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them online, too.
He pursed his lips.  What an entertaining thought.
 Nice reviews, she said, divining his mischievous
thoughts.
 Spoilsport.
He winked at her, and she blushed.
 Don t forget, she said.  About finding me a way
to interview that woman, okay?
 Okay, he said.  Good night.
 Good night.
She stood, sighing, as he walked back to his truck.
But when he got inside and started it, he didn t drive
away. She realized belatedly that he was waiting until
she went inside and locked the door. She laughed and
waved. She liked that streak of protectiveness in him.
It might not be modern, but it certainly made her feel
cherished. She slept like a charm.
86 THE MAVERICK
***
The next morning, he called her on his cell phone
before she left the motel.  I ve got us invited to a cocktail
party tonight, he told her.  A fundraiser for the senator.
 Us? But we can t contribute to that sort of thing!
Can we? she added.
 We don t have to. We re representing a contributor
who s out of the country, he added with a chuckle.  Do
you have a nice cocktail dress?
 I do, but it s in San Antonio, in my apartment.
 No worries. You can go up and get it and I ll pick
you up there at six.
 Fantastic! I ll wear something nice and I won t burp
the theme songs to any television shows, she promised.
 Oh, that s good to know, he teased.  Got to get
back to work. I told Mr. Parks I had to go to San Antonio
this afternoon, so he s giving me a half day off. I didn t
tell him why I needed the vacation time, but I think he
suspects something.
 Don t mention this to anybody else, okay? she
asked.  If Jon Blackhawk or Kilraven find out, my
goose will be cooked.
 I won t tell a soul.
 See you later. I owe you one, Harley.
 Yes, he drawled softly.  You do, don t you? I ll
phone you later and get directions to your apartment.
 Okay.
She laughed and hung up.
The senator lived in a mansion. It was two stories high,
with columns, and it had a front porch bigger than Alice s
whole apartment. Lights burned in every room, and in the
gloomy, rainy night, it looked welcoming and beautiful.
DIANA PALMER 87
Luxury sedans were parked up and down the drive-
way. Harley s pickup truck wasn t in the same class, but
he didn t seem to feel intimidated. He parked on the
street and helped Alice out of the truck. He was wearing
evening clothes, with a black bow tie and highly
polished black wingtip shoes. He looked elegant. Alice
was wearing a simple black cocktail dress with her best
winter coat, the one she wore to work, a black one with
a fur collar. She carried her best black evening bag and
she wore black pumps that she d polished, hoping to
cover the scuff marks. On her salary, although it was a
good one, she could hardly afford haute couture.
They were met at the door by a butler in uniform.
Harley handed him an invitation and the man hesitated
and did a double take, but he didn t say anything.
Once they were inside, Alice looked worriedly at
Harley.
 It s okay, he assured her, smiling as he cradled her
hand in his protectively.  No problem.
 Gosh, she said, awestruck as she looked around her
at the company she was in.  There s a movie star over
there, she said under her breath.  I recognize at least
two models and a Country-Western singing star, and
there s the guy who won the golf tournament& !
 They re just people, Alice, he said gently.
She gaped at him.  Just people? You re joking,
right? She turned too fast and bumped into somebody.
She looked up to apologize and her eyes almost popped.
 S-sorry, she stammered.
A movie star with a martial arts background grinned
at her.  No problem. It s easy to get knocked down in
here. What a crowd, huh?
 Y-yes, she agreed, nodding.
88 THE MAVERICK
He laughed, smiled at Harley, and drew his date, a
gorgeous blonde, along with him toward the buffet table.
Harley curled his fingers into Alice s.  Rube, he
teased softly.  You re starstruck.
 I am, I am, she agreed at once.  I ve never been in
such a place in my life. I don t hang out with the upper
echelons of society in my job. You seem very much at
home, she added,  for a man who spends his time with
horses and cattle. [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]