Mad, Bad and Blonde - Cathie Linz [76]
“Gram’s got a date?”
“Yes. She wouldn’t tell me anything about him. My mother can be stubborn at times.”
“What about the Duchess of Grimness, Aunt Lorraine?”
“She’s swimming with the fishes.”
Faith was momentarily speechless. Sure, he was no fan of Aunt Lorraine. No one was. But was her father capable of doing something like that? Her thoughts took off like a rocket. Had the woman her dad had dinner with been a hired assassin? Was that why he’d been preoccupied?
“You killed her?” she whispered.
Her dad laughed. “No, but don’t think I haven’t been tempted after the stunt she pulled at last year’s charity ball. She’s definitely persona non grata there. I meant she’s on vacation down in the Caribbean, swimming with dolphins. I hope she doesn’t punch one of them.”
“Yeah, I hope so too. Getting back to the charity ball. Megan doesn’t have a date?”
“She’s got her dad. I thought you and Alan would round out the numbers.”
“That’s not going to happen.”
“Obviously. I reserved these tickets nearly a year ago. I couldn’t anticipate what would happen with Alan the Ass. So just bring someone else instead.”
She was quiet. She could imagine what her father would say if she suggested Caine as her escort.
Her father frowned. “Unless that’s a problem? You’re over Alan, right?”
She nodded.
“Then what’s the problem?”
“No problem.” She’d find someone. And she had to get a dress. No worries. She had forty-eight hours.
The once-passive Faith who let her family clean up her wedding mess had been replaced with the new, active Faith who took care of herself . . . with a little help from her doorman.
“Yuri, I need a big favor.” Faith had cornered him as soon as she entered her condo building after work. “I need a date for this Saturday night for a charity ball.”
“You don’t want to ask Caine?”
“I’m attending with my father. He books a table every year. So, no, I can’t ask Caine.”
“Understood.”
“I thought maybe one of your actor friends might be willing to attend with me. Everything is paid for. They’d have to have a tuxedo because it’s black tie, but I’d pay for the rental.”
“I think I know just the man for the job.” Yuri pulled out his iPhone and got online to Facebook before turning the screen to her. “His name is Dylan Donovan.”
“Does he really look like that?”
“Yep.”
“I’m sorry, that was shallow of me.”
“Of course he wouldn’t be oiled and shirtless. And he wouldn’t have his jeans undone the way he does in this photo. Do you want me to give him a call? He owes me a favor.”
“Sure,” she croaked before clearing her throat. “I’d appreciate that.” She certainly appreciated the picture of Dylan Donovan. Her mouth was dry and her palms damp. This charity ball might turn out to be better than she’d expected, providing Dylan was available.
“He’s agreed to the gig,” Yuri said. “What time do you want him to pick you up?”
“Um, seven thirty. Does he need a tux?”
“No, he has one.”
“Tell him thanks.”
“No problem. Dylan could use the exposure.”
Exposure got her thinking naughty thoughts. Maybe she was getting over Caine if she could drool over another guy. That was a good thing, right? Who knew at this point? She couldn’t figure out her complicated relationship with Caine right now.
“Do you need anything else?” Yuri asked. “Do you have your dress?”
“No.”
“Several young actress friends of mine rave about this new Oak Street boutique.” He showed her the store’s web-site with examples of their clothing.
“Thank you so much, Yuri!” She hugged him. “I’ll head right over there now.”
The boutique had the perfect dress for her: a classy black strapless full-length sheath with a sweetheart neckline. She felt so proud of herself for getting both a dress and a date in a matter of two hours that she splurged and got a beautiful jewelry set with a layered amethyst necklace and matching large teardrop dangle earrings.
Friday flew by with new cases and work piling up. She wanted to treat herself to blueberry pancakes at the nearby Comfort Café Saturday morning but worried she wouldn’t fit into