Page 100 of Suddenly Dating
“Lola.” She smiled absently and picked up the champagnes, prepared to make a quick getaway.
“I heard you talking to your friend,” he said, and ate another olive. “I could have sworn I heard you say you are staying at Zach Miller’s lake house.”
No.Nonono. This was the last thing she needed tonight. “Do you know him?” she asked, trying to sound casual and unconcerned, even though she was suddenly feeling a little ill.
“Yeah. Zach and I go way back,” he said, and ate the last olive on his skewer.
Crap.
“I didn’t know he had anyone staying at the house.”
“Just temporarily,” Lola said.Everything is fine.It was amazing how quickly she slipped back into the twelve-year-old girl, smiling and happy so that the social worker wouldn’t dig too deep.
“I thought it was off-limits to him and his wife until the divorce is final. Didn’t they file an injunction or something?”
She was going to die right here with Cyrus Bernstein’s card in her bra. “That’s right, they did,” she said. “But it’s been dragging on for a while, and he... well, everyone knows Zach is a generous man,” she said, borrowing a line from Mallory.
“He’s definitely that,” Dobbs agreed. “That’s a nice place,” he added. “They used to have some wild parties up there. Not as fancy as this,” he said, gesturing toward the Cantrell house with his olive skewer. “But boy, they were wild, if you know what I mean.” He grinned.
Lola laughed nervously. “I know what you mean.” Someone touched her arm and Lola started so badly she spilled some of her drink. She twisted around to find Harry staring at her strangely. “Are you okay?”
“There you are!” she said, her voice sounding breathy with nerves. She glanced back at Dobbs Harvey. “Nice to meet you,” she said, and backed into Harry, managing to step on his foot.
“Ouch,” he said.
“Yeah, nice meeting you,” Dobbs Harvey said distractedly... he was looking at Harry. He had a funny expression on his face, too, as if he recognized Harry. “When you see Zach, tell him I said hello, and to get his ass out here so we can play some golf.”
“I sure will,” Lola said cheerfully and turned away from the bar. “Run,” she said low. “At least walk fast.”
“Who was he?” Harry asked.
“I don’t know!” she said frantically, and shoved one of the glasses into his chest. “But whoever he is, he knows Zach, and he knows that no one is supposed to be at the house.”
Harry looked back toward the bar.
“Don’t look at him!” Lola cried in a whisper.
“Take a breath,” Harry said, caressing her back. “What did you say?”
“The party line.” She groaned. “This is a disaster.”
“I doubt that,” Harry said. He sipped his champagne as he thought about it. “Look, it’s going to be okay. Zach won’t be out this summer, and that dude is not going to run into him and tell him about you. And even if he does, you’ll be long gone by then. Zach’s got a new girlfriend. He’s not hanging out with the boys, trust me.”
“God, I hope you’re right,” Lola moaned.
“Don’t worry,” he said, and put his arm around her shoulders. “We’re fine.” He tapped his glass against hers. “I have some good news. Mr.Cantrell set up a meeting with the guy who is putting out the bridge bids for the toll road project.”
Lola momentarily forgot Dobbs Harvey and gasped with delight. “No way!”
“Yep,” he said, grinning. “Called him while I was sitting there. I have a good feeling about this Lola, I really do.”
“That’s amazing,” she said. “Guess what? An amazing thing happened to me, too. I met Cyrus Bernstein. He read some of my pages and he wants me to send him the book when I’m finished.”
Harry’s eyes widened. “Lola... that’sfantastic.”
“I know, right?” she said, and impulsively threw one arm around his neck. “How the hell did we manage to pull this off?”
“I have no fucking clue,” Harry said laughingly, and kissed her.
