not a coward. I can do this .
J.T. turned. “Yes, we met earlier.”
Juliet smiled innocently and nodded graciously to him then smiled at Phillip. “If you’ll excuse me, I need to speak with someone across the room.” She stepped back in an attempt to leave.
“Nonsense,” Phillip insisted as he guided Juliet to stand beside J.T.
“This is a perfect opportunity for you two to talk. Juliet, J.T. not only won your basket but he also won the evening’s top bid, the shadow dancer program. You two will be spending a great deal of time together in the coming days.”
Juliet looked at the smiling J.T. “Congratulations.” Her smile and salutation was anything but genuine.
“And he’s chosen you as his dance sponsor,” Phillip added.
“Is that right, oh goody for me,” the decidedly acid tone in her voice drew a chuckle from J.T.
“I’ll leave you two to get more acquainted.” He gently guided Juliet closer to J.T.’s side. “Juliet, tell J.T. here how important it is to demonstrate leadership in the community and to also be a catalyst for cultural and artistic growth in the nation’s capital.”
He turned to leave then instantly turned back, adding, “And that each tax deductible philanthropic donation goes to a very worthy scholarship applicant, which will enable that student to further their career in the performing arts.”
Juliet looked at Phillip’s very serious expression then to J.T. “What he just said,” she stated, nodding her head in Phillip’s direction then smiled innocently.
Phillip’s mouth dropped open. He reached over and took J.T.’s hand. “J.T., it was a pleasure meeting you. Congratulations again, our scholarship program can always use an added boost. I look forward to seeing soon. Juliet…” His bushy brows wiggling like two caterpillars stuck on a fishing rod.
J.T. nodded humored by Juliet’s post performance. “My pleasure Phillip and thanks for the invitation, I just might take you up on that offer,” he added.
“Any time, any time, just give my office a call,” Phillip said, as he handed J.T. a business card then walked away in search of more donations.
Juliet looked at the card in J.T.’s hand guardedly. “What invitation?” she said as she smiled and greeted a passing supporter.
“I’ve been invited to attend a rehearsal.”
She smiled brightly as several patrons walked by and congratulated her on a brilliant performance. “You realize of course that this is a private party.”
“Yes I know, I was invited,” he said.
“By whom?”
“A friend.”
She looked around the immediate area for any women who might appear to be waiting for him. Although several eyed him admiringly, none appeared to be with him at the moment.
She turned to him prepared to respond, but found her breathe caught in her throat. She looked away quickly. A wave of heat flushed through her. “What are you still doing here?” she whispered breathlessly, still refusing to look at him.
J.T. leaned down to catch her eye. He smiled when annoyed, she turned away further. “You look sensational this evening,” he said admiring her simple spaghetti-strap, fire-engine red slip dress with a colorful fringed chiffon scarf draped over her almost bare shoulders.
“We need to talk,” she said.
“My sentiments exactly,” he said as he began looking around the room.
“Meet me in Phillip’s office in ten minutes. It’s through the main doors down the hall on the left.”
“It’s a date. By the way, which one of these ladies is Lena Palmer?”
Juliet turned to him instantly. “Why, what do you want with Lena?”
“It’s business.”
“What kind of business?”
Before he could answer J.T.’s name was announced and applause erupted around them. Phillip beckoned for J.T. and Juliet to come to the center of the room so that she could personally present her basket to him. J.T. placed his hand on the small of her back and guided her toward Phillip.
Juliet took the basket
J.T. turned. “Yes, we met earlier.”
Juliet smiled innocently and nodded graciously to him then smiled at Phillip. “If you’ll excuse me, I need to speak with someone across the room.” She stepped back in an attempt to leave.
“Nonsense,” Phillip insisted as he guided Juliet to stand beside J.T.
“This is a perfect opportunity for you two to talk. Juliet, J.T. not only won your basket but he also won the evening’s top bid, the shadow dancer program. You two will be spending a great deal of time together in the coming days.”
Juliet looked at the smiling J.T. “Congratulations.” Her smile and salutation was anything but genuine.
“And he’s chosen you as his dance sponsor,” Phillip added.
“Is that right, oh goody for me,” the decidedly acid tone in her voice drew a chuckle from J.T.
“I’ll leave you two to get more acquainted.” He gently guided Juliet closer to J.T.’s side. “Juliet, tell J.T. here how important it is to demonstrate leadership in the community and to also be a catalyst for cultural and artistic growth in the nation’s capital.”
He turned to leave then instantly turned back, adding, “And that each tax deductible philanthropic donation goes to a very worthy scholarship applicant, which will enable that student to further their career in the performing arts.”
Juliet looked at Phillip’s very serious expression then to J.T. “What he just said,” she stated, nodding her head in Phillip’s direction then smiled innocently.
Phillip’s mouth dropped open. He reached over and took J.T.’s hand. “J.T., it was a pleasure meeting you. Congratulations again, our scholarship program can always use an added boost. I look forward to seeing soon. Juliet…” His bushy brows wiggling like two caterpillars stuck on a fishing rod.
J.T. nodded humored by Juliet’s post performance. “My pleasure Phillip and thanks for the invitation, I just might take you up on that offer,” he added.
“Any time, any time, just give my office a call,” Phillip said, as he handed J.T. a business card then walked away in search of more donations.
Juliet looked at the card in J.T.’s hand guardedly. “What invitation?” she said as she smiled and greeted a passing supporter.
“I’ve been invited to attend a rehearsal.”
She smiled brightly as several patrons walked by and congratulated her on a brilliant performance. “You realize of course that this is a private party.”
“Yes I know, I was invited,” he said.
“By whom?”
“A friend.”
She looked around the immediate area for any women who might appear to be waiting for him. Although several eyed him admiringly, none appeared to be with him at the moment.
She turned to him prepared to respond, but found her breathe caught in her throat. She looked away quickly. A wave of heat flushed through her. “What are you still doing here?” she whispered breathlessly, still refusing to look at him.
J.T. leaned down to catch her eye. He smiled when annoyed, she turned away further. “You look sensational this evening,” he said admiring her simple spaghetti-strap, fire-engine red slip dress with a colorful fringed chiffon scarf draped over her almost bare shoulders.
“We need to talk,” she said.
“My sentiments exactly,” he said as he began looking around the room.
“Meet me in Phillip’s office in ten minutes. It’s through the main doors down the hall on the left.”
“It’s a date. By the way, which one of these ladies is Lena Palmer?”
Juliet turned to him instantly. “Why, what do you want with Lena?”
“It’s business.”
“What kind of business?”
Before he could answer J.T.’s name was announced and applause erupted around them. Phillip beckoned for J.T. and Juliet to come to the center of the room so that she could personally present her basket to him. J.T. placed his hand on the small of her back and guided her toward Phillip.
Juliet took the basket
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