Page 2 of Kiss Me at Midnight
As soon as the lock clicked into place, Dotty began to worry about Lily and handsome actors with angelic voices. Anyone with an over-abundance of self-ambition was a watch-out in her book. And actors… Well, they were about as trustworthy as reality TV stars.
“Ah, nuts.” Dotty opened her closet and reached for her travel bag, giving up on a day of silence in favor of a day seeking peace of mind.
Chapter One
Seven and a half hours ago…
Lily Summer leaned against the back wall at her younger sister Aubrey’s animal rescue fundraiser and sighed. Aubrey had just received a very public, very romantic marriage proposal. A receiving line had formed in the New York City ballroom.
“I know that look.” Lily’s twin sister Violet elbowed Lily. “Happy and envious.”
“You’ve got the samealways a bridesmaidlook on your face,” Lily guessed. She wasn’t wearing her glasses so she couldn’t be sure. “You should date more.”
Violet and Lily were identical twins, but their styles were completely different. Lily wore a conservative black cocktail dress, low heels, and had her brown hair in a bun. Violet wore a flirty yellow cocktail dress and matching sparkly flats. Her long brown, highlighted hair spilled over her shoulders.
“I don’t have time to date. But you…” Vi curled her arm around Lily’s waist and gave her a side-hug. “You should find a regular man. No more three date rule.”
“Your concern is noted and tabled.” As a junior state congresswoman, dating was awkward for Lily. Given her political career path–she wanted to be the first female mayor of New York City–searching for love seemed too much of a risk in this kiss-and-tell culture. Add to that an uncomfortable incident in her past, and three dates was her limit. “I’m in fund-raising mode. Hot Meals and Shelter is at risk of closing.” It was a vital soup kitchen, food bank, and shelter in her district. “And I have to start thinking about courting donors for my re-election campaign.” Her least favorite activity.
“You always have an emergency or a pressing need.” Dropping her arm, Vi stared out over the crowd. “I’m all for public service but not public servitude. I can’t remember the last time you mentioned going out with friends, much less on a date. Get a life.”
“I’m here, aren’t I?” But Vi had a point. Lily’s friendship circle had begun shrinking fifteen years ago until now the only people she seemed to socialize with were her family.
Violet nudged Lily again. “Hey, is that Rachel Cohen over there by the stage?”
Lily squinted, debating whether to put her glasses on or not. The crowd parted. The redhead in question certainly dressed like Rachel, a reality TV star and their former childhood friend. She wore a clingy burgundy gown with a slit above the thigh. She hung on to a tuxedoed man who had to be seven feet tall. “It might be Rachel. I don’t remember her husband being that tall though.”
Vi tsked. “Don’t tell me you haven’t heard that Rachel dumped her husband of thirty days for that basketball player? Paulo Silva almost got cut last season from the New Jersey Badgers until he started dating Rachel.” The Badgers were the NBA’s latest expansion team. Violet was an avid fan. “I thought they’d trade him when Rachel dumped him and married Michael Huston. But here we are, almost a year later. And Paulo’s contract is up for negotiation.”
Lily nodded. “Notoriety sells in Hollywood and the NBA.” Tickets, jerseys, and endorsement deals.
“Are you talking about Rachel?” Grandma Dotty appeared out of nowhere. Her petite frame and delicate features made her look fragile. But she had game when her mind was clear. She leaned in closer and said in a conspiratorial voice, “Everybody’s talking about Rachel. And why wouldn’t they? She’s a pip onSlaying the Upper East Side!” Grandma Dotty always grinned when talking about her guilty pleasure. “Since you two grew up with Rachel, you know she’s got a big heart beneath that bad girl exterior.”
Lily refrained from comment.
Grandma Dotty didn’t notice. “Too bad her marriage didn’t work out. Michael was just using her fame to build his business. I saw through him from the moment they met in Season Eight, Episode Four.”
“Everyone’s avoiding that pip like the plague,” Vi said absently. And then she turned abruptly to face Lily. “Let’s go over and say hello.”
“No.” Lily sucked in a breath.
“Hot diggity. Let’s do it. Maybe I’ll get her autograph.” Never one to hesitate, Grandma Dotty high-tailed it over.
Violet stared at Lily with raised brows.
“I feel for what she’s going through, Vi. Really I do,” Lily said quickly. “But don’t ask me to talk to her.” Rachel could be the happy-go-lucky, life of the party and then throw you under the bus. Lily didn’t want to get run over again. “I wish her all the best.”
Vi took Lily by both arms. “Repeat after me, Lily Roselind Summer. Rachel doesn’t have the power to hurt me. I am a bigger person than she is.” Vi hesitated, and then plowed on, “And I deserve love. The slow-growing, long-lasting, forever kind of love that comes from more than three dates. Nothing Rachel can say or do will change that.”
“I know.” And yet, uncertainty gripped Lily with cowardly claws. It had been fifteen years since Rachel had abandoned her in a sketchy situation. Lily hadn’t talked to her since. Nor had she seriously dated anyone. “You go and greet Rachel. Tell her…Tell her hi for me.”
“You’re so brave everywhere else.” Shaking her head, Vi dropped her hold on Lily and left her propped against the back wall.
Vi’s right. I need a change.
Perhaps after the next election.
A waiter stopped in front of Lily. “Ma’am?”
