Page 32 of Savannah Heat
Harper took a step back and frowned, sticking her lower lip out in a mock pout. “Oops, no manners Harper, that’s me.” She plastered a fake smile on her face. “Sorry, I should have introduced myself. All these Southern manners, I forget where I am sometimes.”
“Oh, honey, that’s a dangerous thing. Never forget where you are. So, tell us what you do and your connection to the senator and Mrs. Roseland’s event,” Lizbeth said, not letting Harper off the hook for one second.
Harper regrouped with a fake smile. “I’m here to support the cause, of course, and to see and be seen like everyone else. I wanted to get an interview and some pictures, but your assistant, Kerri, I think her name was, declined for you, Mrs. Roseland.”
“Yes, we ran out of time to do all we wanted to do and needed to close the media down. Otherwise, I wouldn’t have the time to talk to my guests and friends who are here to relax, have some fun, and support my husband’s campaign efforts.”
“Too bad, I could have helped with that effort. Maybe next time,” Harper said, but pausing as she turned to go. “And don’t you look stunning, Jenna. Where’s your date—did you lose him to someone? He is a handsome one and charming, too.”
“He’s not mine to lose, Harper. He’s free to do what he wants. We’re not joined at the hip or anywhere else,” Jenna said, with more force than necessary.
“Good to know. I don’t ever try to take what’s not mine. I’m learning it’s important to know the rules here in the South.” Harper gave them a backward wave and left.
Marta shuddered as they watched Harper disappear back into the crowed room. “Ugh, what a horrible woman.”
Lizbeth nodded and frowned. “She looks so familiar, and now, it’ll bug me until I figure it out. But yes, horrible is the word, whoever she is.”
Jenna looked at Lizbeth. “Yes on both counts! She’s off-putting to say the least, and it has been driving me bonkers trying to recall where I’ve seen her before. The best I can figure out is maybe at one of the European events. I was over there covering the motorcycle races and other events some years ago in my photography days. She’s in, or was, in a similar field, so I could have met her there. Dan—an old friend of mine, has gone out with her a few times, and she joined him here for the first night’s events. But they have gone their separate ways since then.”
“I can’t see Dan with that woman. What was he thinking?” Marta asked.
Jenna laughed and shrugged.
Lizbeth’s raised her eyebrows. “And what did he tell you about her?”
Jenna paused, pondering if even some of what she knew was safe to tell. “Not that much. She has money, travels a lot, used to model, got into to photography, and freelanced for some magazines. I’m not even sure she’s American.”
Lizbeth shook her head. “I’d guess that she’s not. That backward wave is Italian. And did you notice how she slowed down her speech on some words as if she was searching in her head for the word?”
Marta laughed. “Only you would notice that.”
Jenna laughed, too, though she found nothing funny about Harper’s remarks about Brock, clearly meant to be a challenge to annoy her.
“My date, Brock, who she was referring to, enjoyed meeting her, and he seems to be finding her fascinating because she can speak several languages. He also said she seemed to have odd gaps in knowledge. It all sounds as if she is foreign born. A mystery woman.”
Lizbeth shrugged. “Foreign or not, I didn’t like her, and it has nothing to do with where she might or might not be from. She is what my mother used to call ‘a hard woman’ meaning she has seen the world. She’s a user, a survivor. I got that vibe from her.”
Jenna nodded. “I can see why the guys find her fascinating though, besides the looks I mean. She does have that I-have-seen-everything and done-it-all look about her, along with a certain level of mystery.”
Eva Shore, who had been quietly observing and listening, frowned as she looked at her phone. “If you all will excuse me, my husband is trying to get my attention. It’s likely he wants me to promise to put some of his cronies in the newspaper. You do have such interesting parties, Marta.”
“Come back and join us if you can, Eva.” Marta waved at Eva’s husband across the room. “Tell him he’s breaking up some good girl talk.”
Marta motioned for Jenna and Lizbeth to follow her, and they moved over to the other side of the room to a sitting area. “Ugh, did you notice she was taking in every word about the long-legged, blonde vixen?” Marta asked, as they took their seats.
Jenna put a hand on Marta’s. “Surely, she won’t put anything in her coverage of the party about Harper. Why would she? She’s a friend of yours, right?”
“Oh, Jenna, don’t worry about that. She is a gossip, but yes, a friend. She won’t do anything to hurt me. Well, nothing that wouldn’t give her a much bigger payoff anyway. For the record, Lizbeth knows about the jewel thief we are expecting, and she has agreed to help be your eyes and ears as needed until this is over.”
Lizbeth nodded. “Yes, I’m staying with Marta and James and then going on all the campaign trail stops on the way back to Atlanta when this is over. Marta will text you my number later, so you will have it, if needed. Unless you have a phone tucked in your cleavage there now and I can add it.”
Jenna laughed. “No phone in my cleavage, and I laughed when Dan suggested I keep my phone on vibrate. I didn’t point out my outfit did not have room for a phone. I do have my smart watch. I can see a text message from my watch, which is a terrible fashion statement for such an event and does not go with my outfit at all.”
Marta patted Jenna’s hand. “We will forgive any fashion faux paus, knowing you are on duty, my dear.”
“Thanks. We are outnumbered when it comes to all the people we need to watch and the large territory we must cover. Your eyes and ears are welcome, Lizbeth.”
They heard Harper’s laugh and looked around. “Oh, mercy, there she is with three guys around her.” Marta rolled her eyes. “Ugh, that loud, vulgar laugh.”
