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and " She inhaled and exhaled. "Okay. Fine now. Leaving now. If you need me, I'm heading straight to
the hotel." She paused. "Well, after I swing by my hotel room for a quick shower I think I spritzed myself
with your hairspray earlier and I'm all sticky. So I'll shower, change my clothes, and then head to their
hotel."
"Got it," I said, biting my cheek to keep from smiling.
"First, I'll find Elena and tell her I'm taking off. She seems nice. We haven't really talked, but she
seems nice. Down-to-earth."
"She is."
With that, Jaime left, and I headed back to the party. I found Lucas near the buffet tables, holding
the promised champagne flutes.
"Your dad hasn't shanghaied you yet?" I said.
"He's heading in this direction, but keeps being waylaid by other guests. In light of my new strategy
for paternal relations, I am not using the situation as an opportunity to initiate a game of hide-and-seek, but
standing firm and allowing him to make his way here, however long that may take."
I told Lucas about Jaime, and he agreed there was little for her to do here. Between the vampires
and the werewolves, security detail was covered.
"I'll admit, I am concerned that Edward has yet to make an appearance," Lucas said. "Given the
time constraints he's under, this would be the opportune moment to grab my father, and quite possibly the
only chance he'll get before morning."
"Maybe he's having trouble getting past security," I said. "It is tight."
"It appears to be tight," he said. "Yet the others had no problem getting past it and they've been
skulking about the perimeter for nearly two hours now without incident."
"It doesn't help that this is a masquerade." I looked out over the crowd. "But Elena or Clay would
still have scented Edward, or Aaron and Cassandra would have sensed him, so "
"Champagne, I see." Benicio appeared at Lucas's side and clapped a hand on his shoulder, beaming
a smile. "May I assume that congratulations are in order?"
"They are. Paige has agreed to join my investigations on a permanent basis."
Benicio's smile faltered, but only for a second. "Well, that's a start, then. You've made an excellent
team so far, and working together will certainly give you more time together, which I know was one of your
concerns."
Lucas snuck a look at me. "It was," he murmured.
"And the house?" Benicio said.
"We're buying a house," I said. "Maybe the one in Portland, maybe not, but we're definitely buying
a house."
"Good, good."
We braced ourselves, waiting for Benicio to start offering advice, but instead he turned to me.
"May I have a dance?"
"Uh, sure."
We walked on to the dance floor.
"Have you considered Seattle?" Benicio asked as we launched into our dance. "If you like Portland,
I'm sure you'd like Seattle."
"Portland seems fine, but we'll probably look elsewhere, too, just to be sure."
"As you should. Buying a house is a major commitment. You also have Savannah's security to
consider. Has Lucas mentioned that we have a satellite office in Seattle?"
"Really. How . . . surprising."
I caught Lucas's gaze across the floor. He put his fingers into his ears and mouthed "Ignore him." I
grinned back.
Benicio plowed ahead, explaining all the benefits of living in a city with a Cortez corporate office.
How much safer it would be. How we could share resources. How we could keep an eye on local
corporate operations to ensure no serious crimes against supernaturals were "accidentally" being
committed. As I listened, I realized Lucas had the right idea. There was only one way to deal with Benicio.
Let him talk. Let him "suggest." Don't argue. Don't even answer. Just listen . . . and let it all flow out the
other ear.
While we danced, and Benicio talked, I tried to keep an eye on Lucas, but it proved increasingly
difficult. Benicio seemed determined to steer me away from Lucas, probably so his son wouldn't notice he
was using the opportunity to "advise" me. Soon we were so deep in the mass of other dancers that I lost
sight of him.
When we finished our dance, Benicio accompanied me back to where Lucas had been standing.
He wasn't there. Benicio lifted one hand, just slightly, and Troy appeared.
"Where's Lucas?" Benicio asked.
"Morris was watching him; I was watching you."
Troy glanced around, then waved Morris over. As Morris approached, Troy slipped away.
Morris admitted he'd seen Lucas head away from the buffet table, but when he tried to follow,
couldn't find him.
"I figured he just went to the bathroom. You said not to crowd him, and he was heading in that
direction."
Troy returned. "Tim saw Lucas leave, sir. He tried to follow, but Lucas said he needed to use the
washroom, so Tim backed off. He's waiting at the end of the hallway. Lucas hasn't come out yet."
"That's right," I said, turning to scan the room so Benicio wouldn't see the lie in my face. "Just
before our dance he asked whether I'd seen where the bathrooms were. He probably decided to slip away
while we were busy. Now that you mention it, I could use a quick trip myself. If Lucas comes back before
I do . . ."
"I'll tell him where you are," Benicio said.
"Thanks."
I hurried off.
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