Kimberly Dean - Courting Trouble

His sexuality was known to be potent.

‘It’s going to be a wonderful evening,’ Howard said, rubbing his hands.

‘You should raise a good amount of money for the cause.’

‘Yes, yes. That, too. You’ve got to try the salmon puffs. The Apple Tree Grille is catering tonight, and they are to die for. Where is a waitress? Miss? Oh, miss?’

Again, it was the beautiful blonde who turned, only this time her tray was laden with finger food.

‘These are delicious,’ Howard said, pointing them out, ‘or try the shrimp quiche. It’s simply – Sienna?’

The waitress’s eyes widened.

‘Sienna Blakely?’

The girl froze like a deer in the headlights, yet she quickly covered the instinctive reaction. As Nina watched, the waitress compelled her face to remain calm. Her shoulders dropped and her chin rose, but the set of her spine remained stiff.

‘Mr Stahl,’ the girl responded gracefully. ‘How nice to see you again.’

‘Goodness. I almost didn’t recognise you.’ The evening’s host let out a boisterous laugh that drew the attention of those standing nearby. ‘You’re usually attending these events, rather than serving at them.’

Pink coloured the girl’s cheeks, but she recovered with aplomb. ‘I graduated in May. This job is to tide me over until I find something full-time in my field. You know what they say about idle hands.’

Stahl wiggled his fingers before cupping the girl’s elbow. ‘That they’re the devil’s playground?’

The display made even Nina uncomfortable. She reached out for a miniature quiche, which allowed the waitress to turn away from the older man’s touch.

‘In what area is your degree?’ she asked.

‘Corporate Communications.’

‘It’s a master’s degree, if I’m correct,’ Howard inserted. ‘Sienna’s parents are active in many charities. Her father was an attaché to France, and then … where was it?’

‘Sweden,’ the young lady replied patiently.

‘That’s right. I’m rather surprised they aren’t here tonight.’ Howard surveyed the room as if looking for them. ‘Your folks are usually fixtures at these sort of things.’

The waitress’s smile looked just a tad plastic. ‘Yes, they are, but they just returned from a visit to our country house in Virginia. My mother is still a bit tired.’

Nina watched the girl closely. She was handling what had to be a difficult situation quite well. From what Stahl had indicated, she was usually on the other side of the buffet platter. Instead of being ashamed, though, she was standing tall with her head held high.

‘I love your hairclip,’ Nina said, offering a change of subject.

The waitress’s pale-blonde hair was kept tidy in a chignon by a clip decorated with a jewelled starfish. The piece didn’t look expensive, but it was cute.

‘Thank you.’ Sienna touched her hair self-consciously. ‘I thought it fitted the event.’

It did. The young woman had taken the time to spice up an evening that, to her, had to be long and tiring.

Nina drummed her fingers against her clutch. It was those kinds of details that made a person stand out to her.

The waitress lifted her tray meaningfully. ‘If you’ll excuse me, I need to be moving on. It’s really a wonderful event, Mr Stahl. Congratulations.’

She slipped away, and Howard watched her navigate the crowd. ‘With that girl’s pedigree?’ He tsked aloud. ‘What a shame.’

To be working hard for an honest dollar?

Nina bit her tongue. She’d learned long ago how to force cordiality and keep her true thoughts to herself. She worked with too many types of people to establish a personal stand on issues. It was only those who got closest to her that ever heard her real opinions.

She caught another flute of champagne from a passing tray and put her hand on Howard’s shoulder. Best to touch him before he touched her again. ‘By chance, have you seen Senator Molton?’

‘Dennis Molton? Why, yes, he’s over there by the blue whale skeleton.’

‘Perfect.’ She slipped her arm through her colleague’s. ‘Be a dear and introduce us?’

She didn’t need introductions, but it made the man feel useful. Eventually, she broke away from him as she worked the room. She was here to strengthen old acquaintances and build new ones. Her business ran on word of mouth, and it was always good to stay in touch.

Discreetly, of course. Public venues like this offered the best opportunities.

It also gave her the chance to people-watch, which was one of her favourite activities. Human beings were the most interesting of subjects, simple in some ways, yet complex in others.

Tonight, she was intrigued by the ice-blonde waitress.

Nina watched as she covered the room, offering tidbits of food or tastes of wine. The girl was good – observant, efficient and well-mannered – yet she dealt with everyone she encountered differently. She smiled beamingly at the computer nerds from the tech company, giving them a thrill, but she also made a plate of food for the elderly woman who’d found a seat at a table by the one-man-submersible display.

There was something striking about the girl, something proud in the way she was rising above the situation. Contrary to what Howard Stahl believed, Nina thought more of her as a waitress than she would have as a tag-along with her parents. Rich blondes were a dime a dozen.

A comely ice queen who rocked a mermaid uniform was another thing entirely.

‘Nina, so lovely to see you out tonight.’

‘Veronica,’ she responded with pleasure. There was no need for her to force a smile this time. The two of them had known each other for years, long before the actress had become a client.

They kissed each other’s cheeks, but when they broke apart, the diva moved smoothly to her date’s side. The handsome man looked down on her dotingly. The duo had drawn strange looks when they’d first paired up. There was a significant age difference, but they’d been together long enough now that people accepted them as a couple.

‘I wouldn’t miss it.’ Nina tucked her clutch under her arm and straightened the young man’s tie. Over his shoulder she saw the flash of white-blonde hair heading straight in Jason Sloan’s direction.

Nina’s antennae perked up.

This should be an interesting test. How would the young woman deal with a pit bull like him?

‘The work Aquamarine is doing is so important,’ she said absently as she stepped back.

Veronica’s date stood a little taller, and Nina edged to the side to keep an eye on the action behind him.

An attractive brunette was on Sloan’s arm this evening. The woman’s navy dress was cut too low for the event, and her heels were a smidgen too high. She was leaning provocatively into her date’s side, but his attention was focused with drill-like intensity on Kevin McHale, Chairman of the Senate Committee on Armed Services. Sloan was more interested in his conversation with the powerful politician than he was with his bimbo of the night.

‘Roni and I were appalled by the number of people who don’t have fresh drinking water. We’ve got to do something to make water purification tablets more accessible,’ the young man in front of her was saying.

Nina nodded absently. ‘A public service message would help the Alliance immensely, Veronica, especially with your last name. Surely an advertising whiz could come up with something special.’

‘Like a spokesperson role?’ the aging actress said, perking up. She shared a look with her special friend.

‘Roni Waters for Aquamarine? I think it’s perfect.’

‘It does have quite the ring to it.’

So did the discussion happening twenty yards away. Nina tapped her toe in anticipation. Sloan and McHale’s discussion wasn’t about the availability of water. She could tell that without hearing.