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“Is there something I can do for you?” he asked.
When she finally gave up her vigil and looked right at him, Gabe was a little shocked by the vivid blue of her eyes. But he was the only one who felt that jolt, apparently, because her frown was decidedly suspicious.
“I’m Gabe,” he offered. “We met today at the library.”
“I remember,” she said.
“Is something wrong?” Gabe asked. “Do you want me to grab Lauren for you? She’s probably right outside.”
She sighed and shook her head. “No, it’s okay. I just need a drink, and I was hoping not to mingle.” She waved toward the bar, and Gabe winced at the casual gesture. She really was a bit of a diva. Still, that didn’t mean he couldn’t be a gentleman.
“I’m happy to grab something for you. What do you drink?”
He expected a complicated order, but she shrugged. “I don’t know. Just a cosmo, I guess?”
It came out as a question, but he nodded. “A cosmo. You got it. I’ll be right back.”
“Could you bring it to the office? I have to go through these questions. And I really need a drink.”
He headed toward the bar, deciding he’d need a drink to get through this evening, too. Just as he got the bartender’s attention and ordered a beer and a cosmo, a loud, friendly voice rang out over the PA system.
“Hello, locals!” the warm voice called.
He turned and was shocked to see that it was Veronica, holding a microphone, her arm draped over the big blue vase.
“I’m Dear Veronica, in the flesh!”
The crowd cheered and hooted as she laughed. Her face looked transformed again. Neither cool and haughty nor young and uncertain, her round face now held a friendly, open warmth and a wide smile.
She waved at the whole crowd. “It’s great to finally meet you in person!”
That was a lie. She hadn’t even wanted to step out of the hallway. Gabe shook his head and turned back to pay the bartender.
“I hope everyone has their questions in,” she continued, “because I’m ready to judge all of you.”
A moan swept through the crowd, and she laughed over it. “That was only a joke. I’m here to help, of course. So I’m going to steal all of your secrets...” Gabe glanced over his shoulder to see her scoop up the vase. A young woman darted up and dropped one last piece of paper in.
“Ooooh!” Veronica called. “You look like trouble!”
The whole place clapped as the laughing woman’s face went scarlet.
“Okay,” Veronica continued, “I’ll be back to answer your most burning questions in a few minutes. In the meantime, I’m told the martini of the night is called Your Favorite Mistake, which is about as appropriate as it gets, so drink up!”
A cheer went up as she waved again before disappearing into the hallway. Gabe sighed and collected the drinks to follow her.
By the time he’d picked his way through the crowded room, the hallway was empty. He passed two bathrooms and a door to the kitchen before he came upon a closed door marked Employees Only. Holding the beer between his elbow and his chest, he managed the knob and the door swung open.
He’d expected to find that crowd-pleasing Veronica again, but the woman seated at the desk before a pile of folded notes was pale and chewing on her lip.
“Thank God,” she said when she looked up and saw him. Actually, she wasn’t looking at him but at the drink. Both her hands reached out for the cosmo, and they were trembling.
“Hey,” he said when pink liquid dribbled over the rim and hit the desk. “Are you okay?”
“I saw my boss out there,” she muttered, then sucked in a deep breath. She took a sip of the drink and closed her eyes. “I’m better now, thanks.”
Was she an alcoholic? Had she just been jonesing for a drink? But no...she shuddered slightly as she took another sip. “God, that’s strong.”
“Do you want my beer instead?”
