spent all that time arranging the event, so we’ll have plenty to talk about.”
“We can have lots of champagne.”
She grinned. “Always a plan. All right, Todd Aston the Third, I’ll be your date for my sister’s wedding.”
Two
G randma Ruth’s three-story Bel Air mansion was just as awe-inspiring the second time Marina pulled in to the stone covered circular driveway. It was massive and out of place—this was Los Angeles, not eighteenth century England. But the rich lived different lives, Marina thought as she climbed out of her aging import. Lives with live-in staff. Her idea of help at home was a package of premoistened glass cleaning towelettes.
She glanced at the double door leading into the house and decided to wait until Todd showed up before going inside. Okay, sure, she shouldn’t be intimidated by her grandmother’s maid, but she was. So what? She had other positive attributes she could focus on.
Less than a minute later, a gleaming silver Mercedes pulled into the driveway. The car was a sporty two-seater model, the kind that cost as much as the national debt of a small third world country.
The guy who climbed out of it was just as impressive. Tall, well tailored and sexy enough to encourage smart women to make some really stupid choices. She would have to make sure she didn’t fall into the category. Fortunately he wasn’t her type.
“Marina,” Todd said with a grin. “I thought you would have already scouted the house and made the decision.”
“We’re a team, Todd. I totally respect that.” Or she would as long as it suited her.
Speaking of suits, his was dark gray, with a subtle pattern in the weave of the fabric. His pale blue shirt contrasted with the deep burgundy tie. While she preferred a more casual look, he wore his power extremely well. She, on the other hand, looked like a college student with a limited budget. Although her skinny jeans had zipped up with no problem, which made this a very good day.
She collected her digital camera and a small notebook, then followed him to the front door. “I have about an hour,” she said as she checked her watch. “Then I have to be back at UCLA for a class.”
“What are you taking?”
“I’m not. I’m interpreting.” She glanced at him. “I’m a sign language interpreter for deaf students. I specialize in chemistry and physics, mostly the upper division classes.”
He raised his eyebrows. “Impressive.”
“It’s not that hard for me. I’ve taken all the classes myself, so I understand the material. I have three advanced science degrees. Eventually I’m going to have to pick a Ph.D. program, but I’m not ready yet. I already knew how to sign, so I decided to do this for a couple of years.”
His eyes widened. “Three advanced science degrees?”
She loved people underestimating her. “Uh-huh. It’s less impressive when you know I started college at fifteen.”
“Oh, sure. It’s practically ordinary. You’re pretty smart.”
She smiled. “Smarter than you, big guy.”
He laughed. “I’ll remember that.”
He knocked on the front door and when the maid answered, he greeted her by name.
“We’re here to see the ballroom, Katie,” he told the woman in uniform. “Then check out the backyard.”
The maid nodded. “Yes, sir. Your grandmother told me you’d be stopping by. Would you like me to show you upstairs?”
“We can find it. Thanks.”
Marina smiled at the other woman, then followed Todd across a huge foyer and up a wide, curving staircase.
“So how big is your staff?” she asked as they reached the second floor and walked along a long, carpeted hallway. There were dozens of paintings on the wall and pieces of furniture that were probably impressive antiques, if she knew anything about them.
“Five live-ins, six dailies.”
“What?” she asked. She’d only seen his house from a distance—and it had been bigger than this one—but still. “What do they do?”
He turned to her, touched his finger to the tip of her nose and smiled. “Gotcha. I have a housekeeper who hires people to keep the house clean and take care of the grounds. She comes in three days a week. I’d rather not have any staff, but the house is old and big and I’m not willing to deal with it, so she does.”
Okay, one housekeeper was better than five live-ins.
They took a second staircase that flowed into a landing that was bigger than Marina’s apartment. A wall of ornate doors opened into a ballroom the size of a football field.
She stepped into the center of the room and turned in a slow circle. There were gilded mirrors on the walls and dozens of sparkling chandeliers hanging from the ceiling. The parquet floor gleamed and reflected the sunlight from the windows.
The walls had been painted a neutral pale beige, so any color theme would work.
“We’re talking about tables of either eight or ten,” Todd said as he pulled out his PalmPilot and pushed a few buttons. “We can fit as many as thirty tables in here and still have room for people to get around.”
Marina did the math. “Can we fit twenty-eight tables and still have room for dancing and the band?”
Todd looked at her. “Orchestra. Not band. Julie said elegant. Bands aren’t elegant.”
Maybe not, but she’d never been to a wedding with an orchestra. “You think the L.A. Philharmonic is available?”
He grinned. “I’d have to check their schedule, but I was thinking of something a little smaller. I have a group in mind that I’ve heard play at other venues.”
Venues? So while the rest of America went to the mall, the über rich had venues? “What sort of venues would these be?”
“Mostly fund-raisers. A couple of weddings. I’ll find out where they’re playing in the next couple of weeks and we’ll go hear them. They’re great. Trust me.”
Trust him? Not yet.
She put down her notebook and began taking pictures of the vast space. “I really like this room,” she said as she turned slowly to get every angle. “I’ll e-mail these photos to Julie as soon as I’m done with class.”
“There’s more,” he said and led her to a series of French doors. He unlocked the first one and opened it, then motioned for her to lead the way.
She stepped out onto a wide balcony that overlooked the property. Although if one couldn’t see where the fence line was, did that make it an estate?
The grounds were stunning. She could see the terrace and the pool and the gardens beyond.
“This
