The small gold clutch sat on the dresser and she picked it up, tossed in a lipstick and some other makeup thing, and then snapped it closed.
When he held his arm out, she slipped her hand through it and they set out. As they crossed the living room she stopped to grab some keys on the coffee table. “Here, I rented a car for tonight.”
She’d rented a car. “Why?”
Her smile was huge and genuine so he tried not to take offense as she explained, “The cab of your truck is kind of high and this dress isn’t all that easy to maneuver in. I thought it might be less difficult witha lower sedan.”
“Sure, did you wantto drive then?”
She handed him the keys and said, “No, you can. These four-inch heels aren’t real conducive to manipulating a gas and brake pedal.”
As they drove, they both took guesses as to what they’d find once they unlocked the trap door at the mill. Gold, more stolen goods, drugs, the Man inthe Iron Mask.
“I hope it’s not a dead body,” Scott said. He’d seen enough of those in the sand box.
“Ooh, yuck. Wouldn’t that smell and have flies everywhere?”
They pulled up and he avoided the question. She didn’t need to know the details of dead bodies. Helping her out of the car, he handed the valet the keys and escorted her into theupscale hotel.
“My parents rented out the ballroom onthe top floor.”
“Of course they did,” Scott muttered as they entered the elevator and he pushed the correct button. “I’m curious, this hotel must have cost a fortune to rent and you said there’d be food and drinks, so how do they actually raise funds for thisworthy cause?”
Heather’s eyes flicked away then moved back to him. “It’s five hundred dollars for a ticket. Most people who are coming will be expected to donate as well.”
“Five hundred bucks a person? Holy shit. Do they take credit cards because I left my checkbook at home?”
The elevator door opened and Heather slid her hand around his elbow. “This is my family’s party and you’re my date. You don’t need to worry about it.”
She never actually said she got free tickets. Did she pay for them? Or her parents? Great. He was mooching off the rich now. It wasn’t just a tie.
“I need to let my mother know I’m here,” she said, craning her neck to look through the room as it filled. “She’ll already be upset I wasn’t the first one here. I don’t need to pissher off more.”
They wended their way through the people and Heather grabbed two champagne flutes off a passing tray. Tipping her head back, she tooka healthy swig.
“I thought you said you’d be staying sober tonight?” he teased, taking a smaller sip of his drink. “Didn’t we have plans for creating some great memories tonight?”
Her eyes narrowed. “I simply needed a little bit of instant courage before I spoke to my mom. She’s always a little high strung at these kinds of events.”
“Then why does she do them?”
“She says they’re expected of someone in her position. She’s very into appearances if you hadn’t noticed.”
He had. He wouldn’t say it out loud.Never insult another person’s mother.
“Heather,” Nicoletta Silva called out pleasantly as they approached. “It’s so nice of you to be here.”
Scott didn’t know Heather’s mom all that well, but even he could read the word she was leaving out.Finally.
“I would have been here earlier but with all my possessions gone…” She trailed off and kissed hermother’s cheek.
“Mrs. Silva, it’s nice tosee you again.”
“Thank you, Scott. You also.” She presented her cheek for his soft kiss never even mentioning how he’d addressed her and that her husband had insisted hebe less formal.
“The place looks amazing. Heather says you do all the organizing yourself.” If he got her on another track, would she forget about chastising Heatherfor being late?
“Yes, I do. I keep asking Heather to assist me but she’s always too busy with her little real estate business. And now this new building.” Replace the late speech with one of guilt.
