as he felt being rescued by Dane Lennox. Good for her, he thought amused that her pest had taken a liking to her. Sweeping his eyes toward the other side of the room he saw her. She was hard not to miss. The face alone was astounding but combined with the dress she wore tonight, Jillie Conlan was a goddess. He strode towards her, watching her as she played with a loose stared of hair. Maura used to do that...NO! Stop it, he warned himself as he approached her.

"Feeling like making a phone call?" He whispered leaning into her so that his breath danced over her bare shoulders.

Blues eyes narrowed and a small, satisfied smiled played over her lips. Turning slowly, Jillie cocked her head, taking a step back as she looked up at Rick. "Maybe I won't have to..." she said slowly, arching an inquisitive brow even as she shot him a playful grin. "Even I would have to doubt that you missed me so much you decided to risk everything and crash the party," she admitted in a conspiratorial tone, eyes glimmering with amusement. "So...what brings you to our...celebration?"

"Is that what this is?" He replied nodding to a waiter with champagne. "Dane Lennox told me it was a tailgate party, the bastard." He grinned and thanked the waiter as he took a flute off his hands. "Actually, Dane is absolutely besotted with my City Editor and begged us to come. Actually, he begged her and she begged me. You know the, I'll go if he goes routine? I fell for it. Besides, I knew you would be here."

"Flattery will get you almost everywhere," Jillie replied smoothly, her gaze leaving Rick for a moment. Couldn't play all her cards at once. Not that she was hiding much. Rick Upton left her feeling quite uncertain. And not just because of his past with her older sister. "It's like some sort of tribal mating ritual around here.

"Luke and Hallie...Phoebe and Dane...Maura and Jude...." She let the latter hover in the air for a moment before continuing. "I think even my younger sister has her sights set on someone in particular. It's almost enough to make me wonder if it's something in the water. One reason I prefer the hard stuff," she grinned, nodding to the open bar in the corner.

"Well, it is an event for couples. Weddings and all," he added forcing himself to look towards the youngest Conlan rather than Maura. "Perhaps, if you would rather avoid entanglement I should look elsewhere for a dancing partner?"

"Only if you think you can find someone even half as interesting as I," Jillie teased. Clasping her hands behind her back, she glanced back towards Rick. "Don't think you can handle me?"

"Are you that good?" Rick asked all innocence. He enjoyed her banter. At least it made him forget others who never knew how to flirt like this. "If you are, then I think you're stuck with me."

"Even better," she replied, a hint of challenge in her gaze. "I only hope you can live up to my expectations," Jillie added conversationally, taking one of his hands in hers as she started towards the dance floor.

Rick let her lay her hand on his shoulder while slipping her other hand into his. In his entire life most of the dancing he had done had been in high school when getting as close to the girl as humanly possible was the way to go. He lay his own hand on the small of her back and waited for the beat of the music before leading Jillie around the room slowly.

"Well, how am I doing?" He asked after a moment.

She looked up at him contemplatively, unable to bite back the smile that wanted to shine through. "Honestly? I'm not positive you're ready for me to bring you out in public." That smile mellowed into another mischievous grin as her nails grazed the length of his neck before she settled her hand back onto his shoulder, her body sliding slightly closer to his. "But for tonight...you're absolutely wonderful."

Rick felt his whole body relax against hers and his eyes closed momentarily. He hadn't felt this...what? This comfortable? Attracted? Intrigued by a woman since... His eyes flickered open and met the accusing eyes of Maura. Maura had been the last who made him feel this way. But Jillie was...she was smarter and more vivacious than Maura had ever been. Maura had been too serious all the time. He liked fun. And he liked Jillie. He spun Jillie and turned away from Maura's prying eyes.

Turning her head, Jillie caught the tail of Maura's gaze. Ice blue met soft gray and for a moment, Jillie thought her older sister might stride across the room and try to pry her away from Rick. Try. With another thousand-watt smile, she returned her attention to the man whose arms felt quite strong as they held her close. "Absolutely wonderful," she repeated.

"Yes, you are," Rick said gazing down at her.

Scene 2:

"That was certainly nice," Hallie said with a grin as she slipped back into her clothes. "Though I'm not really sure what it was for...especially since we have guests downstairs." She picked up her brush and ran it through her hair frowning at herself in the mirror. "I look like I just had sex."

"You did," Luke replied behind her. "Who cares? They aren't going to know."

"You might tell me what brought that on," Hallie answered turning to face him. "I realize we have a healthy sex life, but this is a first for you. Usually you're all business."

"Let's just say, I'm in an exceptional mood right now." Luke leaned back against the headboard of the bed and grinned. "I didn't tell you, but I heard something interesting tonight."

"What did you hear?" Hallie's eyes narrowed, waiting for his response. "Something that made you want to have sex?"

"Actually, something that made me want to celebrate...with you."

"So what was it?" Hallie demanded getting impatient. Really, Luke was like a child at times.

"Do you know someone named Morgan Birch?"

"Yes...well, I don't know him. Gwen knows him. Why?"

"Oh really? And how well would you say Gwen knows him?"

Hallie rolled her eyes in frustration. "I don't know! Ask her." Luke shrugged and sat up reaching for his pants. He slid into them easily before walking to the bedroom door. Opening it slightly, he stole a quick peek into the deserted hallway of the second floor. "What are you doing?"

"I'm making sure no one is listening," he said and closed the door. "I overheard Ellen tell Gwen that she knew about Gwen and Morgan Birch. And she knew about Jamie too." He smiled in satisfaction at the look on Hallie's face.

"Is that Ellen's secret? She knows something about Gwen and Morgan Birch?" Hallie asked incredulously. "That must be one hell of a secret to keep it for so long. What else did they say?"

"Gwen seemed pretty steamed about it and forbid Ellen from returning to Four Winds, other than that, not a lot. It was quick and fast. So who is Morgan Birch? The name is so familiar..."

"Luke, Morgan Birch is an artist. We have about ten of his pieces here in the house alone. He did that portrait of Gwen and Uncle James in the dining room. He was a childhood friend of Uncle James," she added as explanation. "Do you think Gwen and Morgan had an affair?

"I suppose we'll have to find that out. And how Jamie is involved in all of this," Luke added buttoning his shirt. Hallie smiled at him and wrapped her arms around his neck. "What?"

"Have I told you in all this craziness over the party how much I love you?" She answered kissing his neck lightly. Luke arched an eyebrow.

"No, but it's okay because I didn't tell you either. So let's call it even. I love you and you love me." He bent down and kissed her forehead. Now let's go show your aunt's friends how perfect we are together."

Scene 3:

Maura jerked her eyes away from the sight of Jillie dancing with her ex-fiancé. She looked back at Jude who had asked her a question she hadn't heard. "W-what?" She asked slightly confused.

"I said, you seem rather distracted tonight," Jude repeated, looking over his shoulder. "Isn't that your sister?" Maura nodded and tried to smile.

"I'm sorry, I know I'm rotten company tonight. And I'm an especially bad dancer too. You're rotten luck to be saddled with me tonight."

"It's never rotten luck to be with you Maura," Jude replied honestly. "Who is Jillie with? I don't think I've seen him before so he must not be a friend of Hallie's."

"That's Rick Upton, he's the editor of the Observer," Maura answered. She felt like a heel subjecting Jude to her neurotic worries over Rick and Jillie. That was really none of her business she repeated over and over to herself without success.

"Really? That's him? I pictured someone a little less...," Jude trailed off in mid-sentence.

"Less what?"

"Well a little less sophisticated I guess. I thought he would be some goofy short guy with glasses and a pocket protector," he shrugged. Maura stifled a giggle at Jude's description. He had been a dork at one point in his life and Jude didn't know how close he was to the truth. "Oh, was that a laugh?"

"Yes, you caught me," she smiled.

"Good! I wanted to see you smile! I think you have a beautiful smile, Maura. You should use it more often. In fact, you should use it a lot when I'm around."

"Well you're not around all that much, Jude," she teased.

"I could change that," he said with a grin. Maura stared at him for a moment before breaking into an amused giggle. "I'm serious. I really would like to spend more time with you Maura. If you'll let me." Maura heard Rick's laugh followed by Jillie's squeaky giggle. God, what was she doing obsessing over who Rick wanted to see? It didn't matter at all. She had made her choice ten years ago and now she needed to move on just like he was.

"Of course, I'll let you. I'd like nothing more," she replied to Jude's offer with a smile.

Scene 4:

Jory watched Ellen Mason all night. She was beautiful, more so than any woman in the room. With the exception of Jillie. Jillie could outshine any woman she chose to and tonight she had decided to be the most stunning woman in the room. Ellen was more subdued, he liked that. Even if she was a brat. Her attitude at the barbeque had been enough to turn him off but his eyes were drawn back to her time and again. Perhaps it was because she made people look at her. She floated from group to group with a radiant smile on her face.

She had disappeared a few minutes ago but returned to the ball room looking flushed and irritated. Jory turned away quickly to avoid meeting her eyes, but she zoned in on him and headed towards him. He smiled and set his glass down on the table he had been standing next to just in time for her to grasp his hand and pull him towards the dance floor.

"I don't know where Hallie is, so for right now, you're all mine," she purred settling in close for a slow dance. "I'm sorry about this afternoon. Sometimes, I overreact. I just thought Hallie would have told you all about me. We're very close, you know."

"No, I didn't know that," Jory replied taken aback by her change in mood. "Hallie and I haven't really had a chance to..."

"Oh!" She laughed, the smile twinkling in her dark eyes, enchanting Jory. "Of course you haven't. Well, I forgive you. There's always time to get to know each other now that you'll be a part of the family."

"I guess. Well, I don't see my family that much as it is, seeing your family is probably not going to be that common," Jory admitted. He did work hard at the law firm. Too hard, Kevin was always telling him.

"Won't you and Hallie be living here? You'll see them all the time." Jory stopped dancing and pulled away from her.

"What? I'm sorry Ellen, who do you think I am?" He asked, already knowing the answer. Ellen blinked, the color rising in her face again.

"That's not funny Luke," she said with a frown. "Cut it out."

"I'm not Luke. I'm his brother Jory." Ellen's face turned a bright scarlet and he was instantly sorry he had told her in such plain terms. He could have said it a little better, he chided himself, after all, she didn't look like she was having the best of evenings. "I'm sorry, I just thought you knew. I didn't realize until just know that you thought I was Luke...though that is the first time anyone has confused us."

Ellen backed away from him and disappeared into the dancers, dodging just past Luke and Hallie who reappeared from nowhere. Luke frowned after the fleeing Ellen and looked in the direction she had come from. Their eyes met briefly, long enough for Jory to shrug lightly before Luke and Hallie ran after her. Some nights, Jory didn't think he would ever catch a break.