It will be at eight o’clock.” Thomas brought Morgan’s hand up to his lips and brushed his lips across her soft skin.
“Well, I don’t know...” Morgan pulled her hand away and turned.
“Oh, we’ll definitely be there,” Joslyn quickly announced as she reached for his hand.
Although Thomas didn’t want to kiss the back of Joslyn’s hand, he did it anyway. “That’s great. I’ll see you on Friday.”
Thomas watched as the ladies walked out the door, and then he moved to the window to continue watching them until they climbed into the car and drove away. He grinned. Morgan wanted to come to the party, he just knew it. He just hoped Joslyn wouldn’t try to talk her friend out of it just to be alone with him. Thomas knew Joslyn was like all the other women he’d dated, and right now, that wasn’t something he wanted.
So, what if Morgan didn’t show up? He’d definitely have to find out where she lived, even if he had to hire an investigator to do the deed. In fact, he should call one right now. He didn’t want to wait until Friday and have her not show up. Then it would be too late to find out where she lived.
Another thing he would have to do was call the country club and reserve a room for his impromptu party. He’d also have to invite other people. Rats! Why hadn’t he thought of this before he opened his mouth and invited them to a party he hadn’t planned yet?
Thomas turned quickly and ran right into Percy. Today, the little man wore his knee-breeches without stockings, but he wore a fur coat. Groaning, he shook his head. Did the man not know how to dress in California’s hot summer weather?
“Can’t you see I’m working here?” Thomas stepped around the annoying man and headed toward his office. He had the name of an investigator somewhere.
“I think, sir,” Percy said as he shuffled behind Thomas, “that having another party on Friday is a bad idea.”
“Well, I’m grateful for your opinion, but it’s not needed. And, you are not invited on Friday, so I’d better not see you there.”
“No, sir.” Percy wrung his hands. “I wouldn’t dream of attending one of your parties. They tend to get a little crazy sometimes. My boss,” he pointed upward, “would not want me to go, and he definitely does not think you should go, either.”
“Are you kidding me?” Thomas’ voice lifted. “I’m single, how else am I to find Mrs. Powers?” Thomas reminded him. “Look, I’m humoring you here while listening to your ramble about being my guardian angel, but I’m not going to allow you to step into my social life. Got it?”
“How else can we get you on the right road?” Percy asked.
“I’ll use my GPS, that’s how.” Thomas chuckled, proud of himself for such a quick comeback. “Look, Percy, I came into work today. I helped my father with the interview. Can’t you see that I’m doing the responsible thing now?”
“If you say so, Mr. Powers.” Percy gave a nod and turned and walked around Thomas and out the door.
Sighing, Thomas ran his fingers through his hair. He wanted that man gone from his life. Immediately! He’d show Percy that Thomas Powers was a responsible man and that he didn’t need a guardian angel following him around. If all Thomas needed to do was prove himself to the little man, then he would. Sooner rather than later.
He walked out of the room and stopped. Percy was gone. It was as if the man vanished.
“I’m going crazy,” Thomas mumbled.
“Crazy?”
Thomas spun around toward his father who walked out of a different room. The worry lines on the older man’s forehead were creased more than usual. “Hey, Dad. I didn’t see you there.”
“How did the interview go with those ladies from the Tribute?”
Thomas laughed. “You tricked me.” He shook a finger at his father. “You told me there was an important meeting with a buyer. But instead, I walk into the so-called meeting, only to find the women from the tabloids.”
Darion shrugged. “It worked, didn’t it? I finally got you to do the interview.”
“If I had known they were beautiful women, I would have called them that first day.”
“Thomas, my boy, beauty is only skin-deep. You need to dig deep inside the woman’s heart in order to see their true worth.”
“Yeah, well... The interview still went well. Nothing I couldn’t handle.” Thomas puffed his chest.
“Were there any questions that you couldn’t answer?”
“Not really.”