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“Maybe another slice of prime rib.”
“You got it. Oh, and have you seen Tony yet?” Journey asked Laz.
Laz frowned. “Since when am I supposed to keep up with your knuckleheaded ex-boyfriend?”
“Laz.” She smacked her lips, and her perfectly arched eyebrows bunched together. “Why do you always have to call him names?”
“Seriously? I can’t be nice to the guy. He’s your ex, Jay. I’m supposed to be all brooding and jealous when he’s around or when you talk about him.”
She shook her head. “You’re too much.”
“Besides, heisa knucklehead if he let you go. Actually, he’s a damn idiot,” Laz amended, but he was glad the jerk walked away from her. That gave him the opportunity to have her for himself.
“It wasn’t like that, and you know it,” Journey defended weakly.
It was definitely like that, but Laz had no intentions of debating with her. Tony had been crazy in love with her and wanted to marry her. Thankfully, Journey hadn’t felt the same. Instead of continuing to date her hoping that she’d change her mind, he moved on.
“So, I’ll take that as a—you haven’t seen him,” she said with a laugh while adjusting his bowtie again. He was starting to think she had a thing for bowties. “I wanted to give him a heads-up about his girlfriend without sharing any details. I don’t want him to get tangled up in her mess once the Feds find her.”
Journey had been working day and night the last couple of days, and she gathered enough proof to implicate Tamar Warner.
“He might already be, and it might be too late. I’m sure he’s already been questioned about her whereabouts. Anyway, why do you care?”
“I care because he and I might not be together, but I still consider him a friend.”
“Well, just make sure he’s a distant friend. I don’t want him thinking he has any chance with you now that his woman is going to jail.”
“Aww, there’s my caveman.” Journey slipped her arms around his neck. “For a minute there, I didn’t think your jealous streak would show. I guess I should feel flattered.”
“You know, if you kiss me, that’ll help me feel more secure in our relationship. It’ll remind me that I have nothing to worry about when it comes to you two.”
She kissed him sweetly, and when he tried to deepen their lip-lock, she pressed her hands against his chest and eased away from him.
“There will be more of that later. Right now, try to be good while I…. Oh, there’s the DA and his wife. I’ll see you in a few.”
Laz shook his head as she took off across the large banquet room. He gave her one last glance before heading to the buffet. Clearly, he was going to have to get his own prime rib.
At least his wife was happy and having a good time. Once they got through this mess circling her case, they could focus on having more fun evenings. That was something he was looking forward to.
* * *
Journey finally headed in the direction of the buffet. After speaking with her boss and his wife, she ran into a former coworker. She’d been working so much that she didn’t realize just how much she missed socializing outside of the office. It felt good to be out mingling.
“Wow, you look incredible.”
Journey whirled around, almost tripping over her feet, when she recognized Tony’s voice. “Why, thank you,” she said with her best English accent, then giggled. “I’ve been looking for you all night. I was starting to think you weren’t coming. Where have you been hiding?” she joked.
“Nowhere. I’ve been around, trying to get everyone to dig a little deeper into their pockets and purses and donate more money,” he said, smiling down at her. “I’ve been wanting to talk to you about something. Walk with me. We can talk while I go and check on the silent auction. The bids have exceeded last year’s total, but I’m hoping I can nudge people to bid a little higher on a couple of items.”
Journey glanced over her shoulder but didn’t see Laz. She also didn’t see Hamilton and Kenton. They were all probably together somewhere. She was hesitant to leave and go to the ballroom next door, where the items for the auction were set up.
“Come on. I’ll bring you back before your husband sends out a search party.”
Journey laughed and walked out with him. “Ahh, you know him well. Okay, but only for a minute. I wanted to talk to you, too…about Tamar. I saw photos of you guys, and you looked really happy with her. I’m not sure if you know—”
“Don’t tell me you believe the lies about her accepting bribes,” Tony said, getting a little defensive. “They are lies, Journey, and I’m sure her lawyers will prove it.”
“For your sake, I hope you’re right. I still care about you. I don’t want you to get hurt if everything is true about her. You don’t happen to know where she is, do you?”
