insensitive?”
“No, no,” Robert soothed. “All Alexis was saying is how terribly sad she feels for those who were killed or injured.”
“I am sad,” Alexis interjected, “but what I was implying is she is insensitive.” Close your mouth , commanded the voice of reason. She ignored it. “I think it’s terrible someone would be so selfish. You seem to be concerned only about your ruined plans. Obviously you do not feel or display sympathy for someone’s plight which is much, much worse than your own.”
Robert gave her a look that told her she could quit speaking any time. The plump lady pushed her voluptuous chest farther out, raising both her chins. She shot bullets Alexis’ direction with her eyes. The mouths of everyone else in the circle gaped open at her lack of etiquette.
“I’m sorry,” Alexis said, though she didn’t feel repentant. “If you’ll excuse me, I need to freshen up.”
With one last glare at the woman, Alexis speed-walked away. Her eyes stung from unshed tears of rage. She didn’t look back to see if Robert would make their excuses and follow.
She rushed out a set of French doors to a wide veranda dotted with terra cotta plants spilling over with geraniums, impatiens, and petunias. Realizing she still held a drink in her hand, she sipped the cool liquid. The refreshing night air soothed her anger as she relished being removed from the group of haughty, over-perfumed elite.
Robert had no intention of following Alexis. He was more concerned about the political ramifications of not being able to keep his “little date” in check. He quickly patted the woman’s ruffled feathers with his best smile.
“I’m so sorry,” he soothed, grasping her squishy fingers. “Alexis lost a close friend in the blast, and obviously she’s a bit irrational. It has been a terrible time for her, just terrible.”
A complete untruth, but it worked. Disbelief of Alexis’ tirade changed to clucks of compassion and hands held over surgically enhanced bosoms.
“Oh, the poor, poor dear.”
“Bless her little heart.”
“What a tragedy.”
“I hope she’s okay.”
“Thank you. I hope she will be,” Robert said. What he really hoped was Alexis wouldn’t return and catch him in his lie.
Chris nodded, agreeing with the mayor’s assessment of the cowardice of the July Fourth attack. Dating Danielle did come with extra benefits. He thoroughly enjoyed his association with the mayor and his wife. Chris risked another sidelong glance toward Alexis and her date. She looked stunning in her black evening gown.
It appeared she was discussing something with passion. Her cheeks were tinged red and her brown eyes sparkled with intensity. A moment later she raced toward the open veranda.
“Excuse me for a moment,” he said. “I’ll be right back.” Squeezing Danielle’s hand, he released it and turned from the group.
“Where are you going without me?” Danielle arched her perfect eyebrows.
Chris forced a smile. “I’ll be right back.”
“Don’t be long.” She gave him one more sultry look before turning toward the celebrity at her left.
Chris strode through the French doors where Alexis had disappeared moments earlier. Glancing about, he spotted Alexis leaning against the railing of the veranda. Even in the darkness her short red hair caught his eye. It dipped and swirled in soft curls. He’d give a month’s salary just to touch it.
Her black dress was modest, but fit perfectly. Her toned arms and calves were revealed, while the rest of her firm curves showed just enough to be appealing. He decided he’d give a year’s salary for a snapshot of her in that dress.
He stealthily approached her.
“Hey, Half-pint.”
Chris’ deep voice rumbled too close to her ear. The warm scent of his musky cologne overwhelmed her. Alexis gasped, her glass of orange juice slipping through her fingertips. The handcrafted goblet bounced off the railing then fell two stories and burst into
“No, no,” Robert soothed. “All Alexis was saying is how terribly sad she feels for those who were killed or injured.”
“I am sad,” Alexis interjected, “but what I was implying is she is insensitive.” Close your mouth , commanded the voice of reason. She ignored it. “I think it’s terrible someone would be so selfish. You seem to be concerned only about your ruined plans. Obviously you do not feel or display sympathy for someone’s plight which is much, much worse than your own.”
Robert gave her a look that told her she could quit speaking any time. The plump lady pushed her voluptuous chest farther out, raising both her chins. She shot bullets Alexis’ direction with her eyes. The mouths of everyone else in the circle gaped open at her lack of etiquette.
“I’m sorry,” Alexis said, though she didn’t feel repentant. “If you’ll excuse me, I need to freshen up.”
With one last glare at the woman, Alexis speed-walked away. Her eyes stung from unshed tears of rage. She didn’t look back to see if Robert would make their excuses and follow.
She rushed out a set of French doors to a wide veranda dotted with terra cotta plants spilling over with geraniums, impatiens, and petunias. Realizing she still held a drink in her hand, she sipped the cool liquid. The refreshing night air soothed her anger as she relished being removed from the group of haughty, over-perfumed elite.
Robert had no intention of following Alexis. He was more concerned about the political ramifications of not being able to keep his “little date” in check. He quickly patted the woman’s ruffled feathers with his best smile.
“I’m so sorry,” he soothed, grasping her squishy fingers. “Alexis lost a close friend in the blast, and obviously she’s a bit irrational. It has been a terrible time for her, just terrible.”
A complete untruth, but it worked. Disbelief of Alexis’ tirade changed to clucks of compassion and hands held over surgically enhanced bosoms.
“Oh, the poor, poor dear.”
“Bless her little heart.”
“What a tragedy.”
“I hope she’s okay.”
“Thank you. I hope she will be,” Robert said. What he really hoped was Alexis wouldn’t return and catch him in his lie.
Chris nodded, agreeing with the mayor’s assessment of the cowardice of the July Fourth attack. Dating Danielle did come with extra benefits. He thoroughly enjoyed his association with the mayor and his wife. Chris risked another sidelong glance toward Alexis and her date. She looked stunning in her black evening gown.
It appeared she was discussing something with passion. Her cheeks were tinged red and her brown eyes sparkled with intensity. A moment later she raced toward the open veranda.
“Excuse me for a moment,” he said. “I’ll be right back.” Squeezing Danielle’s hand, he released it and turned from the group.
“Where are you going without me?” Danielle arched her perfect eyebrows.
Chris forced a smile. “I’ll be right back.”
“Don’t be long.” She gave him one more sultry look before turning toward the celebrity at her left.
Chris strode through the French doors where Alexis had disappeared moments earlier. Glancing about, he spotted Alexis leaning against the railing of the veranda. Even in the darkness her short red hair caught his eye. It dipped and swirled in soft curls. He’d give a month’s salary just to touch it.
Her black dress was modest, but fit perfectly. Her toned arms and calves were revealed, while the rest of her firm curves showed just enough to be appealing. He decided he’d give a year’s salary for a snapshot of her in that dress.
He stealthily approached her.
“Hey, Half-pint.”
Chris’ deep voice rumbled too close to her ear. The warm scent of his musky cologne overwhelmed her. Alexis gasped, her glass of orange juice slipping through her fingertips. The handcrafted goblet bounced off the railing then fell two stories and burst into
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