Lethal Seduction by Jackie Collins Page A

“Rosarita bought it for me today.” She lowered her voice in awe. “Do you know it cost three hundred and fifty dollars. I didn’t want her to spend her money on it, but she insisted.”
    â€œIt’s quite beautiful,” Venice said. “Brings out the blue in your eyes.”
    â€œThank you,” Martha said, sparkling.
    Rosarita veered back toward Venice. “Who the fuck is the tramp with Dad?” she hissed.
    â€œThat’s Alice. She’s a nurse,” Venice said.
    â€œIf she’s a fucking nurse, then I’m a fucking nuclear scientist,” Rosarita muttered.
    Venice moved away.
    All during dinner, Rosarita vied for attention with her sister, which did not make for a pleasant evening for the rest of the guests. Every time Venice uttered a word, Rosarita contradicted her.
    â€œWassamatter with you tonight?” Chas finally said. “You gotta be on everybody’s case?”
    Not everybody’s, Rosarita wanted to say. Just that sweet sister of mine who you think is such an angel. But I know the real truth. The only reason she had kids was so she could be sure of getting all your money.
    Halfway through dinner, Venice began passing around pictures of her two brats, which made Rosarita want to throw up.
    Martha studied the photos and oohed and aahed in all the right places. “What adorable children,” she raved. Then she looked straight at Chas and said, “Matt and I are hoping that your little Rosarita will get pregnant next.”
    Chas chuckled. His little Rosarita. Obviously they didn’t know the real girl—the girl who’d come to him demanding that he knock off her husband—their precious son. Boy, would that make interesting dinner conversation!
    He was angry with Rosarita. Who did she think he was? Some kind of killer? She lived in a fantasy world, and he didn’t appreciate it. Dexter seemed perfectly okay to him. Good-looking guy, didn’t screw around. He hadn’t even eyeballed Varoomba’s mammoth tits, whereas most men would be drooling by this time. Chas noticed that Matt Cockranger had already managed a few surreptitious peeks. Jeez! The old guy probably hadn’t gotten laid in years.
    Varoomba was enjoying herself. She was not used to meeting her men friends’ families, and after she’d gulped down a couple of glasses of wine, Chas was having a hard time shutting her up. Any moment she was likely to hand out cards inviting them all down to the Boom Boom Club for a private performance.
    Chas remembered his first look at her. He’d walked into the club, and there she was—working those giant titties like a mechanic operating the Big Dipper. That was some good memory.
    â€œWe’ve got to go now,” Rosarita said, when dinner finally came to an end.
    â€œDo we have to?” Martha pleaded. “I’m so enjoying myself.”
    â€œYes, we have to,” Rosarita said through clenched teeth. “Tomorrow is Dex’s only day off. He likes to sleep in.”
    â€œIf he’s planning to sleep late, why do you have to leave early?” Venice said innocently.
    Rosarita wanted to bitch slap her. “Don’t you get it?” she said nastily. “He has to get twelve hours of sleep. So, if we go now, he gets it. But if we leave later, he’ll only get eight.”
    Dexter looked at her as if she was totally crazy—which, of course, he was beginning to realize, she was. “How about another fifteen minutes?” he suggested.
    How about sticking it up your ass? “Fine,” she muttered, her mouth tightening. I really want to sit here with my prissy sister, your stupid parents and Daddy’s tramp-of-the-week girlfriend.
    Chas, who was busy keeping a watchful eye on his two daughters, realized once again how different they were. Why couldn’t Rosarita be more like Venice? He’d already decidedthat, although he loved them both equally,