Drop Dead Gorgeous by Heather Graham

state-of-the-art —sporting far more utensils than Brad would ever use, but they were there if needed. His bedroom was huge, complete with a big bath that held a whirlpool encircled by glass walls that looked out over the lush foliage in back, enclosed by a redwood privacy fence. It was the perfect place fo r a prime-of-life, divorced, up- and-coming attorney. A great place to bring women. Absurd, too, because she had sold it to him. “I should have called—” she began.
    “It’s okay,” he told her. He shrugged, and grinned. “I’m kind of glad to see you. There’s no one i mportant in my life right now… and I guess you heard about Ellie. I’ve been drinking since I heard about her.”
    Jan arched a brow. “Had you seen her lately?”
    He shook his head. “No … I’ve run into her now and then over the past few years. She dated a guy from my office about five years ago. It’s just that it’s so … awful. When something like that happens, something so horrible, even to a casual acquaintance… ”
    “I know. It’s scary. I couldn’t help wondering what happened, how s he met the guy, how she felt… ” She shivered fiercely.
    “So you came to see me?”
    “Yeah.”
    “Because you’re scared.”
    “Maybe.”
    “Ah. You want some action, but you’re afraid of the exciting new guys you might meet, so you’re going for the humdrum but safe?”
    Jan placed her hands on her hips. “Fuck you.”
    He grinned. “If that’s what you want.”
    She started to get mad, then threw up her hands. She looked down unhappily before staring at him again. “I never said that you were humdrum, Brad. Just the opposite. I never knew where you were.”
    He looked at her and nodded after a moment, then smiled. “I’m glad to see you,” he admitted. “But do you remember that you were mad at me last week?”
    “You didn’t want to help me pay for Tina’s field trip, and that day they’ve got planned for her art class is nearly a hundred bucks!”
    “I wasn’t sure if I wanted my thirteen-year-old going on a weekend field trip!” he said. “Where is my thirteen-year-old?”
    “Home, locked in tight. I should be home with her. I can’t stay long—”
    “Yes, ma’am, stud service on demand. Fast, too, if that’s what you want.”
    She shed her clothing as she walked into the bedroom. It was dark, but she was familiar with the layout of the furniture. Brad didn’t turn on a light. He was naked when he tackled her from behind, already aroused when they crashed down on the bed together.
    She was glad of the darkness, confused by the rush of emotions that assailed her as they coupled. It was odd to discover that the awful news of a murder had made her need Brad, not just to talk to, but to be with in a sexual way. And it was somehow even more disturbing tonight to realize again that he was an exceptional lover. Tears stung her eyes as she climaxed, because she’d had such dreams once upon a time, when she’d been young, and things just hadn’t worked out the way she had wanted. Sometimes she could pretend …
    He started making love to her once again. He was needy, but not quite ready.
    “Talk to me,” he whispered.
    And she knew what he wanted. His fantasy was two women. He liked to hear what she’d be doing to someone else while he was doing what he was doing to her …
    Sometimes she could play the game. Sometimes she couldn’t.
    She suddenly wished that she could see her watch. He was a good lover, and she was in the middle of this, but she was suddenly worried as well. She should be home. She couldn’t be rude enough just to say so. She’d gotten what she’d come for … he hadn’t quite. So she began to talk, saying what he wanted to hear.
    And it was all right. His growing state of arousal turned her on more than she’d imagined possible, and they exploded together into a deliciously erotic climax. Moments later, lying at her side, he stroked her hair.
    “Too bad you didn’t agree to