Escape Magic

  ESCAPE MAGIC

  By Michelle Garren Flye

  Copyright 2013 Michelle Garren Flye

  For those who led the way

  and for those who willingly followed.

  In Appreciation

  Many, many thanks to my magician friends who have not only encouraged me in my ambition to write romances starring magicians, but have even gone so far as to read Close Up Magic.

  As usual, thank you to my family and friends, who’ve stood in as editors and publishers or just put up with my obsession. My friend Lisa and my wonderful husband Chris, in particular, who helped me get this project in under the wire.

  Finally, my kids, Josh, Ben and Jessi. It’s your wonder about the world and your courage in confronting it that continues to inspire me.

  Chapter 1

  It looked real. The bride and groom posed in front of the waterfall, palm trees and beautiful tropical flowers framing them. Her smile was radiant, and her groom couldn’t take his eyes off her. The wedding photographer—the only photographer allowed past the yellow tape barrier that held back the paparazzi—directed them to face each other, and when she tilted her head to look at her husband, it was obvious to anyone within sight that these two were for real. What they had would last.

  Of course, not all of it was real. Bride and groom, paparazzi determined to capture something of their happiness in their cameras…those were real. The waterfall and palm trees and lavish surroundings were part of a garden in a climate-controlled, high-end mall outside a Las Vegas casino. But in that moment, it was an oasis of perfection. Maybe it was the solid reality of the love between the two that made it easier to accept the practiced falsity of Vegas.

  Tony looked on at the happy couple, and his heart swelled with satisfaction for his brother. Three years and lots of trust-building and soul-searching had passed since Andre met Stacey. If they didn’t have a solid foundation to base a relationship on, Tony felt certain no one did.

  “Say, man, you know who’s getting married?”

  Tony glanced to his side. A heavyset man in a gold suit with pompadour-style hair and dark gold-rimmed sunglasses stood next to him. He must have ducked under the barrier. Tony shrugged. Didn’t really matter. Andre and Stacey were so happy they wouldn’t mind sharing a little of it… even with an Elvis impersonator. That actually was why they’d chosen Vegas for the wedding. They both loved its unpredictability and unique aura.

  Not to mention the fact that they’d met there.

  At least something good came out of my failure. Shaking off the feeling of uneasy guilt those memories always brought with them, Tony smiled and gave the beautiful couple by the waterfall a last look. Then he took Elvis by the arm and led him back behind the barrier. “My brother. Andre Hawke. If you don’t mind, though, we’d prefer you watch from back here.”

  “Sure, man. No problem.” Elvis watched in silence for a few minutes. “Hawke? Isn’t he that magician fellow? Saw his show once. The one where he pulled her on the stage, I think. Did an amazing card trick with her. And everybody was in tears by the time he was done. Really cute. So he’s marrying her? Finally?” At Tony’s nod, Elvis shook his head, dark hair flopping over his eye, rhinestones catching the glimmer of the mall lights and reflecting back rainbows. “Vegas, man. You never know what’ll happen.”

  Tony couldn’t help but grin as the other man melted into the crowd. As he turned back to his brother and sister-in-law, his eyes were caught by a flame-haired, leather-clad figure standing on the upper level of the mall. He paused, frowned, and the truth of Elvis’s words hit him. “Nope. You just never know.”

  ****

  Lydia wasn’t watching the happy couple. Her gray-green eyes were fixed on Tony. She knew it was Andre Hawke getting married, of course. She’d heard about it before she’d even gotten back to Vegas. Andre was the darling of the media anyway, and his nuptials had gotten almost as much attention in the entertainment world as any British royal’s.

  Yeah, Andre was getting married, and as a former friend and current colleague, she’d been curious enough to stop by. She’d planned to catch a glimpse of him and move on. Andre wouldn’t want to see her, considering they’d parted on less than amicable terms, and she didn’t want to disturb anything.

  But it wasn’t Andre or his lovely bride she couldn’t take her eyes off of. Holy hell, was that really Tony?

  She hadn’t seen him in ages. Years. And when she’d last been anywhere near him, he’d been in the throes of his addictions. Darkly handsome, but weak and skinny and nervous. Twitchy. She saw none of that in the well-built, confident young man giving instructions to photographers, pausing to speak politely to reporters.

  He’s better. She tried to be happy for him, but she sensed something underlying his overt healthiness. Not weakness. Something else. She leaned a little further over the guardrail to catch a better glimpse of him. As she did so, he glanced her way and paused. Their eyes locked and she felt a little thrill of discovery. Just as she did, though, a very large man dressed in Bermuda shorts (in Vegas, really?) bumped into her and she lost her balance, tipping over the rail.

  She caught the guardrail as she flipped over it, hearing shrieks of terror all around her. Her own heart rate never even sped up. She tightened her one-handed grip on the rail and looked around, enjoying the scenery and the momentary breather away from the press of bodies. A crazy urge to let go passed through her. It was only thirty feet up, after all. She’d probably break something if she fell, but it wouldn’t be the first time. But no, she had no intention of falling.

  Of course, if she didn’t intend to fall, she’d better get busy before some well-meaning schlub tried to rescue her. With a little internal sigh, Lydia swung her legs back and then forward, gathered enough momentum as she engaged her well-trained abdominals and executed a neat little flip over the guardrail and onto the landing.

  She straightened, making a big show of pulling on her jacket sleeves to get them straight and looking around when she realized she’d lost an earring. A young man who still had acne on his chin handed it to her with a shaking hand. She smiled and kissed him on the cheek. “Thanks, sweetie.”

  The kid looked like he’d won the lottery, and the little crowd on the balcony burst into belated applause, which was unfortunately cut short by Tony’s arrival. The crowd parted for him as naturally as if his sheer presence were a force field. He folded his arms over his chest and glared at her. “I thought that was you. You trying to ruin my brother’s wedding?”

  “That was an accident.” She fastened the earring and turned away.

  “Oh no, take a bow, Lydia. You earned it.” He caught her arm. “Ladies and gentlemen, you’ve just enjoyed your own private performance by Lady Lydia. Trust me when I say her show is full of even more thrills and chills.“

  “Hey, you’re that escape artist, aren’t you?” A particularly good-looking young man grinned at her. “Kinda sexy.”

  Before Lydia could reply, Tony caught her arm and pulled her away. “Sorry, you’ll have to catch her show. Ask your concierge. Andre wants to see you.’” His last words were directed toward her ear.

  The warmth of his breath made her tense a little. She swallowed hard, resenting the feeling that she was being managed by a man who had no business managing her. She shook him off as they approached the escalator. “Why the hell would I want to see Andre?”

  “Doesn’t everybody want to see Andre today?” Tony motioned around at the packed mall. “Doesn’t everybody want a piece of his happiness? Why would you be any different? Why else would you be here?”

  “I was just passing by.” She tried not to sound defensive. “In fact, I would’ve been gone before I could’ve been shoved over the balcony if—” If I hadn’t seen you.
If I hadn’t wanted to see more of you… She broke off and blushed.

  He gave her a curious look and shrugged. “Look, I’m sure Andre just wants to make sure you’re okay. And Stacey, too. You sort of shocked everybody.” He paused, turning completely toward her and putting his hands on her arms. “That was an accident, really?” At her mute nod, he tightened his grip on her arms for a second, just a slight pressure that nonetheless warmed her. “Jesus, Lydia. I sort of thought maybe you just did it for publicity. You know, that is your kind of thing.”

  “Escape. Right.” She nodded and turned away, remembering that wild moment of freedom and the frightening impulse to just let go. “Well, I wouldn’t want to steal Andre’s spotlight on purpose.”

  “No. Of course.” His voice sounded colder and she regretted the necessity of holding him at a distance at the same time that she sensed that underlying something that she’d noticed from a distance. What was it?

  Still pondering, she stepped onto the escalator and he ushered her past the waterfall and through a door she’d never paid much attention to. She paused inside the little room. Andre and his bride stood on the other side of the door, obviously discussing something, but when the door opened they both turned.

  “What the hell, Lydia?” Andre’s voice carried an edge she was fairly certain was not a carryover from his conversation with the beautiful woman whose hand he still held.

  Although his irritation wasn’t totally unexpected, she couldn’t help flinching a little at his tone. “Look, I’m sorry. I didn’t intend—”

  “Didn’t intend?” Andre rolled his eyes. “If you’d wanted a little publicity for your show, you could’ve just asked.”

  “Right. I’ll keep that in mind next time I almost fall over a balcony.”

  “She says it was an accident.”

  Everyone looked at Tony. He shrugged. “Well, it’s possible. They’re pretty packed in up there trying to catch a glimpse of you two.”

  “We probably should’ve gone somewhere a little more private.” The bride stepped forward, holding out her hand. “Lydia? I’m Stacey. I’m so sorry for what happened. Are you sure you’re all right?”

  “She’s fine. If you’re gonna knock somebody over a balcony, she’s the perfect choice.” Andre’s voice had lost its sour edge in weariness.

  The silence that fell was almost palpable. Lydia noticed Stacey widening her eyes impressively at her new husband as she put a protective arm around Lydia’s shoulders. Andre opened his mouth to prevaricate, but Lydia snickered and Tony clapped his brother on the shoulder. “Well stated, man. I can tell marriage is gonna soften you right up.”

  “I only meant she’s used to it.” Andre grinned a little sheepishly. “I mean, who hasn’t wanted to shove Lydia over a balcony or two?”

  “Don’t be ridiculous, please, Andre.” Stacey turned to Lydia. “Are you sure you’re all right? That was an impressive feat of gymnastics. You should really join us for the reception this afternoon.”

  “I wouldn’t want to—”

  “Intrude?” Andre raised an eyebrow and Stacey hit him. “Ouch!” He frowned at his bride, but with an underlying affection.

  “Exactly.” Lydia felt uncomfortable. She slipped out of Stacey’s grip as easily as she had ever slipped out of ropes, chains and “trunks of doom”. She turned to Stacey. “Thank you…really. For the invitation and hospitality and…” She cast about for another word.

  “Forgiveness?” Tony grinned at her discomfiture and she would have hit him if he’d been standing in range.

  She couldn’t let it go. “I didn’t know I had anything to be forgiven for. Not by anyone in this room.”

  Andre had walked over to the far corner. He swung around. “You may be right.”

  “She’s what?” Tony looked incredulous.

  “It was a long time ago, Tony.” Andre glanced at Stacey and smiled. “I just can’t seem to hold grudges today.”

  Stacey took a step toward him and he closed the gap, taking her hands in his and bending to kiss her lightly. When he looked around at them, his expression was as unreal and foreign to Lydia as real magic. He looked… peaceful. And she actually believed he had forgiven her.

  “Whatever you say, Bro.” Tony took Lydia’s arm. “C’mon, Lady Lydia, let’s give the happy couple some time alone.”

  Before he could get out the door, however, Stacey caught Lydia’s hand. “I do hope you can make it tonight.”

  “I’ll, um, do my best.” Lydia let herself be pulled away by Tony’s iron grip, but she glanced back one last time to satisfy herself that Stacey had turned back to Andre.

  ****

  Tony kept his grip tight on Lydia’s arm until he’d walked her all the way back to the resort lobby. Only then did he loosen his hold on her, swinging her around to face him as he did so. “What the hell are you playing at?”

  “I’m not playing at anything, and that hurt!” She rubbed her arm and frowned at him.

  He dismissed her theatrics with a roll of his eyes. “Give me a break.”

  “Fine.” She dropped her arms to her sides and glared at him. “But it really was an accident. I thought you believed me.”

  “I did until I saw your face in there. You’re jealous as hell. Did you come back here to break up Andre’s wedding?”

  “I’m not jealous!” She folded her arms over her chest in a defensive posture. “There’s nothing to be jealous of! And it was an accident.”

  She’s hiding something. “A fortunate accident, I guess.”

  “Yeah.” Her eyes skittered to the side. “And I’m glad he’s happy. Really. I just…guess I never figured that ever happened outside of fairytales.” She gave him an almost shy glance. “It was kind of sweet. And I don’t say that lightly.”

  “I know.” He regarded her for several seconds. He couldn’t deny she sounded sincere. Could the whole thing have been what his mother would have called a “calamitous concatenation of events”? He sighed. “I still don’t trust you.”

  She shrugged, giving him a flirtatious look from under her thick eyelashes. Those gray-green eyes peering at him from under her strawberry blonde fringe did things to his body that he didn’t want to admit. Breathlessness, heart palpitations, the whole bit. Tony didn’t get that way about women. When he wanted a woman, he found one, but one would do as well as another, and they were almost always willing. He’d held himself aloof from the kind of mind-bending, heart-breaking, soul-searing love he’d seen between Andre and Stacey. That way lay addiction, and no way was he going down that route again.

  Although it might be difficult to resist Lydia. Damn it. Things were going so well, and she marched back into his life. The one woman who could mess it all up for him.

  He stepped away from her. “Seven o’clock, then?”

  “Sure. Where?” She straightened her shoulders and looked more like herself. Brash, sexy, confident. He could handle this Lydia.

  “I’ll pick you up about six-thirty.” He turned to leave.

  “You don’t know my room number.” She raised an eyebrow.

  “I’ll find you.” He waved as he turned away. He didn’t dare stay longer because if he did, he might realize how much he was looking forward to seeing her later on. He might even talk her into showing him where her room was, and if he did, would he want to leave?

  Of course, she might throw him out. Literally. Lydia had a fiery temper. The memory of it made him smile, but the smile faded. Memories of Lydia were always tainted by what she’d done to Andre. She’d betrayed him.

  So did you. He silenced the qualms of conscience sternly. It was weakness and he knew he couldn’t afford it. He could never afford to be weak again.

  Chapter 2

  The blackness covered her, smothered her, she couldn’t breathe and as consciousness receded, she knew she never would again…

  Her cell phone jerked her out of the restless sleep she’d fallen into and she rolled over, punching the button to answer it. “Yeah?”


  “I saw you on the news!” Her manager Bess’s voice sounded thrilled and entirely too chipper for Lydia’s frayed senses. “That was so cool. But why didn’t you tell me you were going to do it? I could’ve made sure there was a camera pointed the right way. As it is, they barely caught the last half, and that was because somebody turned their iPhone your way at the right moment.”

  Lydia sat up and rubbed her eyes with the back of her hand. “I didn’t plan it.”

  “You didn’t?” Bess sounded surprised, but then she seemed to recover. “Oh, so you were just there and saw the cameras? Well, good thinking—”

  “Jeez, how come nobody believes it was an accident?” Lydia frowned at the phone in her hand. “Really, those do happen, you know. Lucky it was me, that’s all.”

  “Don’t get all in a snit.” Bess laughed out loud. “Fine, it was an accident. But listen, we’re back in Vegas, Baby! We need to do something to celebrate your new gig. What are you doing tonight?”

  I’ll pick you up about six-thirty. “Oh shit. What time is it?” She looked around for a clock.

  “Five-thirty. Why, what’s up? Got a hot date?”

  “Damn. I barely have time to get ready.” Lydia jumped up and began rummaging her suitcase.

  “Ready for what? You do have a hot date. God, you work fast. I want to hear all about it tomorrow. Let’s meet for coffee. Before rehearsal. Don’t be late!”

  “Sure. Whatever.” Lydia found the little black cocktail dress she’d been searching for and headed for the bathroom even as she hung up the phone. A quick shower, some makeup and she’d be ready to face Tony again.

  Except that forty-five minutes later she was still dissatisfied with her appearance. She’d changed dresses twice and finally ended up back in her original choice. But then she’d had to select accessories and she’d changed from large silver hoops to long dangly openwork gold before deciding on her favorite earrings with open lotus flowers at the bottom of a string of multicolored, semi-precious stone beads. Swarovski crystals hanging from the open lotus blossoms gave the earrings a little extra sparkle.