The Turning Tides (Marina's Tales) by Anderson Derrolyn

Author:Anderson, Derrolyn [Anderson, Derrolyn]
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
Published: 2012-03-09T23:00:00+00:00

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Chapter Sixteen

DINNER PARTY

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I walked into a dining room full of people. I should of known that there would be nothing simple about a simple little dinner party at Evie’s.

Megan rushed to embrace me, pulling me over to sit in a chair between her and Evie. I waved to Cruz and Bradley, who were seated across Evie’s long table with about a dozen local fashion and music types. Megan introduced me to her agent and manager, and Evie’s modeling agent friend Jacques scurried around the table to make a great show out of kissing my hand.

Coffee was poured, and thick, sweet dessert wine was decanted, offered alongside snifters of the finest Cognac. Beautiful plates of jewel-like desserts were served by tuxedoed waiters; spiced poached pears swimming in chocolate sauce that were as beautiful as any work of art. Sitting in the warm glow of Evie’s ornate candelabras, surrounded by laughter and conversation, I could almost forget about the ugly scene with Ethan.

Almost.

Evie reached over and squeezed my hand, a reassuring gesture, accompanied by a once-over from her all-knowing eyes. “Why don’t you come with us to Argentina? We fly out first thing Monday.”

“No thanks,” I replied sadly. “I have school.”

“Surely they can spare you for a week,” she purred, “We could have so much fun! I’m simply dying to meet Cruz’s sisters!”

“Did I hear my name spoken?” Cruz called out to us across the table, “I hope you’re saying good things about me!” He twisted a finger under his chin.

“Always, darling,” Evie smiled back.

Cruz regaled the table with a story of how his mother had been denied a personalized license plate for her new car, “She was shocked– she couldn’t understand why they refused her,” he laughed. “I mean– what could possibly be objectionable about it?”

“About what?” a chic woman leaned forward in her seat.

“She wanted it to read, I ‘heart’ T-O-F-U,” Cruz snickered, spelling out the letters.

“I don’t get it,” she said.

“She was denied on the grounds that it was obscene!” Cruz shrieked.

“Oh puh-lease!” Megan scolded him, laughing despite herself.

Cruz winked at Megan, and started affectionately teasing her about her new reputation as a heartbreaker. Megan flushed pink, kicking him under the table.

“I read all about it in a Vanity Fair article,” he announced slyly, “They nicknamed her ‘The Ginger Goddess’, and said she’s leaving a trail of broken hearts behind her!”

“Well now, there’s a nickname!” commented Evie.

“Cruz,” I glared at him, casting Megan a sympathetic look.

He smiled impishly at the two of us, holding up his hands, “I’m just sayin’…”

I couldn’t help but smile back. Megan’s career was blowing up all at once, and she suddenly found herself irresistible to men. Still the same funny and observant Megan she always was, she’d been stepping out with one musician after another, and was getting quite a reputation as a serial dater. She was definitely making up for lost time in the dating department, but who could blame her for kicking up her heels a little?

Cruz was still the same old Cruz too, despite the sophisticated veneer he was rapidly developing.

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