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The wide-eyed look on her face brought a grin to his lips. “Who do you want to talk to about that project of yours?”
“Oh.” She smiled back it him. “Congressman Korsak and Senator Pierce.”
He knew both of those state representatives and for the first time, he actually felt sorry for them. “We’re in luck.” He pointed to the far corner of the room. “Shirley and Korsak are huddled with a few more of their colleagues by the back bar.”
Her eyes narrowed and then a smile erupted when she had her targets in sight.
“I may suggest waiting a few more minutes. Korsak doesn’t hold his liquor well. Give him a bit for his defenses to be down, but not so long that he doesn’t remember what he agreed to.”
Frown lines appeared on her forehead as she considered his words, then she nodded. “Makes sense. What about Senator Shirley Pierce?”
“She’ll nurse that same glass of wine all night. I’m afraid you’re on your own with her.”
“I can handle that. I just needed to talk to them.”
“May I suggest we take a turn on the dance floor while we wait for Korsak to relax?”
Her tentative smile brightened. “I would love that.”
“Though I will warn you,” he took her hand in his as they crossed the ballroom, “I’m mostly just a two step kind of guy.”
“Funny. I’m mostly a two step kind of gal.”
As if confirming their declarations, the DJ played a recognized country ballad and immediately the entire dance floor fell into the rhythm of circling the floor two steps at a time. A few of the couples clearly had danced together for years. The casual way they twirled out and then in without missing a beat. The smile on their faces. But mostly, the ability to move about as one. He’d always found it fascinating. As a matter of fact, if his grandparents were here, they would be one of those couples. As would his sister Eve and Jared. When those two stepped onto the dance floor, within minutes, everyone else moved away.
They’d made it around the floor several times when the song shifted to something more upbeat. Rather than continue and potentially reveal he actually had two left feet for anything besides two stepping, Craig gently steered Kate away from the floor. “I think there’s been enough time passed.”
Kate glanced in the direction Craig led them, her smile widening when she realized they were on a direct path to the two politicians she’d wanted to meet.
“Kate,” a soft voice sounded beside them.
From the even broader smile that took over Kate’s face, the petite brunette was clearly someone she liked. “Dr. Carter. What a nice surprise.”
“Really? After all this time? It’s Peg.”
“Peg, do you know Craig Baron?” Kate waved a hand from the vet to him.
The doctor extended her hand. “Nice to meet you.”
“Pleasure.”
Peg turned back to Kate. “Head honcho at county animal services had to back out. Not sure how far down the list of people who could make nice with all these rich people they had to go through before they came upon little old me.” She blinked and flashed a fast toothy grin at Craig. “No offense.”
Her polite non-apology told him that the county animal services had picked the right gal to represent them. “None taken.”
“Frankly, unlike Cinderella and her forest of friends, I don’t get much chance to dress up. Could hardly wait, then I almost didn’t make it. A few hours ago we were suddenly up to our eyeballs dealing with a sick—and uncooperative—raccoon.”
“Rabbies?” It was the first thing that popped into Craig’s mind.
The veterinarian shook her head. “No. An abscess that has been nothing but trouble and needed immediate surgery. Cyril is almost more pet than wild. He has had a chronic cheek infection since he could fit in my hand. He couldn’t fend for himself in the wild so he has basically become a permanent resident of our facility.”
“Peg is always going above and beyond when it comes to rehabbing and caring for our furry friends.”
“Let’s not exaggerate.” Peg smiled.
Kate’s brows rose on her forehead. “How many other animal rehab facilities were willing to keep Cyril?”
Peg shrugged. “Someone would have stepped up.”
