way out in New L.A. He’s really important, but you know that, so the client people wanted him especially. But he’s going to be back for Christmas. He maybe has to spend most of it with his wife, because of how people gossip and stuff, but we’re going to have our own Christmas here. Isn’t the tree pretty?”
“Yeah, it’s pretty. Do you know a Trey Ziegler?”
“Uh-uh. Is he a friend of JJ’s? I haven’t been able to meet his friends because of gossip and how his awful wife would use it to ruin him in the divorce. It’s nice to meet you, so I can have somebody to talk with. Sadie, my friend from where I used to dance, says men never divorce their wives like they say, but JJ’s not like that. We’re crazy about each other.”
“So you haven’t seen JJ for a couple days?”
“Uh-uh. He had to go out of town, like I said, kind of all of a sudden. But he tags me every day, and he sent the flowers over there just yesterday.”
Her extraordinary breasts swelled over the silk and feathers as she sighed.
“He’s such a sweetheart. He’s under a lot of stress what with work and his wife so we don’t go out so much anymore. He needs the quiet. She’s, what do you call it, vindictive. So I try to be really understanding, and make things nice for him when he’s here.”
“I’m sure you do. When did he leave town?”
“Um. Wednesday maybe. Was it?” She caught her pouty bottom lip between her teeth as she taxed her memory. “I get mixed up. He had to do the party with his wife—you know, for appearances—that night. Did you go?”
“I couldn’t make it.”
“Oh, too bad. I love parties. JJ was going to come over here afterward. And we were going to go have a big, fancy brunch at the caviar place for a treat. I just love caviar, don’t you? But he had to go out of town.”
“And he’s never mentioned Ziegler?”
“I don’t think so. Is he a client? JJ takes really good care of his clients. That’s why he’s so successful.”
“I bet.”
“Do you want to go out for breakfast maybe? My treat. I don’t have dance or acting lessons today, and my voice coach doesn’t come until two.”
“I’m sorry. I can’t.”
“Oh, do you have to go already?” Felicity asked when Eve rose.
“I do, but maybe I’ll come back. When JJ’s here.”
“That would be mag! We can have a little party.”
“Why don’t you get in touch with me when you expect him?” Eve pulled out a card. “We’ll have that little party.”
“Sure! This is, well, it’s just magolicious. I can’t wait.”
“Neither can I.” She opened the door, glanced back at the bombshell. “You know, Felicity, your friend Sadie sounds pretty smart.”
“Oh, she’s really smart. She’s a really good friend, but she worries about me, and doesn’t have to. She thinks I should go back to Shipshewana.”
Eve decided Sadie might be the only person in New York dealing Felicity the truth.
“Have you talked to her recently?”
“I talk to her most every day. JJ doesn’t want her to come here because, well, people don’t always understand about the dancing, but . . . you’ve got to have girlfriends, right?”
“Yeah. What did she say about JJ having to go out of town, all of a sudden?”
“Oh, well, Sadie doesn’t trust most guys. She’s had some bad experiences. She never thinks JJ’s telling me the truth.”
“Like I said, she sounds pretty smart. Maybe you should listen to her. You ought to tag her up. And, Felicity? Maybe you should ask yourself why an important, successful man’s doing out-of-town business over a weekend instead of grabbing a shuttle back to take you out for caviar.”
Leaving it at that—the best she could do—Eve made her way out, nodded to Brent.
She hated feeling sorry for the woman—no, she corrected, girl. No more than a girl really. But it balanced out, she supposed. The sorrier she felt for Felicity, the more contempt she felt for Copley.
First chance, she promised herself, the two of them were going to have a long, fascinating conversation.
And it wasn’t going to be much of a party.
Kira Robbins let Eve in herself. She looked heavy-eyed, strained, and wore baggy flowered pajama pants and a gray NYC sweatshirt. A far cry, Eve thought, from the smart red dress and heels of the day before.
“You want to go over it all again.” She didn’t ask Eve to sit, didn’t offer her a