“Camille, you’re…here,”Delbert said as she approached, his smile only slightly fading before he pulled it back carefully in place.
Camille Montgomery was a vision of 1920s glamour. Her black drop-waist dress clung to her every curve, and rows of fringe danced around at knee-length.“Of course I’m here for your grand opening, Delbert, honey. Don’t be silly.”She placed her hand possessively on Del’s arm.
Donna glanced quickly at Barry. She swore Barry told her that Del and Camille had broken up. Barry silently shrugged at her unasked question.
Delbert lightly took Camille’s hand off his arm.“Camille, I didn’t know you were coming. I’m sorry, I have some business I need to attend to. You can keep yourself entertained, yes?”
“But Delbert…”
“Barry, Donna, enjoy yourselves.”Delbert smiled at them—a genuine smile—and turned and walked away.
“Well. I never.”Camille’s eyes flashed.“I thought he’d get over our little spat. He always does. And he was beingsounreasonable. I came all the way from Lighthouse Point for his little opening of this old hotel. I much prefer it when they build new hotels for the Hamilton Hotel chain. Then they can make them…well…nice. New. Modern.”
“This hotel is…glorious.”Donna couldn’t think of any other word to describe it. Well, maybe she could. Fabulous. Beautiful. Majestic.
Camille sniffed.“If you like…old.”She whirled around, a dismissive look on her face, and stalked off toward where the mayor was chatting with a congressman.
“I thought they broke up.”She stared after the woman.
“As far as I know, they have. Del did look surprised when she showed up, didn’t he?”
“Unpleasantly so.”
“Well, that’s theirs to work out. What do you say we take a spin on that dance floor?”
“I’d love that.”Because then she’d have a chance to be back in his arms. It seemed like an eternity since their first kiss.
Was that only last night?
Chapter 2
Heather hurried away from Livy and Austin…and Jesse. He was the last person she wanted to see tonight. Or ever, for that matter.
Though she had to admit, Livy was right. Jesse did dress up great. He looked impossibly handsome in a suit, tie, and a boater hat tilted jauntily on his head. She should have probably acknowledged his greeting with more than just a nod and not just stood there gawking at him. She frowned, hoping she’d been friendly enough to Austin. He certainly didn’t need to be in the middle of her…trouble…with Jesse.
But Livy? She’d just chattered away. Like nothing was wrong. Like it wasn’t a big deal to stand there talking to Jesse after what had happened between them.
Not that she’d actuallytoldher cousin what had happened.
“Okay, spill it. What was going on between you and Jesse? You guys were like best friends for years.”Livy appeared at her side and thrust a glass of champagne into her hand.
“I don’t know what you’re talking about.”She blinked, wondering if she’d pulled off the lie.
“I asked Jesse, but he said to ask you. So…tell me.”
She sighed.“Tonight’s not the time to talk about it. Let’s just enjoy ourselves. Enjoy the gala.”
“But you’ll tell me at Brewster’s when we meet for coffee on Monday?”
“I will. I promise. But there’s not much to tell.”Just how she’d screwed up. But it had all beenJesse’sfault. He’d ruined a great friendship. Anyway, it didn’t really matter. They’d grown up and moved on with their lives. She was rarely back in Moonbeam anymore, so what did it matter?
She glanced over at Jesse and Austin chatting away with the owner of the marina where he kept The Destiny docked. Jesse glanced over at her, and she ducked her head, turning her back to him and acting like she was super absorbed in watching the band.
Jillian and Jackie Jenkins, their heads close together and words flowing between them, peered over at her as they approached. She swallowed a groan. Lovely, just lovely. Could this evening get any better? She glanced over at Livy, who shrugged slightly. There was no escape.
“You Parker girls all look lovely tonight,”Jillian said. Or maybe it was Jackie.
“Thank you,”Livy answered.
