have been more appreciative. I’d never thought I’d be able attend something as wonderful as this. Oh, Jake, just think of all the wealthy men who’ll be here.”
“I’m thinking,” he mumbled, pleased for the first time that he’d accepted Rick’s invitation.
If Lily was impressed with the outside of the house, she was doubly so with the interior. She resisted the urge to run her hand over the polished mahogany woodwork and refused to marvel at the decor for too long. A maid perfunctorily accepted their coats at the front door and directed them toward a central room where drinks were being served.
“Jake, old buddy.”
Lily felt Jake stiffen, but was proud of the way he disguised his uneasiness and shook hands with the short man with a receding hairline. Lily could easily picture the man as a successful attorney. She could see him pacing in front of the jury box and glancing acrimoniously toward the defendant.
“Rick,” Jake said with a rare smile. “It’s good to see you. Thanks for the invitation.”
“Any time.” Although he spoke to Jake, Rick’s gaze rested on Lily. “Jake, introduce me to this sweet cream puff.”
“Rick, Lily. Lily, Rick.”
“I’m most pleased to make your acquaintance,” Lily murmured demurely. “Jake has told me so much about you.”
Briefly, Rick’s enthralled gaze left Lily to glance at Jake. “Where did you find this jewel?”
Lily’s gaze pleaded with Jake not to tell Rick the real story of Gram confronting the Wheaton manager in full witch doctor’s costume, outraged over Lily’s starting wages.
“We met at the Wheaton,” Jake explained and Lily reached for his hand, squeezing it as a means of thanking him.
“Are you visiting our fair city?” Rick directed the question to her.
“No, I play the piano there.”
“A musician!” Rick exclaimed. “I imagine you’re a woman of many talents.”
Jake didn’t know what Rick was implying, but he didn’t like the sound of it. He bunched up his fist until he realized that Lily’s fingers were linked with his and he forced his hand to relax.
“Only a few talents, I fear,” Lily answered with such self-possession that Jake wanted to kiss her. “But enough to impress my friends.”
“Then I’d consider it an honor to be your friend.”
Lily batted her lashes. “Perhaps.”
From the way Rick’s eyes widened, Jake knew that Lily had impressed his old friend. A surge of pride filled Jake and he struggled not to put his arm around Lily’s shoulders.
Rick reached out to take Lily’s hand. “Do you mind if I steal your girl away for a few minutes?”
Jake did mind, but this was exactly why he’d brought Lily to the party. She would make more contacts here than during a year of playing piano at the Wheaton. “Feel free,” he murmured, lifting a glass of champagne from the tray of the passing server. He didn’t watch as Lily and Rick crossed the room, Lily’s arm tucked securely in the crook of Rick’s elbow.
The bubbling liquid in the narrow crystal glass seemed to be laughing at him and, almost angrily, Jake set it aside. He hated champagne and always had. He much preferred a hearty burgundy with some soul to it.
He found an obscure corner and sat down, giving anyone who approached him a look that would discourage even the most outgoing party guest. He could hear Lily’s laugh drift from another section of the house and was pleased she was enjoying herself. At least one of them was having a decent time.
Another waiter came past and Jake ordered ouzo, a Greek drink. Gram had given him his first taste of the anise-flavored liqueur she drank regularly. Lily claimed it had made her teeth go soft, and to be honest, the licorice-tasting alcohol had curled a few of Jake’s chest hairs. But he was in the mood for it tonight—something potent to remind himself that he was doing the noble thing. Now he knew how Joan of Arc must have felt as she was tied to the stake and the torches were aimed
“I’m thinking,” he mumbled, pleased for the first time that he’d accepted Rick’s invitation.
If Lily was impressed with the outside of the house, she was doubly so with the interior. She resisted the urge to run her hand over the polished mahogany woodwork and refused to marvel at the decor for too long. A maid perfunctorily accepted their coats at the front door and directed them toward a central room where drinks were being served.
“Jake, old buddy.”
Lily felt Jake stiffen, but was proud of the way he disguised his uneasiness and shook hands with the short man with a receding hairline. Lily could easily picture the man as a successful attorney. She could see him pacing in front of the jury box and glancing acrimoniously toward the defendant.
“Rick,” Jake said with a rare smile. “It’s good to see you. Thanks for the invitation.”
“Any time.” Although he spoke to Jake, Rick’s gaze rested on Lily. “Jake, introduce me to this sweet cream puff.”
“Rick, Lily. Lily, Rick.”
“I’m most pleased to make your acquaintance,” Lily murmured demurely. “Jake has told me so much about you.”
Briefly, Rick’s enthralled gaze left Lily to glance at Jake. “Where did you find this jewel?”
Lily’s gaze pleaded with Jake not to tell Rick the real story of Gram confronting the Wheaton manager in full witch doctor’s costume, outraged over Lily’s starting wages.
“We met at the Wheaton,” Jake explained and Lily reached for his hand, squeezing it as a means of thanking him.
“Are you visiting our fair city?” Rick directed the question to her.
“No, I play the piano there.”
“A musician!” Rick exclaimed. “I imagine you’re a woman of many talents.”
Jake didn’t know what Rick was implying, but he didn’t like the sound of it. He bunched up his fist until he realized that Lily’s fingers were linked with his and he forced his hand to relax.
“Only a few talents, I fear,” Lily answered with such self-possession that Jake wanted to kiss her. “But enough to impress my friends.”
“Then I’d consider it an honor to be your friend.”
Lily batted her lashes. “Perhaps.”
From the way Rick’s eyes widened, Jake knew that Lily had impressed his old friend. A surge of pride filled Jake and he struggled not to put his arm around Lily’s shoulders.
Rick reached out to take Lily’s hand. “Do you mind if I steal your girl away for a few minutes?”
Jake did mind, but this was exactly why he’d brought Lily to the party. She would make more contacts here than during a year of playing piano at the Wheaton. “Feel free,” he murmured, lifting a glass of champagne from the tray of the passing server. He didn’t watch as Lily and Rick crossed the room, Lily’s arm tucked securely in the crook of Rick’s elbow.
The bubbling liquid in the narrow crystal glass seemed to be laughing at him and, almost angrily, Jake set it aside. He hated champagne and always had. He much preferred a hearty burgundy with some soul to it.
He found an obscure corner and sat down, giving anyone who approached him a look that would discourage even the most outgoing party guest. He could hear Lily’s laugh drift from another section of the house and was pleased she was enjoying herself. At least one of them was having a decent time.
Another waiter came past and Jake ordered ouzo, a Greek drink. Gram had given him his first taste of the anise-flavored liqueur she drank regularly. Lily claimed it had made her teeth go soft, and to be honest, the licorice-tasting alcohol had curled a few of Jake’s chest hairs. But he was in the mood for it tonight—something potent to remind himself that he was doing the noble thing. Now he knew how Joan of Arc must have felt as she was tied to the stake and the torches were aimed
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