“I’m up with Roger, working from his cottage,” said Nico. “The family has been coming here for years, so they knew Helena.”
They chatted for a few minutes about how the summer was going, and the event, with Nico shamelessly collecting compliments for Valerie.
“I hope you didn’t take offense to my email about the job,” said Gia, shifting her purse from her shoulder to her hand. “I was casting a wide net.”
Nico felt bad for not replying. “Not at all.”
She gave him an appraising look. “You know, I was thinking you’dhave been perfect for that role, but I know you’re happy with Roger. I remember those incredible expense-claim workflows you did when you were in the finance department.”
Now was his chance to tell her he had indeed been interested and wanted to be considered for future roles. Then he saw Roger in the corner, frowning slightly as his eyes roved from David to Penny to Alice. He couldn’t go, not yet. He couldn’t let Roger down.
“Luckily we managed to fill it before I left for here.” Gia gave an exaggerated swipe of her brow. “It all happened late Friday afternoon, as always. Thank goodness, because I’m going on a cruise next week.”
“Where are you going?” He tried to keep the conversation up although he could barely manage the words. He’d made his choice, but it wasn’t until she’d told Nico it was filled that he recognized how badly he wished he could have made a different one. The knowledge that she thought he’d match the role should have made him happy, but instead all he could see was the lost opportunity.
“Around the Mediterranean Sea with the Gem Line. Do you know how hard it was to find a cruise that suited both of us? My boyfriend can do pasta-making classes and meet people, and I can read at the quiet pool that has no talking allowed.”
She left, trailing the bloodied remains of his hope with him, but a quick movement caught his eye. He looked over to see Valerie dodging behind a pillar and his phone buzzed as he took his first step toward her.
Mayday. Mayday. I’ve been compromised.
He was at the pillar seconds after receiving the text, glad for the distraction. “What do you mean?”
“How did you find me so fast?”
“I saw you ducking back here before your text arrived.”
“Who were you talking to?”
“Gia. She used to work at the Bread Company.” He needed a moment before he could talk about what happened, even to Valerie, but it gavehim comfort to know she would be there when he was ready. “What’s the problem?”
She pointed to an older man with a distinctive slouch. “Jim Walker.”
“Who’s Jim Walker?”
“One of my dad’s oldest golfing buddies and thus someone who could blow my cover.” She closed her eyes. “How in the world did he end up here?”
Nico glanced at the guy’s bare ankles and leather loafers. He had a Mariposa look for sure. “Maybe he knows the family.”
Valerie groaned. “Thank God Penny decided not to introduce me as Roger’s daughter. I never knew I’d be so relieved to be rejected.”
“It was too much to hope that you’d get out of this summer unrecognized,” Nico said, resigned. He knew something would go wrong.
“You thought about this?” She looked up. “Then you have a plan?”
He took stock of the situation. “We have two options. You hide for the rest of the party or we brazen it out and hope he doesn’t see you.”
“A. Option A. Let’s do A. I’ll ask Dalia to cover for me.”
“Let me go ask. You hide.”
It would have been a good plan had Jim not crossed the room to the sweets table as Valerie snuck her way to the back, bringing them face-to-face. Damn. Nico strode over to see Jim staring, wondering if he was going to have to pull a fire alarm or something to get out of this mess. “Vanessa!” Jim said.
“Sorry,” Valerie said as she walked by, doing her best to keep casual. She looked like she was being hunted.
“No, Vanessa,” he insisted, grabbing her arm. “It’s Jim. Jim Walker. I play golf with your dad. You’ve got quite the unique face, and I never forget a name.”
Nico decided there was only one action to take and came up between them. “Sorry to interrupt, but they need a hand in the kitchen.”
