Miss Impractical Pants (19 page)

“A few weeks?” she gasped. “What do you have planned so far? Where are they staying?”

The worry in his blank expression was her answer.

“Wow!
Nothing, huh?
You’re so screwed.”

“I know.”

“Do you have a budget?”

He shook his head.
“Just so long as everything is perfect.”

Katie’s brow puckered as she lost herself in thought for a few moments. “May I see your phone?”

Lucas pulled his BlackBerry from his breast pocket and handed it to her. He followed her as she wandered down the corridor, tapping away on the Internet.

“Got it!” she finally announced, triumphant, as she began to dial a number.

“Got what?”

“The Peninsula Hotel in Hong Kong.”
She pulled the phone to her ear. “There’s not a snowball’s chance in hell we’ll get a room, but we have to at least try. Maybe we can get on a waiting lis—
Yes
, hello. I’m hoping that you can help me.” Her tone was instantly poised and
professional. “I need to see if you have any suites available for—” She turned to Lucas. “What are the dates?” she mouthed.

He held the numbers up with his fingers.

“Yes, I know it’s very short notice, and I do realize the hotel books out months, even years, in advance.” Her voice changed slightly in pitch; she sounded sweeter and hapless, which she used to her advantage when talking to men—only as an absolute necessity. “The thing is, I just got my big break with these high-profile clients, but I only have a few weeks to pull off a miracle. So, I was hoping maybe you had a cancellation or could put me on a wait list? I’m sure it’s way too much to hope for the Peninsula Suite—but I’m a dreamer. Please, I’m desperate…is there anything you can do to help me?” Biting her lower lip, she listened to the tapping on the keyboard as the reservationist spent what seemed like a century checking his reservations.

“Really?
You can get me a suite?” She held her fists up to her shoulders, giving Lucas a silent “Yay!” “You are a lifesaver! Which suite is it
?...
The Marco Polo?
That’s great!” Not that she was an expert on the hotel’s rooms, but even a basic suite at the Peninsula was nothing to turn your nose up at—at least her nose, anyway. She wouldn’t see the inside of the Peninsula in three lifetimes. “I can’t thank you enough… Of course, I’m happy to hold.”

She did a spastic celebratory dance, forgetting she wasn’t a natural in heels. Fortunately, Lucas caught her by the elbow just as her ankles toppled.

“Yes, I’m still here.” Her voice, competing with her embarrassment, rasped as the reservationist’s sudden return caught her by surprise. “You’re joking
?…
You’re not joking?
Holy crap!”

She tapped Lucas on the arm and mouthed, “Credit card!
Credit card!”

He fumbled through his wallet.

“Okay, I’m ready to hold the reservation,” Katie went on. “I don’t want anybody snatching up this room.” She gave all the necessary information to secure the suite. “Thank you so much! Now, one last thing—can I reserve a car and driver now, or do I need to wait until they check-in
?…
Absolutely, I’d love to have a driver meet them at the airport… Perfect, I’ll call you in a few days with the flight information. Thanks again, I’ll talk to you soon!” She ended the call and turned to face Lucas.

“We got it! The Peninsula Suite!” she squealed.
“The most prestigious room in the whole city!”

A crooked smile lapped across his face. He ran his hand over his hair, disheveling it to perfection. “Do I dare ask how you know so much about Hong Kong?”

“Many tuition dollars spent on a quality American education,” she teased proudly.

“Really?”
He sounded astonished. “They really teach you that sort of stuff at a proper university?”

She nodded.
“Of course.
I considered a lot of degrees before choosing a practical course of study—like hotel rooms in China…” she flashed a playful smile, “as opposed to…anthropology at Oxford?” She cocked her head, venturing a guess at his education.

He shook his head, laughing, encouraging her to make another attempt.

“Literature at Cambridge?”

“Business at Durham,” he supplied on the heels of a chuckle.

“Yeah, I wouldn’t have guessed that.”

“Much to Olivia’s chagrin,” he mused.

“Why to her chagrin? I thought Durham was a really good school.”

“It is. It’s just that Olivia is a blueblooded Londoner. She doesn’t really approve of anything associated with the North.”

“
You
come from the North.”

“Yes. It’s a bit ironic. She doesn’t like me to speak of it,” he grinned. “So, of course I mention it often. I’m proud of my roots. Sid and I like to put on our thickest accents and tease her with our favorite Yorkshire sayings. She hates it!” he laughed.

“Like what?”

“Oh, I don’t know…something like….” He turned his face up to the friezed ceiling. “B
etter to fettle
an
shaht abaht it nor nivver to fettle a t’all.
”

“I have no idea what you just said.” Her giggles pealed into laughter.

“Exactly.
Speaking of Olivia—we should be getting back. She’ll be arriving any time now. “Cheers for getting the hotel sorted. You were brilliant.”

Lucas escorted her back to the table before making his way to the main entrance to meet Olivia. Katie felt all her earlier apprehensions return. She hadn’t noticed before how big their dining table actually was. Now that most of the occupants were seated, she realized there were close to twenty other diners at her table. Before she could swallow the lump in her throat and embrace the prospect of having to make appropriate conversation with so many exquisite people, Sidney drew everyone’s attention to her.

“Ah, here she is.” He announced her presence as if she were of significant importance. “Allow me to present to you all Ms. Kathryn Sutherland.”

Katie flushed at the undeserved attention as a wave of polite salutations greeted her. She plastered on a grand smile and gave an uncertain wave to her new acquaintances. Something about Sidney’s use of her full name stirred her to stiffen her posture even more—if that were possible. She didn’t know it, but the ensuing effect was arresting. Neither Katie nor Greta, clinging loyally to her figure, had ever looked more radiant.

She was pretty sure she was doing a decent job of showing just the right amount of charisma while keeping up her share of small talk around the table, but she couldn’t help notice that a few women were eyeing her. She felt the dread of public humiliation creeping up on her. They probably sensed she was not a natural in a tiara, and were therefore ready to have her branded as an imposter and heaved out onto the street. She caught the sympathetic eye of Lady Waverly, who issued her a supportive smile.

After what seemed like many unnerving minutes, one of the gawkers, a flashy middle-aged woman who reminded Katie of the “Unsinkable” Molly Brown, addressed her. “Kathryn, dear, please don’t think me impertinent, but I must know…are you wearing part of the Chatworth collection?”

Her question was not loud, but carried a weighty tone that caused a halt in the conversation around the table. All eyes were focused on Katie. A surge of panic whooshed over her. She racked her brain to think of what a Chatworth could possibly be. She was pretty sure Greta didn’t belong to any sort of special collection.

She glanced at Sidney for some help and noticed he was wearing an aggravated expression. He quickly rearranged his countenance to something more pleasant and spoke in Katie’s stead.

“As a matter of fact, I believe those are part of the Chatworth pieces.” His tone was sardonic as he laid a meaningful gaze upon Katie. “Dear girl, how did you get your hands on such extraordinary jewelry?’ he queried, eyebrows knitted together.

Instinctively, she laid a hand over the magnificent diamond pendant Sidney had loaned her. Fortunately, she was spared from having to give an answer.

“Oh Lordy, would you look who’s coming? Esther and Gordon’s daughter…thinks she’s the bloody Queen herself,” one woman announced to her partner in a voice above a whisper.

And there they were: Lucas and Olivia.

“Good evening, everyone.”
Lucas gallantly nodded to the crowd and introduced himself to the few people not of his acquaintance. “I believe you all know my fiancée, Olivia Denby.”

There were a few curt acknowledgments.

“Olivia, I would like you to meet Katie.”

Katie stood to greet Olivia, who looked her up and down with evident surprise, then disdain. “I’m so happy to meet you, Olivia. I’ve heard so much about you.”
None of it good.

Olivia made no reply.

Katie was not unaware that Olivia was a good three inches taller and two sizes—okay, maybe three—smaller than herself. Besides these advantages, she was beautiful: silky blonde hair (that was probably natural), Caribbean blue eyes, and a perfect set of perky boobs (that also appeared to be natural).

Under Olivia’s intense scrutiny, Katie could feel every eye at the table watching her. Before she could crumble under the pressure, Lucas curtailed the tension.

“I’m sure you and Katie will become good friends,” he said to Olivia as he pulled her chair out for her. Though he spoke lightheartedly, there was a note of reprimand in his voice.

“Fat chance,” Olivia uttered.

Humiliation burning her cheeks, Katie slunk into her seat with as much poise as possible. Sidney gave her hand a reassuring squeeze under the table, which didn’t do much to restore her composure. Though Olivia seemed unbothered, Katie could not ignore the fact that they were still the center of attention.

Lord Waverly threw some compassion in her direction and broke the uncomfortable silence.

“Katie, we never did finish our conversation—I’m still intrigued by your American accent. What part of the States do you call home?”

Katie looked up at the Waverlys, who were both wearing kindly smiles. “I live in Colorado—not far from Aspen.”

“That’s a lovely area. Do you ski, then?” another gentleman replied.

“Actually, I’m not much of a skier,” she confessed.

“How can it be possible to live in such a place and not ski?” inquired another.

“Well, usually when I go skiing, it’s with my guy friends—Christopher, Dylan, and Rob—who are much more advanced than I am and have more testosterone than I do.” Except for Dylan—but she didn’t say that out loud. “Inevitably, I’d get talked into taking a trail
that was far beyond my skill level, and I’d spend the rest of the day tumbling down it—by myself.” Pulling a chagrined grimace, she added, “I’ve learned that it’s better for my health
and
my friendships to stick to water sports.”

Her explanation won a round of chuckles from the table, and a few people broke into a conversation about skiing anecdotes. Thankful to have the attention off of her, Katie caught the eye of the Waverlys and mouthed a grateful “Thank you.”

Despite the menacing scowls Olivia fired off in her direction, Katie relaxed a little when dinner went off without incident. However, during dessert, the Unsinkable Molly Brown, who had been hawk-eyeing Katie all evening, seized another opportunity to question her.