The Duchess Diaries. Merline Lovelace

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      “What about the Hanrahan retirement party on Saturday? I’m lead on that.”

      “I scanned the file. From the looks of the checklist, you’ve got everything in good shape. I’ll take care of the last few prep tasks and get Kallie to pull floor duty with me.”

      Gina thought fast. She’d have to call Maria to see whether she could come in Sunday and check on Grandmama. If she could, Gina might extend her stay in D.C. for another day, possibly two.

      The prospect of spending those days with Jack made her heart do its own version of a happy dance. She could feel it skittering and skipping as she let drop a casual comment.

      “My calendar’s pretty light on Monday. I don’t have anything scheduled that can’t be moved. I may take some comp time and stay over in Washington.”

      “Fine by me.” He flapped a hand. “Just get your butt in gear.”

      * * *

      She got her butt in gear!

      A call made while the cab whisked her uptown confirmed Maria would be happy to check on la duquesa Sunday afternoon. When Gina dashed in and explained the arrangement, Grandmama issued an indignant protest.

      “I’m neither crippled nor incapacitated, Eugenia. There’s no need for Maria to come all the way in to check on me.”

      “She’s not doing it for you, she’s doing it for me.”

      “Really,” the duchess huffed. “It’s not necessary.”

      “I know. Just humor me, okay? The thing is, I may stay over in D.C. a day or two. Jack wants me to meet his parents. If they’re available, I’ll try to cram in a visit.”

      “Indeed?”

      That bit of news stifled any further objections from her grandmother. Her faded blue eyes lingered thoughtfully on Gina’s face for a moment before she commented dryly, “How fortunate the purple washed out of your hair.”

      Extremely fortunate, Gina thought as she rushed into the bedroom. She hurried out again after stuffing toiletries, a sequined tuxedo jacket she appropriated from Sarah’s closet, black satin palazzo pants and some casual clothes into a weekender.

      “I’ll call you,” she promised, dropping a kiss on her grandmother’s cheek.

      She hit the lobby and had Jerome flag her a cab to LaGuardia. Collapsing in the backseat, she fished out her phone and called Jack. His cell phone went to voice mail, so she left a quick message. For added insurance, she called his office and got shuffled to his chief of staff. Her nose wrinkling, she asked Vickers to advise his boss that she was flying down to Washington.

      “Certainly, Ms. St. Sebastian.”

      He sounded a little more polite but about a mile and half from friendly. Gina wanted to ask him what his problem was but she suspected she already knew the answer.

      She made her flight with all of five minutes to spare. When the adrenaline rush subsided and the plane lifted off, she rested her head against the seat back. The next thing she knew, the flight attendant was announcing their imminent arrival at Ronald Reagan National Airport. Gina blinked the sleep out of her eyes and enjoyed her view through the window of the capital’s marble monuments.

      The short nap left her energized and eager to plunge into the task ahead. She wheeled her weekender through the airport with a spring in her step and exited into a beautiful June day only slightly tainted by the exhaust pluming out of the cars and taxis and shuttles lined up outside the terminal.

      Gina didn’t have to dig deep to know why she was so jazzed. The idea that Nicole trusted her enough to step in at the last minute and take charge of a major event had given her self-confidence a shot in the arm.

      Then there was the chance she might cram in some time with Jack. That possibility prodded her to whip out her cell phone and take it off airplane mode. The flashing icon indicating a text from Jack put a smile on her lips.

      Just heard you’re en route to D.C. Call when you arrive.

      She crossed the street to the parking garage and aimed for the rental car area while she tried his private number. He answered on the second ring.

      “You’re here?”

      The sound of his voice moved the smile from her lips to her heart. “I’m here. Just got in.”

      “This is a surprise. What brought you to D.C.?”

      For once she managed to catch herself before blurting out the truth. He didn’t need to know the possibility of spending some time with him was one of the reasons—the main reason—she’d jumped at this job.

      “I’m a last-minute stand-in to coordinate an event tomorrow night.”

      “Which event?”

      “A fancy-schmancy cocktail party and prerelease showing of the new action flick starring Dirk West.”

      Gina wasn’t a real fan of the shoot-’em-up, blow-’em-up type movies West had been making for several decades but she knew every new release pulled in millions.

      “The event’s being hosted by Global Protective Services,” she told Jack. “According to their company propaganda, they’re—”

      “One of the largest private security contractors in the world,” he interrupted. “They have more boots on the ground in Afghanistan right now than the U.S. military. Rumor is they put up most of the money for the movie. Probably because the script makes a very unsubtle case for decreasing the size of our standing armies and increasing the use of private mercenaries.”

      Holding the phone to her ear, Gina skimmed the Hertz reservation board to find the parking slot for the car Kallie said would be waiting for her.

      “Sounds like this shindig would be right up your alley,” she commented as she started down the long row of parked vehicles, “but I didn’t see your name on the attendee list.”

      “That’s because I declined the invitation. I might have to rethink that, though, if you’re going to be working the event.”

      “Oh, sure,” she said with a laugh. “Screw up the head count, why don’t you?”

      “I won’t eat much,” he promised solemnly.

      “Well...” She found her car and tossed her briefcase onto the passenger seat. “I guess I can add you to the list.”

      “That takes care of tomorrow, then. What’s on your agenda tonight?”

      “I’ve got what’s left of the TTG crew standing by.” She slid into the driver’s seat but waited to key the ignition. “We’re going to go over the final task list and walk through the venue.”

      “How long will that take?”

      “I have no idea.”

      She hesitated СКАЧАТЬ