"Too much champagne?"Delia says.
"Just a little."I tap her foot."Eliza?"
"Mmmm."
"Time to go home."
"G-way.Sleep'n."
"Time go home, Elz."
“ ’M fine."
"No, you're not.You can't stay here."
"Broken.No walkies."
Hunter taps my shoulder, and I slide out of the way.He shakes Eliza's foot."Miss?I'm going to pick you up now.Okay?"
"Kay.Hands off my bungus, though, mister."
He chuckles."I promise, I won't be touching your bungus."
I push in, open the tablecloth, and wrap it more tightly around her lower half."There."
With easy strength, Hunter leans in and scoops Eliza out of the booth.Her head flops loosely against his shoulder; her eyes flicker open, peer at him, and then fly open wide."You?Am I dreaming?"
He just snorts."No ma'am."
"You're a real person?"
"Last I checked."
She groans."Wonderful.I meet Hunter Hawkins…in this state.You can just drop me off at the mental hospital."
He glances at me."Is this…normal?"
I sigh, laughing."Not exactly, no."
I lead the way out back to the alley parking lot where my car is parked.I open the back seat, and he slides her in across the second row bench.
“Our car is around front," he tells me, once I've closed the door behind her."We'll follow you."A pause."If you're sure.I don't want to intrude."
I laugh, shaking my head."I won't be going to sleep anytime soon.I get too wired after events.I could use the company."I touch his hand."You don't need to donate again, Mr.Hawkins.I'm not sure if you're joking or not, but—"
"I never joke about money, Miss Kaplan."
Which is how I find myself in the condo I share with Eliza—yes, we're best friends, business partners,androommates—drinking Diet Coke from juice glasses and eating the best cheese pizza in all of San Diego with Hunter Hawkins and Delia Hawkins-Badd.
"So, you said you were in town for another event?"I ask, by way of making conversation.
Hunter nods—Delia is scarfing pizza like it's going out of style, and it does my foodie, curvy-girl heart good to see her eating with gusto."Yeah.Another fundraiser across town at the same time."
I can't quite suppress a sigh."Don't get me started."
He arches an eyebrow."Uh-oh.Turf war?"
I snicker."No, sir."I shrug."Well, sort of.I had my event planned for weeks before they did, but they're the bigger company, so most of my biggest donors went to that event first, or instead.We still did well, even without your contribution, but…"
