Page 99 of About that Fling
As he moved to the end of the bar—presumably to fondle the tarragon—Jenna turned to her friend. “I’m sorry this isn’t the date night you’d hoped for.”
“My hopes aren’t all that high these days.” Mia shrugged, scanning the velvet-draped lounge. “It’s okay. This, too, shall pass.” She offered a watery smile. “You’re a very nice date in the meantime.”
“Thank you.” Jenna tried not to feel like a terrible friend. “That dress looks great on you.”
“Thanks.” Mia peered down into the deep V-neck. “Might as well get the most out of these melons while I’ve got ‘em.”
Jenna stopped herself from saying Mark was missing out. He’d have a chance to appreciate the perks of his wife’s pregnancy another time. “Thanks for inviting me. I haven’t been to Gerlake since Shawn brought me here on our one-year dating anniversary.”
“It’s nice, isn’t it?” Mia surveyed the candlelit tables and the dark, abstract art on the walls. “I do wish Mark could have made it.”
“Maybe you can do dessert together later.”
“Or I can bring him a takeout box of something tasty.”
“There you go.”
“Hey.” Mia squinted at the far end of the lounge where a woman stood close to the coat check. “Isn’t that the filmmaker we met at Sunridge Vineyards last year? Kate someone, right?”
Jenna peered through the dimly-lit space. “Kate Geary—you’re right.” She waved as the pretty producer looked over.
The woman’s face lit with recognition and Kate made her way across the lounge to greet them. “If it isn’t my extras from the wine film.” She hugged Jenna first, then Mia. “I’m sorry I’ve forgotten your names, but I never forget faces.”
“Mia and Jenna.” Mia picked up her glass as the bartender set it in front of her. “What brings you to Portland?”
“Location scouting, mostly.” Kate flung a hand toward a table where two other women sat chatting. “My assistant producer has a friend who lives here, so we’re picking her brain for a possible project.”
“Oooh, what’s this one about?” Mia asked.
Jenna plucked her drink off the bar. “Another wine documentary?”
“No. This one would focus on women behind bars.”
Mia’s eyes took on a scandalous shine. “Has one of those women done time in prison?”
“Nah.” Kate chuckled. “Her parents got picked up on a ponzi scheme, so her mom’s incarcerated in Seattle. There’s no federal penitentiary for women in Oregon, which is one of the things we’ll focus on if the film gets the green light.” Kate dropped her voice to a conspiratorial whisper. “Between you and me, it’s a long shot, which is fine. It’s not really my passion project, you know?”
“Wait a minute.” Jenna squinted at the woman on the left. “Is that Allison Ross?”
Kate blinked in surprise. “You know Allie?”
“She works with one of our statewide medical associations,” Jenna said. “Allie’s hosting a big event soon in Belmont’s conference space.”
“That’s where we work,” Mia supplied. “Belmont Health System. I’ve never met Allie, but Jenna knows her.”
Wincing, Kate lowered her voice. “Please don’t mention the situation with her parents. She doesn’t like to talk about it and?—”
“It’s okay,” Jenna said. “We can keep a secret.”
Mia patted Jenna’s arm with pride. “This one’s like Fort Knox. Her literal job is keeping secrets.”
Jenna tried not to grimace as she turned back to Kate. “The Ponzi thing was all over the news when it happened, but most people didn’t connect the dots to Allie.” Jenna only had because—like Mia said—it was her literal job to identify PR landmines and cover them up when needed. It hadn’t been needed in Allie’s case, at least not on behalf of Belmont. “The Ponzi situation isn’t a secret, but I’ve never brought it up with Allie.”
“Jenna’s tactful like that.” Mia sounded so proud, and Jenna hated herself just a little bit more. “Always looking out for people’s feelings.”
“Sounds like a good friend.” Kate smiled.
“A better PR professional,” Jenna muttered, though Mia seemed to miss it as she thumped her drink loudly on the bar.
