Bullshit, lady.
I don’t look familiar to her. She knows I don’t belong here, and she wants to figure out exactly why.
I continue to hold the champagne at my waist and offer my hand. “I’m not sure either, but my name is Elle Kissinger.”
Ursula lightly shakes with me for only long enough to be polite. “Kissinger,” she repeats. “Is that of the Boston Kissingers?”
TheBoston Kissingers? What does that mean, like a family with my name owns the freaking city ofBoston? Gawd.
“No, ma’am,” I say pleasantly. “I’m no relation to them.”
Ursula’s hands are also poised at the level of her waist, so at least I’m doing something right in this situation. “And have you spent much time here in Southampton?” Her pewter eyes narrow slightly. “I could swear we’ve met before.”
Her eyes are drilling holes into mine, and I can’t stop myself from sweeping another quick glance across the courtyard. “No, this is my first time visiting.”
“Ah.” Ursula’s chin dips subtly. “And who did you say you were here with?”
“Ididn’t,” I clip, and I shouldn’tclipmy words at this woman, butjeez. “I’m here with Colin Flannery, my uh… my boyfriend.”
Smooth, Elle. Really freaking smooth.
“He’s an old friend of the Reyes family,” I add hastily, hoping that the name drop will get this woman off my back already.
“Oh, I see.” She glides her head sideways as she looks over the courtyard. “And which one is he again? I’m not familiar with him either, and I’d love to meet him.”
“He stepped away with Mrs. Reyes for a moment.” I gesture with my glass at the doors. “They went inside, but I’m sure they’ll be back soon, and Mrs. Reyes can introduce you to him.” I pause and tilt my head placidly. “I’m sure you know Mrs. Reyes.”
Another subtle chin dip. “I do. My husband and Ernesto have known each other through the yacht club foreons.”
“Oh, the yacht club,” I echo, righting my head because this is a segue to the one thing I’ve got in my arsenal that could remotely qualify me to hang with these people. “The sailing team at my alma mater used to participate in races there.”
Her faded chestnut brows lift. “Is that so? Where were you educated?”
“Columbia,” I say easily, then sip my champagne to give Ursula a moment to digest the information, and she’s surprised to say the least. “I completed both my undergraduate and graduate degrees there.”
Ursula’s eyes do a quick, double-blink exactly the way Colin’s did when I told him that earlier. “Did you?” She pauses as her gaze flicks up and down over my clearance-rack sundress. “That’s quite impressive for a native of Queens.”
My brows flatten. “I don’t believe I mentioned that I was from Queens.”
“Oh, no, my dear.” She waves her glass. “I can hear it in your accent.” She touches my forearm. “You shouldn’t be ashamed of it. It’s admirable to work to improve your situation.”
My cheeks are on fire for being called out in such a manner, but I keep my chin up. “I’m not ashamed of anything.Especiallynot the fact that I’ve worked to improve my situation rather than having everything handed to me.”
Ursula tilts her glass toward me as a smug smile plays on her lips. “Good on you, my dear.”
A large hand wraps around the side of my waist, and Colin is suddenly at my side again, pressing a kiss to my cheek. “Sorry about that, sweetheart.”
I drag my gaze from Ursula’s face to offer Colin a death glare. “That’s okay,honey. Did you and Mrs. Reyes have a nice chat?”
“We did.” He offers me that same panty-melting grin that pulls dimples deep into his cheeks, but it has little effect on me at the moment. “Are you enjoying yourself?”
I flutter my eyelashes. “Of course.”
There’s a subtle flinch in his smile that hints at remorse, and then he turns to Ursula. “Hey, Mrs. DeRouen.”
The smug smile is firmly in place while she glides her gaze from Colin to me and back to Colin. “Hello, Colin. Nice to see you again.”
I arch one eyebrow at her, but she ignores it as she continues.
