Page 18 of Savannah Heat
Dan zeroed in on Brock. “So, Brock, tell me a bit about what you do. You sell houses, is that right?”
Dan made the question sound as mundane as possible.
Brock took the bait and did a five-minute monologue about the life of a successful real estate broker. He wanted to make sure Dan and Harper understood he did not sell houses.
Jenna covertly watched Harper devour Brock with her eyes.
Dan nodded from time to time but didn’t interrupt Brock’s monologue.
Jenna knew what Dan was up to now, and she went along with it. Dan wanted someone else to carry the conversation while he watched the room and kept Harper busy.
After he talked himself out, Brock turned to Harper. “Sorry, I’m passionate about my work. There is nothing better than putting together these million-dollar deals and seeing something fantastic come from it. I’ll shut up now and let someone else talk. What’s your line of work, Harper?”
Harper flashed him a smile and licked her lips as she edged even closer to Brock. “I’m a professional photographer, mostly fashion. I love it because I get to travel around the world, but even better, I get to see the fashions before they hit the runway.”
Brock smiled and nodded toward Jenna. “Sounds like a fun way to make a living. Jenna here takes pictures, too. Sounds like you two have a lot in common.”
Dan cleared his throat. “Well, Jenna did more than take pictures, as you put it, Brock. She was a well-respected photojournalist for a long time before she started her own magazine. She got to go where things were happening in the world and be there as they happened.”
Jenna felt all eyes on her and knew she needed to say something. “Yes, I loved the job. I stopped when my father died. I still take pictures, but only for myself. Mainly, I manage his charitable trust now and try to make my magazine relevant. I do miss taking photos, but that wasn’t something I could do for a living. I just wasn’t good enough. So now, I just tell photographers what I want for my magazine.”
Harper leaned toward Jenna. “Oh, I hardly think there is anything you wouldn’t be good at, Jenna. I love your magazine.”
Jenna managed a smile and looked at Brock, who was looking at Dan. Brock’s face changed as he watched Dan. It was as if he knew he was more than he seemed. Jenna changed the subject back to the senator and his wife and how astute they were in the world of politics.
Jenna felt Harper’s eyes on her as she talked. She knew if they were alone and under different circumstances, Harper would be reacting differently. The real Harper was still hidden behind her lovely, polite in-public-company face.
Jenna watched Harper observe the back and forth between Dan and Brock. She saw the moment something changed. Harper looked as if she had just solved some puzzle, as if the answer had appeared before her eyes. She looked over at Jenna, smiled, and took a long drink from her glass.
A chill ran up Jenna’s spine.
Chapter Nine
Suddenly, Jenna felt off balance and a little afraid of Harper. There was something about her, a kind of inner disturbance that was rising to the surface. She was only half listening to Brock and Dan talk. The subject turned to yachts for some reason. It was now a dual of who knew the most about them. She was more interested in Harper’s silence.
To throw her off even more, she realized though Harper was wearing her party face and was smiling, she was obviously annoyed by Dan’s glowing and intimate knowledge of Jenna in his conversation with Brock.
Harper, her barely polite persona cracking, put a hand on Dan’s arm. “Not to stray too far from singing Jenna’s praises and the beloved Southern political talk, and the holy of all hollies, golf, but can we talk about something else?”
Jenna felt the anger bubble up inside, and she turned to Harper. “And what are you proposing we discuss?”
“Fashion, of course.” Harper’s eyes took inventory of every detail, not missing Jenna’s designer dress, shoes, and her jewelry. She leaned back in her chair and squinted her eyes. “When I first saw you, I thought I knew you from somewhere. I recognized your name, anyway. Your magazine is more about fashion now? How did you and Dan meet?”
Jenna was only slightly surprised at Harper’s skill to get back around to what she really wanted to know. She made a point of looking at Dan and smiling before she replied. “I met him in New York through friends at a party but didn’t get to know him until I met him again racing motorcycles in Ireland.”
Harper smiled and licked her lips. “Well, imagine among all those people, you two met. What are the odds, right?”
“Yes, fate or small world.” Jenna smiled and nodded when all she wanted to do was use one of her martial arts moves to throw Harper over the balcony. “Yes, it was a huge event, with lots of people and noise. I was there on vacation and wanted to practice getting some action shots in my portfolio. And one of the pictures I took was of Dan. I tracked him down to get permission to use it in a story I was writing about the sport.”
Harper lost the fake smile. “And you two, what…dated, were friends?”
Dan put his hand on Harper’s arm. “Well, enough down memory lane. I don’t want to bore everyone with old history. I’m sure Jenna would agree, and I’d bet Brock would, too. I suppose we should mingle a bit before dinner.”
Jenna felt anger and relief at the same time. Her emotions were all over the place tonight, and she hated it. She reminded herself why they were there—to check out the attendees to see if they could find a likely so-called Red Cat candidate, and to get a closer look at all the jewels on display. She needed to get away from Harper before she said or did something that she would regret. She took Brock’s hand, and they walked off toward a group of people who were standing near the bar. She could feel Harper’s eyes boring into her back.
Brock didn’t wait long before he asked the question she was dreading. “Jenna, were you and that guy seriously involved?”
“Oh, Brock, yes, but ages ago. Ancient history.”