Page 30 of Emergency Exit
Ash couldn’t help himself. He leaned over and kissed Harper’s cheek. “You win,” he said, laughing.
“I didn’t mean to make a thing of it,” she said, blushing and smiling at him. “I just like to be factually accurate.”
“Whatever,” said Tommy, laughing. “It’s good for him. Ash needs someone to keep him on his toes.”
“Plus, the Smoak and Ash roadshow is always funny,” said Colin.
“Well, honestly,” said Harper earnestly, “I thought this was an excellent example of what will happen to cell service in a disaster. All of you should consider what check-in plans and policies your companies have in place in the event of an emergency.”
“Harper!” protested Colin. “I’m not thinking about natural disasters at a party. Keep your emergency management advice to yourself.”
“OK, but disasters can happen anywhere.”
“Uh-huh. Have you convinced Ash to do any emergency preparedness?” demanded Colin.
“Yes,” said Ash. “I’ve got my IT guy going over the checklist that Harper gave me, and I’m even stocking up at home because I don’t want to rely on Harper’s canned food in the event of an earthquake.” Harper looked confused. “You invest in too many beans.”
Colin burst out laughing. “He’s right. You need to diversify. Lentils, peas, other legumes. Don’t let your portfolio get bogged down in one sector. And how are you managing your growth? Do you stack in a pyramid or go for boxes? Do you need an investment strategist?”
“Slow your roll, Kwayana,” said Ash sternly as Harper chuckled. “I’ll take care of the stocking strategies.”
“Yeah, I bet you do,” said Colin.
“Darlings!” trilled Julia from the top deck that jutted out over the pool. “The dessert is coming out, and so is the bourbon. Dancing starts now!”
The crowd drifted toward the cabana where the food and drinks were located.
“And that’s my cue,” said Tommy, leaning over to kiss Harper’s cheek and hug Ash. “I’ll go excavate Marvin from whatever spot they’re hiding the cigar smokers and then depart.”
“I’m not sure dessert is a sign of the devil,” said Harper.
“Trust me, honey,” said Tommy. “I can readallthe signs.”
He hugged Ash again and then disappeared into the crowd.
“The devil?” asked Ash, and Harper shrugged, looking embarrassed.
“There were some girls in the bathroom… snorting something. I’m not cool enough to know what. I told Tommy, and he said it was his general philosophy to leave these parties a half hour before the devil walks in but that he’d probably left it late tonight.”
“Are you feeling uncomfortable?” asked Ash. “We can leave. I was going to try to leave early anyway. These parties can get a little off-kilter.”
“Well, I’d like to leave early, but I also want dessert.”
“Dessert, and then we dash,” said Ash.
“And maybe a dance?” asked Harper, looking hopeful.
“Oh, absolutely. My sprinkler and robot are unparalleled.”
But somehow, one dance turned into three. The DJ was hitting just the right old-school groove for the crowd, and Harper shimmied closer as Ash felt a faint sprinkle of rain.
“I’m not sure dessert was a sign of the devil,” he said, pulling her closer. Her body bounced to the rhythm against him. “But we might want to consider getting out of here before it pours on us.”
Harper tilted her face up to the sky, and raindrops caught in her dark lashes. Ash held her closer, loving the contrast between the heat of her body and the cool of the night air.
“All right,” she said breathlessly. “Maybe we should go.”
“Yeah,” said Ash, but he didn’t immediately move. He wantedto keep holding on to her. “Back to my place.”
