Dana wasn’t sure what to do with this new, cautious Anise.
“Because we can do something else,” Dana had said.
“Dana.” Bea had pointed a finger at her. “Are you calling him yet?”
“You’d better do it.” Anise had shrugged. “You’ll never hear the end of it if you don’t.”
Dana had had no choice. With a tremor in her gut, she’d dialed the office number Alex had keyed into her phone. Even though she didn’t expect Alex to answer the office number, she’d stifled her disappointment when a man named Trevor answered.
What did you think would happen? Duh. He has people to do that sort of thing for him.
Alex’s assistant had confirmed they were already on the guest list. Bea and Jessica had spent the next few minutes dancing around the room in excitement and Dana had been forced to accept the fact there was no getting out of this plan.
So she’d decided to own it. She would embrace this party. They would have a great time.
And if the opportunity to flirt with a certain blond hotel owner came up, who was she to deny it?
As she unzipped her makeup case, she heard a buzz in the other room. It was her phone.
Another text from Tommy. She knew it in her marrow.
She planted her hands on the granite vanity and looked herself in the eye. “Do not check your phone. Whatever it is, it can wait. He can wait.”
Taking a deep breath, she applied her makeup. She hadn’t worn it much lately, for fear of messing it with any guerilla attack tears. Tonight wasn’t about tears. Dammit, she would apply a double coat of mascara.
When Dana was happy with her makeup application, deep rose blush, wine lipstick, and a shimmery eyeshadow to complement her new white dress, she set her brushes down. Her natural curls hung loose. They would make her mom want to reach for her flat iron but Dana had long since given up her relaxer.
“You look good.” She smiled at her reflection. “Just have fun and forget about everything.”
Her phone buzzed again.
This time, Dana walked into the living area of the suite and grabbed her cell.
Tommy: I know I’m the last person you want to talk to. But I’m asking you, can we talk? Please.
Tommy: It’s important, Dana.
Important. Right.
He’d stopped being important to her. She couldn’t think of a single thing he could tell her that would carry any import for her. This was probably just a case of Tommy feeling nostalgic. Perhaps he hadn’t met anyone yet and wanted attention.
“No way, sucker.”
Dana shut off the phone and tossed it in her evening bag. Resolved, she walked over to the minibar and opened it. There were all sorts of enticing bottles inside, samples of everything from white wine to vodka to Drambuie. She knew full well drinking from the minibar would cost dearly but she didn’t care. She’d already gotten the suites at a steal. Grabbing a small bottle of white wine, she emptied the contents into a glass.
Reading the label, she noticed the vintage. Although she would never call herself a connoisseur, she knew enough to recognize it was the good stuff. Alex had talked about vintages at Joe’s. It made sense he wouldn’t serve cat pee at Vice.
She drank it down in three gulps. Definitely not cat pee. Dry and tangy, it doused the fireball in her belly.
The flames didn’t stay out for long. In seconds, they surged again with renewed heat.
She checked the wine bottle but there were only drops left.
Tommy’s voice, although reedy and thin at the back of her head, sounded like a cannonball.
Women like you.
“Women like me.” She paced. “What the hell do you know about women like me?”
