Chapter 17
"You," she spat."
"So you work here, too?"
"That's right, baby," he admitted. "Me." He strolled through the room, taking everything in, finally emitting a long, low whistle. "Some joint," he said. "You really come up in a short time."
"What do you want?" Eva said, afraid of the man, not quite sure why.
"Me?" he said, shrugging. "Nothing at all. I was just passing through and thought I'd drop in." He turned and looked at her, thumbing a cigarette to his mouth. "Ain't you happy to see an old friend."
"No." she snapped. "I'm not."
"I figured maybe you might not be at that," Johnny admitted. "When you made me it was all you could get at the time. Now...." he waved a hand airily at the surroundings. "It looks like you really hooked onto a live one."
"How did you find me?" Eva repeated.
Johnny went to the open glass doors looking out onto the balcony and ocean. When he turned back into the room his smile was still frozen in place. "It's a funny thing," he said. "I always heard this was a small world. Now I believe it. I had to come out of the valley to Santa Monica this afternoon for some parts. I was passing this hotel and got caught in one hell of a traffic jam. When I looked to see what was holding everything up there was this broad taking a sun bath by the pool with almost no clothes on." He snapped his fingers then continued, "I said to myself, I know her. And sure enough, I did. It was you. So I parked the truck and passed a few bills around trying to find out where your room is. And here I am.""
"Well you can just get lost again," Eva snapped, getting over her first shock at seeing him. "If you don't leave I'll call the manager."
"That's just what this bellhop I talked to told me," Johnny grinned. "He said you told him those very words this morning ... when he saw you without duds." His eyes drifted down the length of the girl before him, taking in the tight sweater and skirt. "Speaking of clothes, those are really nifty."
"Well, the fashion show's over," Eva said hotly, reaching for the phone. "Get out or I will have you thrown out."
Johnny grinned even broader, waggling a finger beneath her nose. "Now that wouldn't be nice," he said. "I happen to know a girl who has a husband out in the Valley and is staying in an expensive suite in town. I'd be willing to bet this husband ain't what's keeping her in clover. In fact he might like that information ... so he can wail the tar out of the two-timing broad."
Eva set the phone down. Despite the warmth of the room she felt a sudden chill. "You wouldn't," she said, her voice almost inaudible.
"Don't bet on it, sister," Johnny snapped, his tone suddenly sinister. "I ain't forgotten being given the bum's rush that afternoon. 'I'll call your wife,' you said. That was hiting below the belt after I spent a week servicing you."
A lot of things flew rapidly through Eva's mind. From the look in Johnny's eyes she knew he'd do exactly what he said, go to her husband. And it was one thing for Ralph to be blind to what was going on but another to find out his wife was acting as a mistress on the side. The information would spoil everything she and Martin had planned. She could see the glittering future she'd built over the past week shattering into glass. "What do you want?"
"That's better." Johnny's face softened into a smile again. "First get rid ' of that sweater. I'd like to get more personal while we talk this problem over."
Eva backed a step away. "No," she said.
"The shoe's on the other foot this time, sister," Johnny snapped. "You ain't got no choice. Strip."
This was some kind of a nightmare she'd stepped into, Eva thought. Maybe if she closed her eyes it would go away. But when she opened them again, he was still in front of her, his face twisted into a leer. What else could she do? He would tell Ralph.
Eva sighed in resignation and grasped the hem of her sweater, sweeping it over her head.
"That's better," Johnny grinned. He moved closer, reaching and putting his fingers in a cup of the bra. Using the material as a handle, he pulled her against him. "Now for a kiss."
Eva twisted her face away. "Please, don't," she pleaded. But the plea went unheard as his mouth found hers. The kiss was all animal.
When it was finished, Johnny twisted her around in his arms.
"You shouldn't, Johnny," Eva protested. "I'll give you anything you want but not this." She fought against his grip. "You'll spoil everything."
His answer was a wild laugh while his hands fondled her.
Eva felt her struggles getting weaker by the moment. Her back pinned against his body, she tried to ignore the pleasures his fingers were giving her, fought to remember that she now belonged to Martin.
But as the moments passed, the present became more and more important and the future more remote. And when his hands down onto her stomach, she shivered at the caress, watching his sweep lower on top of the skirt.
And Eva cursed her body when it betrayed her mind, moving against the hand, at a command she hadn't given it.
His touch was wonderful. She relaxed slightly, leaning her head against his shoulder, her hair spilling partially down his back. "If I give you what you want will you go away?" she whispered into his ear.
"We'll see," he said.
"Promise."
"I know you too well, honey," Johnny grinned. "You couldn't stop now if you wanted to."
"I can," she protested.
His hands returned to her waist, unhooked the skirt, "Can you?" he grinned.
Eva's head began to spin. This was crazy, she told herself. It couldn't happen to her. Everything would be spoiled.
Just the same, she whimpered in pleasure despite her thoughts. And she heard a strange voice, certainly not hers, begging for more. The world of the present seemed to blank out as a strange fog of passion rolled into the room. She melted against his body, her mouth a dark tunnel of love.
And suddenly the couple in the center of the room became animals. Entwined in each other arms they whispered words designed for greater fulfillment, the movement of their bodies matching each word.
As Eva dressed quickly, a thousand thoughts went through her head. Uppermost was the surprise that she'd enjoyed Johnny to the fullest. And, watching him button up his shirt, she knew that she'd have no objection to his making love again.
But at the same time a new worry entered her head. Up until now she'd been telling herself that once she had Martin she'd have no need for another man. But that no longer seemed true. Despite what he'd done to her the night before, she knew that she'd wanted more today. So in the future she knew she'd have to make certain adjustments after they were married, perhaps just a discreet romance on the side now and then.
But certainly not with anyone as coarse as Johnny. In her new social level she'd have to find someone more her equal.
Eva finished dressing and sat on the couch, lighting a cigarette. Right now the problem was getting rid of Johnny before he really did spoil everything. Eva wasn't naive enough to think that one loving would do it. And she had no intention of keeping this affair alive. The thought of losing a wealthy man for a low class television technician was repulsive to her.
"I think you'd better go," Eva suggested out loud.
Johnny lighted his own cigarette and sat down beside her. "Not yet. We have some talking to do." He looked around the suite. "Who's paying for this? Could it be Mr. Smith?"
Did he know about Martin? Eva doubted it. That would be too much coincidence. And there'd been enough of that already today with him showing up out of the blue. "That's none of your business," she said.
"I suppose not," he agreed. "But I know you're pulling something ... and I've got the feeling that I'm a big fat monkey wrench." He shoved his face closer to hers. "Right?"
Eva pushed him away. "Please go," she repeated.
Johnny got to his feet and crossed the room, turning back towards her. "Not a chance. I've got a notion to just hang around and see who comes through that door."
"What is it you want?" Eva implored. "Me again? Don't you ever get enough?"
"Do you, baby?" he grinned. "From where I sit you could spend the rest of your life on a mattress." He moved closer, adding, "Why don't you get smart and start charging. You'd make a fortune."
Eva lashed out and slapped him before she even realized she'd done it.
Johnny's face flamed instant red. He rubbed the spot, anger clouding his eyes. "That'll cost you, honey," he spat. "I just thought of what will get rid of me. Business has been bad lately. We're expecting a kid. So some money would help."
"How much?"
"I was figuring on a couple of hundred before that slap," he said. "Now it will cost you a thousand."
Eva gasped. "But I haven't got that much money. Where would I get it?"
"That's not my concern," he spat. "Tell your boyfriend you need it to buy some new underwear."
"And you won't bother me again?"
"Not at all."
"How can I be sure?"
"You're only good for a piece of tail," he snapped. "And I'm sick of that. Let someone else have the trouble you bring. Get the money and give it to me and I'll be gone."
"When do you want it?"
"Tonight or I'll tell your husband about this cozy little love nest."
Eva shook her head hopelessly. "Where would I get that kind of money on such short notice?"
"I told you," he barked. "That's your problem."
Eva moved towards him and attempted to put her arms around him. "Let me have some time," she said softly. "Just until after the weekend." In the back of her mind she wondered if she couldn't talk Martin into leaving before then.
Johnny shoved her roughly away and started for the door. "There's a cab stand about three blocks from your house. I'll be hanging around there after eleven tonight. If you don't show up with the money I'm taking a little walk to your place. Me and your husband will have a nice long chat." Without any further comments, he left the room.
For a long time Eva stared at the closed panel, not quite believing what had just happened. She'd never been blackmailed before. It was a unique and frightening experience.
For once her body hadn't bought her what she'd wanted. This time it had to be in cold cash.
There were two problems, Eva thought. Was it worth the money to get rid of him and where would she get it? The answer to the first was obvious. She wanted nothing to interfere with her marriage to Martin. He was worth far more than a thousand dollars to her.
The second answer was harder. Where in the world would she get a thousand dollars? Eva knew there wasn't near that much in their saving's account. And she could hardly ask Martin for it ... not yet anyhow. She shook her head, swamped by the problem.
The knock at the door startled her. Thinking it was Johnny back, Eva opened the panel wide.
It wasn't Johnny. It was a woman. Eva made a quick inventory. She was old but she was also young. The lines about her face aged her terribly. And the effect wasn't helped by the dowdy clothes that hung from the shapeless figure. "What do you want?" Eva snapped, taking some of her anger at Johnny out on the stranger.
"I'd like to talk to you," the woman said, smiling sadly. "May I come in."
"No," Eva snapped. "I'm busy. If you're selling something I'm not buying."
The woman shook her head. The dim hall light fell across her dull, lusterless hair. "I really should talk to you," she insisted.
"Who are you anyhow?" Eva asked angrily. "You've got a lot of business busting into my place."
The woman pushed past Eva and moved into the room. She then turned slowly, the same sad smile spread across her face. "I thought that I'd better meet you," she said slowly. "You see, my name is Helen Sellers. I'm Martin's wife."