Page 77 of Hottie on Her Shelf
Thatshe couldn’t let go unanswered.
Nobody was better. People were different, vastly, but nobody was better. Especially with the egregious display of pomposity Preston had just put out there. So, she’d fired back.
Preston Montgomery would always be aware that Hallie Scott had gotten the better of him. She’d had the simple joy of watching him and knowing her words had hit the mark, but Hallie wouldn’t let him writhe there on her verbal harpoon.
Thenhe’d have cause to retell the story and slant it to where Hallie was the gauche attacker. Blame her snarky zing on her being a Crow Harbor ruffian with zero respect for people of quality.
Nope.
She picked up her fork and began digging at her lobster again. “But I know you aren’t ill-mannered, Preston. I realize you were simply testing my mettle to see if I had what it takes to stand up to the slings and arrows of the campaign trail. I appreciate you, as the defender of the town, putting me through my paces. It was considerate of you.”
Please, please, take the peace baton offered. Don’t drag this out and make it even more uncomfortable.
“Quite, ah, quite right.” His words were slow at first, disconnected. Then his blue eyes, identical to his son’s, sharpened. “Good to see that you’re so savvy, Ms. Scott.”
“I know you only have the best interests of Swan Cove as your motivation, like we all do. Far and above any personal preferences.” Somebody’s foot—presumably Fitz’s—pressed insistently on the top of hers.
Hallie got the message. She’d made her point. Time to pivot. Although her last attempt at seemingly innocuous small talk had led to the disastrous blockade runner reveal, so she didn’t think any topic was safe.
To her immense relief, Fitz jumped in. “Why didn’t Blake join us? She always comes to this thing.”
“Your sister always comes because it has always been a simple family dinner. She’s very busy at the lab and had no desire to sit through a long political discourse.”
“That makes two of us,” Fitz joked heavy-handedly.
It was enough, though. Hallie had collected herself, taken two more bites, and was ready to jump into the fray once again. She’d thank him later—with exquisite slowness and attention to all that naked detail—for his intervention.
“Mrs. Montgomery, is there any issue you’re particularly interested in that’s come to your attention as the de facto matriarch of Swan Cove?”
“I support the issues most important to the mayor. It is paramount to not have division in a family.”
“Oh, I agree. My parents and I are quite close. If I don’t show up for dinner at least bi-weekly, well, I’d better have at least a broken limb as an excuse.”
“It takes two casts and a concussion to get out of a Montgomery family dinner.” Fitz cocked his head to the side. “Unless you’re Blake, I guess, since she slid out of tonight so easily.”
“Your sister’s work has the potential to be life-changing. Her work with the human genome could transform the future of autism, cancer treatment, auto-immune diseases.”
That was…vague. Genuinely interested, Hallie asked, “I don’t think one gene covers all of those conditions. What’s her specialty?”
Caroline waved her wrist as lazily as Queen Elizabeth in her golden State coach. “Whatever piques her interest.”
Fitz hooted. “You don’t know! You tune out when Blake gets that PhD lecture tone in her voice, same as me.”
“You will not tell—” Caroline broke off. “Hel-lo Lloyd. It’s been ages. So good to see you.”
The fireplug of a man didn’t have to bend far to air kiss her cheeks. He wore a tan sport coat over a mint green polo. “You’re a sight for sore eyes, Caroline. I’ve been at the bar all by my lonesome.”
“What a shame. You’d think the manager of the town’s bank wouldn’t have to dine alone. You’re far too important to go solo. I’ll bet you kept your status a secret, you wily man. Escaping a rough day at the salt mines?”
“You got it. Plus, I’m officially a bachelor for a while. Roni’s going to be disappointed she missed you.”
Hallie followed the conversation, face lifted, neutrally pleasant expression in place. But Caroline didn’t pause to introduce her to the man, nor did Preston, her official host for the evening. If she didn’t know better, she’d say the elder Montgomerys were content to pretend she wasn’t there.
“Where is she tonight?”
“Tending to her mother.” He grimaced, showing teeth so perfect they had to be dentures. “Knee replacement. She and her sister are trading off weeks of playing nursemaid.”
Caroline plucked at his sleeve until he leaned over. Behind an upraised hand, she said in a stage whisper, “You hired an actual nurse, I hope?”
