touch, baby,” said Van.
“My pleasure.” She smiled up at him.
She supposed Van Jensen had been a friend. He was rooting for Gloria, and he told her so, often. Though Merilee and Van had steamy chemistry on the set, they’d never seemed to get along when they put their clothes back on. Van didn’t seem at all upset that Merilee was missing.
Gloria valued loyalty. She took Van’s hand and decided that when they shot the hot scenes that were to be the meat of
Velvet Nights in Venice
, she wouldn’t just go through the motions. She was going to show Vanher appreciation and make sure he had an especially good time.
HE REALLY was Superman, Brian congratulated himself, serving two masters at the same time. Brian shot his pictures at every possible opportunity while letting Tony think he was shooting only for the Suncoast News piece.
“Hey, did you see who’s over there?” Tony was ogling. “That’s Cassie Sheridan from KEY News.”
Brian made no comment.
“I’m going to introduce myself.”
Good
, thought Brian,
now I can get some more stuff for Webb
.
WHILE FELIX , at Leroy’s instruction, was perfunctorily shooting some video, Cassie helped herself to the passing trays of shrimp, skewered chicken, and quiche. As she reached for another piece of shrimp, a man beside her commented on her ring. “That’s a beauty.”
“Why, thank you.”
“I should know, I’m a jeweler. Leslie Sebastien,” said the man, extending his hand.
Cassie switched her glass to her left hand and shook his right one. “Cassie Sheridan.”
“You look somehow familiar,” he said, staring at her.
“I’m with KEY News.”
He nodded and smiled. “Nice to meet you.”
Cassie anticipated the conversation progressing, but before either of them could go any further, a handtapped Leslie Sebastien on his shoulder. “Excuse me, will you?” he asked and turned away.
Cassie shrugged and went to get another glass of wine.
THOUGH SHE hadn’t been thrilled when Webb told her he was bringing Gloria and Van along tonight, once her husband had reassured her that it would all look aboveboard, Lou-Anne Morelle hadn’t protested too much. If she wanted to keep the lifestyle to which she had so happily become accustomed, she had to make a concession or two. And, after all, it was Gloria, not Merilee, that Webb had said would star in his next movie, and Lou-Anne was grateful for that. She hadn’t liked Merilee from the first time she met the raven-haired beauty at Webb’s office. But Webb was crazy about her. Too crazy.
Lou-Anne made it a point to talk to as many people as she could on the terrace. That was her job as a fundraiser committee member. She knew, or at least recognized, most of the guests. It was the same crowd that attended all the other Sarasota social and charity events through the year. But what was with the woman standing by the bar wearing the black pants and T-shirt? For just an instant, Lou-Anne wrinkled her nose in distaste. The woman was surely pretty enough, but how gauche of her to come to this event dressed that way.
THE SMALL courtyard at the side of the house was a good place to talk. The two took a seat beneath the elevatedbronze statues of the fabled Romulus and Remus.
“I’m sure it was the ring you bought,” the jeweler insisted. “It was one of a kind. If there was any doubt, my hallmark stamped inside nailed it.”
“What about the guy who brought it in?”
“I didn’t recognize him,” said Sebastien, “and he wouldn’t leave his name. But I can tell you one thing. He hadn’t been in the store before. This guy is no regular to St. Armands Circle.”
“What did he look like?”
“Older guy, big, white mustache. Could be distinguished if he had the right clothes. Leathery skin, but not from sailing around on some yacht or golfing the fairways. This man works with his hands.”
“Did you buy the ring from him?”
“No. I said it was getting late and I had somewhere to be. I thought
“My pleasure.” She smiled up at him.
She supposed Van Jensen had been a friend. He was rooting for Gloria, and he told her so, often. Though Merilee and Van had steamy chemistry on the set, they’d never seemed to get along when they put their clothes back on. Van didn’t seem at all upset that Merilee was missing.
Gloria valued loyalty. She took Van’s hand and decided that when they shot the hot scenes that were to be the meat of
Velvet Nights in Venice
, she wouldn’t just go through the motions. She was going to show Vanher appreciation and make sure he had an especially good time.
HE REALLY was Superman, Brian congratulated himself, serving two masters at the same time. Brian shot his pictures at every possible opportunity while letting Tony think he was shooting only for the Suncoast News piece.
“Hey, did you see who’s over there?” Tony was ogling. “That’s Cassie Sheridan from KEY News.”
Brian made no comment.
“I’m going to introduce myself.”
Good
, thought Brian,
now I can get some more stuff for Webb
.
WHILE FELIX , at Leroy’s instruction, was perfunctorily shooting some video, Cassie helped herself to the passing trays of shrimp, skewered chicken, and quiche. As she reached for another piece of shrimp, a man beside her commented on her ring. “That’s a beauty.”
“Why, thank you.”
“I should know, I’m a jeweler. Leslie Sebastien,” said the man, extending his hand.
Cassie switched her glass to her left hand and shook his right one. “Cassie Sheridan.”
“You look somehow familiar,” he said, staring at her.
“I’m with KEY News.”
He nodded and smiled. “Nice to meet you.”
Cassie anticipated the conversation progressing, but before either of them could go any further, a handtapped Leslie Sebastien on his shoulder. “Excuse me, will you?” he asked and turned away.
Cassie shrugged and went to get another glass of wine.
THOUGH SHE hadn’t been thrilled when Webb told her he was bringing Gloria and Van along tonight, once her husband had reassured her that it would all look aboveboard, Lou-Anne Morelle hadn’t protested too much. If she wanted to keep the lifestyle to which she had so happily become accustomed, she had to make a concession or two. And, after all, it was Gloria, not Merilee, that Webb had said would star in his next movie, and Lou-Anne was grateful for that. She hadn’t liked Merilee from the first time she met the raven-haired beauty at Webb’s office. But Webb was crazy about her. Too crazy.
Lou-Anne made it a point to talk to as many people as she could on the terrace. That was her job as a fundraiser committee member. She knew, or at least recognized, most of the guests. It was the same crowd that attended all the other Sarasota social and charity events through the year. But what was with the woman standing by the bar wearing the black pants and T-shirt? For just an instant, Lou-Anne wrinkled her nose in distaste. The woman was surely pretty enough, but how gauche of her to come to this event dressed that way.
THE SMALL courtyard at the side of the house was a good place to talk. The two took a seat beneath the elevatedbronze statues of the fabled Romulus and Remus.
“I’m sure it was the ring you bought,” the jeweler insisted. “It was one of a kind. If there was any doubt, my hallmark stamped inside nailed it.”
“What about the guy who brought it in?”
“I didn’t recognize him,” said Sebastien, “and he wouldn’t leave his name. But I can tell you one thing. He hadn’t been in the store before. This guy is no regular to St. Armands Circle.”
“What did he look like?”
“Older guy, big, white mustache. Could be distinguished if he had the right clothes. Leathery skin, but not from sailing around on some yacht or golfing the fairways. This man works with his hands.”
“Did you buy the ring from him?”
“No. I said it was getting late and I had somewhere to be. I thought
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