Part 9 (2/2)
”I didn't mean for you,” Celia replied, dangling her fork off the end of her fingers and giving Kelsey a sly look.
Kelsey caught her drift and laughed. ”Yeah, well, I wouldn't know about that.”
”But you'd like to,” Celia insisted.
”No comment,” Kelsey said, turning her attention to her dinner to avoid dwelling on the picture Celia's words brought to mind.
They both looked up when they heard a loud banging coming from the front door of the brownstone. ”Do you know if Fred was expecting someone?” Kelsey asked.
”No, but maybe he or Mitch forgot their keys.”
”Could be,” Kelsey said, dropping her napkin. As she quickly descended the wooden stairs to the foyer, the knock continued in an almost imperious repet.i.tion. Kelsey paused to look through the peephole.
”Oh, great.” She sighed aloud when she recognized the blonde who had been in Mitch's apartment that night Kelsey had burst in. She hadn't seen the woman around since, and had begun to hope Mitch wasn't dating her after all. Kelsey contemplated going back upstairs and not answering, but her good manners won out and she opened the door.
”Well, thank you so much,” the woman said in a brisk voice. ”I've been knocking for five minutes, and it's very chilly out here.”
She tried to push past Kelsey to enter the brownstone, but Kelsey blocked her. ”Can I help you?”
”I'm here to see Mitch,” the blonde said.
”He's not here.”
”Well, when will he be back?” The woman was obviously annoyed at being kept standing on the doorstep.
”I have no idea. We don't exactly keep track of each other's comings and goings.”
The woman eyed her again, and Kelsey almost wished she'd bothered with a little more makeup and hadn't pulled her hair into a ponytail while making dinner. This statuesque blonde reeked money, looking every bit as lovely as she had the last time she'd been over. Her knee-length coat was obviously cashmere, and she carried a Gucci bag. Her hair was perfectly in place, and her makeup impeccable.
”Give him this, please,” she said, shoving something toward Kelsey with one leather-glove-clad hand. ”It's his invitation to the Halloween ball. Tell him I am counting on him to come, Kelly.”
”It's Kelsey.”
”Of course.” The woman offered her an insincere smile. ”Kelsey, Mitch's friend's sister. He has, of course, told me all about how your family was so kind to him. And how he felt so obligated to rent you a room here to repay them.”
Obligated? Mitch felt obligated? Kelsey began to see red. Just then Mitch's car swung up the driveway, and the blonde glanced over her shoulder and smiled in relief. They watched him park his car and start toward the house. Some imp of mischief made Kelsey say, ”He's here now, and you can offer the ticket, but I don't think he needs it.”
”Oh?” the woman asked, raising her eyebrow imperiously. ”Why do you say that?”
”Mitch has a date for the ball. He's going with me. And I've already got tickets.”
”You're not serious!”
”About what?” Mitch asked as he walked up the two steps to the front door of the brownstone.
Amanda turned to him and shrilly announced, ”Your little 'pseudo-sister' here claims you're attending the Halloween ball with her.”
”Of course, she's serious.” He scowled at Amanda in annoyance. Sometimes the woman could be incredibly high-handed, as well as thick-skinned. In spite of what had happened the last time she'd come to his apartment, she still continued to call him every few days. He'd avoided complete rudeness, up to now.
”But you always always go with me, Mitch! And Daddy...he was so looking forward to joining us.” go with me, Mitch! And Daddy...he was so looking forward to joining us.”
Always could be translated as twice. Mitch had gone with Amanda once, last year, and as a guest of her father's the year before. could be translated as twice. Mitch had gone with Amanda once, last year, and as a guest of her father's the year before.
”I'm looking forward to seeing him, too. But as I've said, I am going with Kelsey. Her station is sponsoring the event, and she needed an escort.”
Amanda's face tightened as she tried to smile. Kelsey figured it took a great deal of effort to turn and say, ”I'm sorry for doubting you, Kelsey. Of course Mitch would step in and play the gallant escort.”
”Oh, Mitch is nothing if not gallant,” Kelsey said.
”But, Mitch,” Amanda said, ”after Kelsey's finished her duties for her employer, you must join us. Daddy and I will still save you a place at our table.”
Amanda cast another glance at Kelsey. ”And if Kelsey wishes to remain at the party after she's finished working, she's welcome to sit with us, too.”
”How kind,” Kelsey murmured, feeling like the unwelcome servant invited to a dinner party to make up for a no-show guest.
The woman did not seem to notice her sarcasm and continued. ”However, I do insist that you let me plan your costume, Mitch. I thought we could go as Fred and Ginger again, since everyone loved our costumes last year.”
”I'm afraid not. Kelsey is already working on our costumes.”
”Oh, Mitch, don't be silly,” Amanda replied, undeterred. ”It won't matter what costume you wear to play escort for a brief time for your little friend. Your duties shouldn't take too long, then you can join me in your top hat and tails. You won't be chained to Kelsey all night!”
Kelsey figured she ought to have her brain examined for taking the insults that had been flying her way for the past several minutes. ”You know, I think I'll leave you two to sort this out, all right? Celia's waiting upstairs. Good night, it was lovely seeing you again.”
Not waiting for a reply, she stalked up the stairs, slamming her apartment door behind her.
”My goodness, I hope I didn't offend her, Mitch.”
”How could you not have offended her?” Anger made his voice tight and hard. ”You walked in here, into Kelsey's home, and started treating her like an unwanted guest, or as if you have some claim to my time, when you know that's absolutely untrue.”
”Well,” Amanda sputtered, unable to come up with anything else to say. Mitch knew it was pretty stupid to antagonize her. After all, she and her father could easily prevent his books from being required in any cla.s.s at several colleges.
When he didn't respond or apologize, Amanda said quietly, ”I suppose you're right. I'm sorry, Mitch. I was a little abrupt with her. I guess I still am proprietorial about you. Silly of me.”
”Maybe you'd better tell Kelsey that next time you see her.”
Amanda nodded, said goodbye and walked back to her car.
Mitch let himself into his apartment, wondering if he should go upstairs and straighten things out with Kelsey. She'd mentioned Celia was waiting, so he figured this wouldn't be the best time.
The urge to seek her out had been with him ever since she'd left his place that afternoon. He was getting very used to that urge: it seemed to be constant. For about the twentieth time, Mitch wondered what kind of fool he was to take her to the party. And for about the twenty-fifth time, he told himself there was no way in h.e.l.l he was going to back out.
”WE WON'T BE CHAINED together all night,” Kelsey muttered as she entered her apartment and caught Celia's eye. ”Mitch and I won't be chained together at the ball, so of course he can feel free to dump poor little old obligation me and go waltz off with Miss Moneybags and her father!” together all night,” Kelsey muttered as she entered her apartment and caught Celia's eye. ”Mitch and I won't be chained together at the ball, so of course he can feel free to dump poor little old obligation me and go waltz off with Miss Moneybags and her father!”
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