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I take a deep breath as we walk through the doors. The lounge is cool, and decorated in shades of blue and green, with palm front prints on everything. It’s cool, in a kitschy way.
“Their salads are divine,” Zelda says, as a waiter carries a tray of juicy burgers past us.
“Salad. Uh huh.” I sigh. I’m ravenous, but I can give the fries a miss this once if it gets me closer to my makeup line.
Never let it be said I’m not willing to sacrifice for my dreams.
We’ve barely taken two steps into the room before I spy a familiar face lurking behind a potted palm.
And not a good one.
“You’re here!” Georgia rises from a chair and greets Zelda with air kisses. She wiggles her fingers at me. “Callie, it’s so nice to see you again.”
Is it too late to go back to the antique store? I’ll even willingly offer up my uterus as discussion fodder.
“Georgia, hi,” I manage a smile. The good news is that as far as I can tell, there are no water features to be seen. What I do notice are more diamonds than a Tiffany’s store sparkling at the assorted patrons’ fingers and ears, and an entire fleet of matching chandeliers.
Just, you know, a casual hangout then.
Georgia ushers Zelda into the chair closest to hers. “Do you want to order anything? I’ll flag down a server.”
“So thoughtful.” Zelda beams. We place our orders, then Zelda turns back to the blonde. “You look lovely today, as always. And how is your mother?”
“Oh, she’s great. Whipping up something with the Garden Club, you know her and the azaleas!”
Georgia launches into local gossip about someone’s yard makeover, and Zelda is more than happy to trade chit-chat about people I’ve never met. I nod along as best I can, but at the third mention of a ‘Binky’—who seems to be a different Binky to the one feuding with Bucky over yacht moorings, or the one causing a stir with her latest divorce—I can’t help zoning out…
… And right back to the kiss with Dash last night.
Man, that guy can kiss.
I’d like to say I have some boundaries, but ten more seconds of his mouth on my neck, and there’s a good chance I would have dragged him to my room by the hair like a horny cavewoman. His body felt so good, pressed up against mine, and—
“Callie?”
I snap back to the table as our salads arrive. “Hmm?” I ask, swiping discreetly beneath my mouth to check for drool.
Georgia flashes me one of those saccharine smiles. “We were just wondering where your mind had wandered off to. Your cheeks are all flushed.”
I gulp. “Oh, nowhere exciting.”
Liar.
“I was just thinking about how different the pace is here than New York,” I say blandly.
Georgia gives an exaggerated sigh. “I swear, I don’t know how you and Dash can stand living up there. I just saw a story the other day about how big the rats are on the subway.” Georgia gives a delicate shiver. “I’m sure it’s as good a place as any for Dash to sow his wild oats, but I do hope he returns home to Palm Beach soon. Families should stay together, don’t you think, Zelda?”
“Oh, absolutely.” Zelda beams. “There’s nothing more important than family.”
OK, so clearly I’m not the only one on suck-up duty.
Georgia beams, then turns back to me. “What’s this I hear about your makeup business?” she asks brightly.
I pause. “I’ve been formulating my own line,” I answer slowly, certain there’s a trap door lurking somewhere in this conversation. “It’s cruelty-free, completely vegan, and has shades to suit all skin tones.”
“How cool!” Georgia exclaims. “Gosh, I just don’t know how I’d go about doing something like that. You must be so resourceful.”
“Thanks…” I narrow my eyes suspiciously.
