Wine, Tarts & Sex

“Apparently. He’s in an explosive mood. Just a warning. ”

“I’ll be there as soon as I can get through traffic.”

Ben hid in his office until Roman arrived, praying Leo wouldn’t shriek for him again. When Leo’s eyes were bulging like that and he was approaching that shade of eggplant, he wasn’t thinking too clearly. Ben didn’t want to get fired for saying the wrong thing, and with Leo in one of his out-of-control moods, even commenting on the weather could be a major blunder.

When Roman Novak strode into the office twenty minutes later, Ben looked up and exhaled, “Thank God,” like he’d been rescued from the Black Hole of Calcutta.

His relief was so obvious, Roman grinned. “Relax, kid. Leo’s just like all the rest of the big shots. A bully when he has his money and backup behind him, but not so brave when it’s mano a mano with someone his own size, if you know what I mean.”

“Easy for you to say.” Roman was a very large ex-NYPD detective who had boxed professionally as a youth. Still pretty much ripped beneath his custom Armani, he was capable of intimidating just about anyone.

Roman flashed a smile, all white teeth and good humor. “I hope you’re stashing away some of Leo’s money, kid. Then you can get out eventually, like his latest wife just did.”

“I doubt he’s planning on Janie getting out without a down-and-dirty slugfest. He’s really pissed she took his son as he puts it.”

“I always thought Leo had scored way above his pay grade with Janie. She’s damned nice. Too bad he didn’t have sense enough to know when he had a good thing. Don’t let him give you a heart attack, though. He’s all bluster. ”

“That might be, but he’s really into orbit over this. You know how he feels about his kids. Christ-the money he spent to gain custody of Sarah would have financed a third-world nation.”

“And the only reason he finally won that case was because Lisa was stupid enough to do cocaine in front of a photographer. Dumb shit.”

“She was a little ditzy.”

“She’s dumb as a post. Period. Little Janie has quite a few more smarts.” Roman nodded toward Leo’s office. “Tell him I’m here.” Then, without waiting for Ben to make the call, he walked to the door, shoved it open and, entering the sunlit room with the East River view, said in his deep, calm voice, “Hey, dude, your fixer is here.”

“It’s about fucking time!”

“My price goes up when people scream at me,” Roman murmured, shutting the door and standing perfectly still.

“Sorry.” Leo waved his hands in a dismissive gesture. “I’m just so fucking teed off. Come, sit down.” Another wave, indicating a chair. “You heard. Janie left with Matt.”

“I heard you changed the locks on the apartment,” Roman said, moving toward the chair.

Leo shrugged. “She began to bore me.”

“That must mean you have someone else in mind.”

Leo smiled faintly. “Maybe I do.”

“You’re gonna be right up there with Liz Taylor’s marital record if you keep this up,” Roman noted, sitting down. “Why the hell do you marry them all? It’s the twenty-first century. Haven’t you heard of cohabitation?”

“Call me old-fashioned.”

More like controlling, Roman thought. Four times married and counting was not exactly what you’d call old-fashioned values. Unless you had Henry the Eighth in mind as a role model. “Whatever you say, Leo.” He wasn’t a therapist. “So what do you want from me?”

“Find her, naturally, and bring my son back.”

“That could be construed as kidnapping.”

“Don’t shit me. Since when are you concerned with legalities? ”

“Since I’d be scaring the hell out of your kid. He’s pretty young to be yanked out of his mother’s arms by a stranger.”

“Bring them both back, then. I’ll deal with her myself.”

“Do you have any idea where they might have gone?”

“Not a clue.” Leo grimaced. “That’s why I need you.”

Leaning back in his chair, Roman held Leo’s gaze. “So who’s the new woman?”

Leo smiled. “One of our interns.”

“That’s getting pretty young.” Leo was officially late fifties but actually mid-sixties. Tanned and semitoned by a personal trainer, he liked to think he didn’t look his age.

“So?”

Roman shrugged. “So nothing, I guess.” He came to his feet. “I’ll give you a call when I know something.”

As Roman exited Leo’s office, Ben shot him a raised-eyebrows look. “Has he calmed down?”

“Semi. Who’s the new babe in his life?”

“Hannah Reiss. A tall, leggy blonde, big boobs-maybe real. She doesn’t want to work all her life.”

“I see. And Leo took the bait.”

“She’s good-looking, sharp, smooth as silk. Anyone would take the bait, but she didn’t put out for anyone in middle management. She went straight to the top.”

“Jeez. And I suppose he believes her when she tells him he’s great in the sack.”

“Fucking a. Leo eats up her phony flattery; they giggle on the phone. It’s disgusting.”

“You shouldn’t listen in on conversations.”

“You should talk. Anyway, it’s self-preservation.”

“You have lasted longer than the others.”

Ben grinned. “I have the bloody record, and you know it.”

Roman smiled. “Can’t argue there. Not that I’m any different than anyone else. I put up with him and take his money, too, just like this new little Hannah Reiss is gonna do.”

“She’s not little. She’s pushing five ten. Them together is like Tom Cruise and Katie Holmes. I figure any day now, Leo’s going to get lifts. So, are you bringing his kid back or what?”

“I don’t know. Maybe.”

Ben’s gaze narrowed. “You didn’t tell him that.”

“I don’t tell him anything.” Leo’s go-to guy lifted his hand in a casual wave. “I’ll stay in touch.”

Eleven

That evening, after Matt had been tucked into bed, Liv and Janie sat on the porch, watching the moon come up and drinking a glass of wine.

“I really can’t thank you enough for your hospitality, Liv. Matt adores your farm-your dogs and kittens and horses. It’s perfect for him. I’m feeling as though I can really decompress here.”

“You’re more than welcome. And Matt’s a darling- really-he’s sweet as can be. There’s a lake not far from here, too, if you get bored. They have swimming lessons in the summer for the kids. He might like that.”

“Thanks. Maybe we’ll try it. And thanks, too, for listening to me all day. I talked you to death, I know, but it’s been quite a while since I could vent. Leo always had so much staff around, you were never sure if someone might be listening to your conversation.”

“Not a problem. It sounds as though Leo’s been a major pain.”

“A vast understatement.” Janie made a small moue. “I have a feeling he’s found someone else, though. Not that I’m surprised.”

“Since you were in the wings before he divorced his last wife, you probably shouldn’t be.”

Janie sighed faintly. “I know. I just thought maybe I’d be different. Not too bright of me, I suppose. Although, the way Leo’s been screaming and carrying on and making my life difficult lately, I can’t lie and say I’m heartbroken. It’s actually a relief to have it over.”

“What are the chances he might roll over on this divorce? ”