Part 2 (2/2)
”I love the hat. I simply love it,” Elise gushed. ”Is that the new fas.h.i.+on? I simply have to have one.”
Viv glanced over her shoulder at me with a very clear I-told-you-so look on her face. I just smiled. Obviously, there was no accounting for taste.
”They are becoming all the rage,” Viv said. ”My a.s.sistant, Fee, and I simply can't keep up with the demand.”
Fiona looked as if she might swoon when Elise glanced her way.
”Do you have a moment?” Elise asked. ”I want to introduce the two of you to my producer, Sam Kerry. I think we could do a brilliant segment on winter hats in the next few days. What do you think?”
Viv and Fee disappeared into the crowd, and I found myself standing alone with Harrison. I wasn't sure what to say or do because while we're friends, we're rarely alone. I decided now was as good a time as any to discover a bit more about the man who had the uncanny ability to make my heart go pitter pat.
”So, Harry, looks like you're stuck with me,” I said as I slipped my arm through his and pulled him toward the bonfire. ”Tell me, who does a gal have to kill to own a place like this?”
”Why, the person who already owns it. Right, Harrison, old boy?” It was not Harry who answered me.
A distinguished-looking man, with perfectly cut silver hair, a clean shaven face and an impeccable navy suit under a matching overcoat, was standing on the other side of Harrison smiling at me in amus.e.m.e.nt. I knew without being told that this had to be Harry's boss. Oh, gees!
Chapter 4.
”Scarlett Parker, this is Tyler Carson,” Harrison said. He, too, was looking at me with a smile tucked into his cheek. I dropped his arm and ignored him.
”It's nice to meet you,” I said. Tyler Carson took my hand in his and patted it as if to rea.s.sure me that my social gaffe was just fine.
”Likewise,” he said. ”And this is Reese Evers, my partner in crime.”
”More accurately your late partner's wife, but I do appreciate you keeping me around,” Reese teased. She was short and st.u.r.dy with stylishly cut and colored dark hair and a rose-colored sweater dress under a perfectly tailored black winter coat that I was sure cost the equivalent of my parents' new car.
”A pleasure,” Reese said when she shook my hand.
The two of them glanced between me and Harrison as if trying to figure out our relations.h.i.+p. I felt like saying ”good luck” since I had no idea what our relations.h.i.+p was myself, but I didn't. Remarkable restraint, I know.
”You really pulled out all the stops,” Harrison said. ”It's incredible.”
”It was all Ava,” Tyler said. An expression of sadness pa.s.sed over his face. ”She has her moments.”
I wasn't sure what to say to that and clearly neither did Harrison or Reese. Tyler stared out across the throng of people and then visibly shook himself loose from whatever was on his mind.
”Yes, well, make sure you get some of the mulled wine,” he said. ”Reese, I do believe I see Jeremy Hinton across the way. We should probably go b.u.t.ter up the old goat.”
”Ah, yes, duty calls.” Reese sighed as she followed in Tyler's wake, giving us a small wave.
I glanced at Harrison and saw worry lines form in between his brows.
”Everything okay?” I asked.
”Hard to say,” he said. ”I think it is one of those things that only time will-”
”Harrison Wentworth, I have been looking all over for you!”
A woman about my age, wearing ridiculously high heels, a tiny skirt and a puffy jacket, tripped across the patio toward us. She had black hair cut in a severe bob, overly plucked arching eyebrows and the reddest pillow lips I'd ever seen.
”Tuesday,” Harrison greeted her.
He looked uneasy, and I felt my left eyebrow arch inquisitively. Upon closer inspection, I realized Harry looked downright nervous. I had a feeling I was about to find out what I had suspected he was hiding when he'd invited all of us as his guests. Another woman!
”Scarlett, this is Tuesday Blount,” he said. ”We work at Carson and Evers together.”
”Nice to meet you,” I said. I held out my hand but she shook her head.
”Sorry,” she said. ”I forgot my gloves.”
What the heck was that supposed to mean? I had to give her a ten on the rudeness scale for that one, but then I thought maybe she was a germaphobe and I should let it slide. She licked her red lips and looked at Harrison like he was a snack. Okay, so I was not going to let her slide on the rudeness.
”Harry, be a love and get us some wine,” she ordered.
”It's Harrison,” he and I said together.
He looked at me and I looked at him. He grinned and I shrugged as if it were no big deal. Of course, it was a very big deal. No one is supposed to call him Harry except for me.
”Harrison, then,” Tuesday said. She rolled her eyes. ”Please go get us some wine. I'm simply dying of thirst.”
I had a hard time figuring why that was a bad thing. Okay, that was mean, but I really, really, really did not like this woman.
”I'll be right back,” Harrison said. Then he leaned close to me and whispered, ”Behave.”
I would have protested, but I didn't want to give Miss Bats for Eyebrows any reason to think I had just been reined in. I had a feeling she would enjoy that entirely too much.
”Of course I will,” I said. I gave him my brightest and falsest smile.
He frowned at me, and I noticed when he left he was moving at a speedy pace, so the man was not a complete idiot.
As soon as he was gone, Tuesday looked me over as if she were considering a purchase. I returned the scrutiny, and I'm pleased to report that she had k.n.o.bby knees.
”So, you and Harrison, eh?” she asked.
”I'm sorry,” I said. ”I'm not sure what you mean.”
”You two are a couple?” she asked. ”I've been wondering how long it would take him to move on after our breakup.”
Despite myself, I made a sputtering noise. Yes, that's the sound I make when I'm trying not to swallow my tongue.
”Oh, he didn't tell you about me?” she asked. ”It's not too surprising. He took our breakup very hard.”
<script>