of the mirror to straighten it.
“Some dippy woman on the dance floor just about knocked me off my feet,” she complained. “Waving her arms around like she was sending semaphore flag messages and calling that dancing. Didn’t even bother to apologize when she lurched off the dance area and into the group I was trying to talk to.”
“Let me guess—she’s dressed like a vampire?”
BiBi laughed wryly and looked at Madison’s drying blouse. “Yep. I don’t know her, she must have come as a guest of one of Carl’s associates. You’ve met her, I take it?”
“So to speak.”
“I don’t think it’s blood she’s been drinking tonight.”
“Not unless it’s ninety-proof blood,” Madison agreed ruefully, dabbing one last time at her blouse before tossing the paper towel into the trash.
“So where have you been? I haven’t seen you since we came down from my suite.”
“Just having snacks and mingling,” Madison evaded.
She wasn’t quite ready to share her evening’s harmless diversion with her friend. She didn’t want to risk having BiBi tell her that the debonair adventurer she’d flirted with in the moonlight was really a twice-divorced used car salesman with three kids he didn’t support and a reputation for running cons on gullible, overworked, romance-starved women.
She was amused by her own overwrought imagination. From hero to pig, she thought with a shake of her head. She imagined reality was somewhere in between. But for now, she’d like to keep the hero fantasy alive. Just for a little while longer.
“Have you been having fun?” she asked to take the attention away from her own activities.
BiBi beamed. “Oh, yes. Carl looks so handsome in his astronaut uniform—have you seen him yet?”
“Yes. He looks great. Did you choose his costume, too?”
“Of course. Everyone’s been toasting us, and telling us how great we look and how much they look forward to all the wedding festivities. I have to admit, I’m digging this bride thing. You probably aren’t surprised to hear that I’m loving the attention.”
Laughing, Madison shook her head. “Not at all surprised. But I’m delighted for you, Beebs. You deserve all the happiness you and Carl will have together.”
“Aw, thanks, Maddie.”
“So, what about Corinna? Has the alien princess captured her reluctant prince’s heart this evening?”
BiBi’s dreamy smile dipped into a scowl. “We haven’t even seen him tonight. I guess he decided not to come, or he got tied up at work or something. I thought he said he was staying here at the hotel to avoid having to commute back and forth from his condo on the other side of Dallas, but maybe he changed his mind, or isn’t checking in until tomorrow. Corinna’s disappointed, even if she is getting plenty of attention from other guys, and even though she’s pretty sure nothing’s going to happen, anyway. Maybe instead of encouraging her, I should be advising her to give up and try to find someone else. I worry that she’s going to get her heart broken.”
“I hate to say this, but it sounds to me as if he’s just not that into her. I mean, that’s what he told her, right?”
BiBi sighed. “Yeah. But this weekend could be the perfect chance for him to change his mind if he and Corinna spend some quality time together, you know?”
“I think it’s very sweet that you’re looking out for your sister,” Madison answered diplomatically. “I also think you’re seeing the world through very romantic eyes right now, understandably so.”
“Maybe you’re right. As a matter of fact,” BiBi added with a giggle, “there’s someone I want you to meet. I think he’s just your type. I can’t wait to introduce you.”
Wouldn’t it be interesting if the man BiBi had in mind was dressed as Indiana Jones tonight? Because, talk about her type …
“His name is Allen,” BiBi added with a toss of her ponytail.
Madison told herself she wasn’t disappointed. Of all the men in attendance at tonight’s party, what were the odds that Jason would have been the match BiBi had chosen for her?
Three women in colorful costumes swept into the restroom before Madison could politely assert that she wasn’t looking for a fix-up while she was in town. Descending on the stalls and mirrors, the newcomers greeted BiBi, who introduced them all to Madison. Their conversation effectively at an end, Madison and BiBi then headed back to the party.
Madison scanned for a battered fedora as soon as she entered the raucous ballroom. A squarely built soldier in a red coat, ruffled shirt, khaki breeches and a white, ponytailed wig stepped into her path, blocking her view. He studied her with bright blue eyes as he asked BiBi, “Who is this lovely lady with you this evening, Lady BiBi? Can you wrinkle your genie nose and convince her to give me a dance?”
Laughing at his foolishness, BiBi slapped the man’s arm playfully. “Allen, you’re so silly. We were just talking about you. Maddie, this is Carl’s cousin, Allen Burleson. Allen, this is Dr. Madison Baker, one of my dearest friends since college.”
Sweeping his tricorn hat into a deep bow, Allen grinned up at Madison. “Delighted to meet you. May I have the pleasure of this dance?”
Calling on the manners her mother had drilled into her from birth, Madison smiled brightly and gave him her full attention, rather than continuing to search the room as she was tempted to do. “Of course.”
The music was still fast and frantic, another novelty Halloween pop tune, but easy enough to dance to. Madison figured she could make a decent showing even in the ridiculously high heels BiBi had lent her.
“You’re dressed as a fortune-teller tonight, aren’t you?” Allen asked as he escorted her to the center of the dance floor.
“Yes. And you’re a British soldier. A redcoat.”
“That I am, my lady.” He chuckled and fixed his tricorn on his head, skewing the wig just a little. Managing not to wince at his very bad British accent, Madison thought wistfully of a weathered, wide-brimmed hat, resisting a renewed impulse to take just a quick peek around the room.
“So what’s your prediction for me?” he asked, leaning toward her to be heard over the music, his body beginning to jerk in a rather awkward man-dance.
Smiling, she swayed in time to the rhythm, eyeing his uniform meaningfully. “You’re going to lose.”
Allen heaved a heavy sigh. “The story of my life,” he said, mock mournfully.
He seemed very pleasant. Nice-looking, too. But her pulse didn’t race with his smiles, nor did she get weak-kneed at the thought of dancing closely to him. Maybe it was because of their more traditional introduction. Maybe had she met Jason the same way, he’d have seemed no more mysterious and fascinating to her than Allen. But then she pictured his gleaming eyes and flashing smile.
Okay, maybe not. Maybe Jason was every bit as compelling as he’d seemed.
Jason
