Читать книгу Hero In Disguise - Leona Karr, Leona Karr - Страница 11

The next morning when Melissa and the boys went down for breakfast, the dog was gone.

“Gone?” Melissa said in disbelief when Scruffy was nowhere to be seen. The boys began to wail loudly.

“You lied!” Eric clenched his little fists. “You said we could keep him.”

Richie’s dark eyes suddenly filled with tears. “I liked Scruffy. He was a neat dog. Why did you let someone take him away?”

“I’m sure there must be some mistake,” Melissa soothed, trying to keep her own anger under control. She’d heard David’s car leave early, so he must have decided to dispose of the dog before the boys got up. He’d skipped out of the house before the ax could fall. She couldn’t believe that he’d gone back on the deal they’d made. Apparently he’d decided her company at the fund-raiser wasn’t worth the hassle of putting up with a scrawny mutt for a few days.

Inga came into the breakfast room with a puzzled look on her face. “What’s all the fuss about?”

Melissa tried to keep her voice even. Nothing would be gained by lighting into the housekeeper. “What did David do with the dog, Inga?”

“Oh, he told Hans to take him to some dog place.”

“The dog pound?” Melissa asked, almost choking on the words.

“No, not the pound. You know, one of those place where they give dogs baths and trim them up nice. Hans was supposed to take the dog to the vet for some shots, too.”

As a surge of relief swept over Melissa, she was surprised at her own quick reaction to think the worst. In fact, she was a little ashamed. David had been more than gracious to put up with this invasion of his home and privacy, and he had every right to protest keeping the dog. Melissa felt guilty about the way she had judged him, when, instead, he was spending money on the dog for grooming and shots. She was as bad as the boys.

“What happened to Scruffy?” Eric demanded, not understanding Inga’s explanation and looking as worried as ever.

“It’s all right, boys,” Melissa assured them. She explained where Hans had taken the dog and why. She joked that they might have to change Scruffy’s name to fit his new looks. “David just wanted to make sure the dog was all nice and clean and healthy.”

“He must like Scruffy,” Eric said, suddenly happy, his lips curving in a soft smile.

“David’s a good guy,” Richie agreed, in an instant change of heart.

Inga just shook her head. “Wonders never cease. A dog in the house. Heaven help us. I don’t know what’s gotten into David to allow it.” Her clear eyes held a knowing glint as she looked at Melissa and added, “And then again, maybe I do.”

The way the housekeeper was looking at her made Melissa stiffen. Surely the housekeeper didn’t think that there was anything personal in allowing the boys to keep the dog. While she was trying to decide how to respond, Inga gave a teasing laugh.

“David spoke to me about keeping the boys on Friday night while you two go out,” she said. “He wants his tux put in order and his silver cuff links polished. My, my, such a to-do.” Inga’s eyes held a merry sparkle as she asked solemnly, “Will you be needing my help getting ready for the special occasion? Your dating the governor’s counselor will raise a few eyebrows.”

All of a sudden Melissa wondered what she’d let herself in for by agreeing to accompany David to this political affair. She’d be on display as his companion. What in the world had she been thinking of? Maybe she should back out now before she embarrassed them both.

“It’s really not a date,” she corrected the housekeeper.

“Of course not,” Inga agreed much too readily to be sincere. “David explained that you were just helping him out. He’s always getting pressured to take someone—many times a woman he doesn’t know—to these affairs. It’s nice that you’re willing to go along with him.”

Melissa sighed. “I don’t know if he’ll think so when I get all tongue-tied with some of his fancy friends, or say the wrong thing. Reading the society page is as close as I’ve ever gotten to this kind of shindig.”

“David wouldn’t be taking you if he had any doubts about you. Just keep your head high and show them that pretty smile of yours, ya?”

“Ya,” Melissa agreed with a chuckle.

Hans came back with the dog, who was all bathed and clipped. Scruffy still looked like a skinny, long-haired mutt, but the boys thought he was absolutely handsome. Now that Scruffy had had a bath, his coat was more caramel-colored than dirty brown. He couldn’t have been more than two years old, and looked as if he might grow another head taller. His mixed heritage gave him long legs, a stubby body and long ears, but his friendliness made up for his ungainly appearance.

As the boys tumbled in the grass with him, Melissa prayed that a family could be found for the boys that would also include an affectionate young dog. Every time she started to worry about what was going to happen to Richie and Eric if a relative couldn’t be found to take them, she reminded herself, Let go and let God.

Melissa made a quick trip back to her apartment while the boys were down for their naps. She needed other things that she hadn’t brought with her the first time. Certainly, attending a fancy function hadn’t been in her thoughts when she packed her clothes for a few days’ stay at the Ardell home.

With some misgivings, she drew her new summer dress from the closet. Somehow, it didn’t look as chic as Melissa had remembered. At least she had two pieces of her grandmother’s jewelry to wear with the lilac, floor-length dress. The amethyst necklace and earrings were as lovely as any offered in the modern stores. She touched them lovingly and murmured, “Granny, I’m going out on the town.”

Go get ’em, girl.

Melissa could almost hear her beloved grandmother’s voice as clearly as her own breath. Even after her death, the loving woman who had raised her never seemed far away, and her strength of faith and her courage were still guiding forces in Melissa’s life. She knew that her grandmother would approve of the steps she’d taken to find a home for Eric and Richie. And even though her grandmother might not totally approve of David Ardell and his worldly lifestyle, Melissa knew that she would have applauded his willingness to suffer the presence of two playful children and an energetic dog in his home.

“What’s this I hear about you making reservations for two at the fund-raiser?” Stella asked, breezing into David’s office with a smile on her face. “Don’t tell me you broke down and invited some lucky lady to go with you?”

“I don’t know whether lucky is the right word,” David countered, amused at Stella’s open curiosity. “But yes, I’ve invited someone to attend the affair with me,” he admitted, and then purposefully let his eyes drop back to the paper he held in his hand, as if the subject was closed.

“Well, who is she?” Stella demanded, not the least bit put-off by his dismissive manner. “Did you finally ask Senator Wainwright’s daughter? It’s plain to anyone with eyes in his head that Pamela’s been giving you the green light every time you’re in the same room together. She’s the perfect one for—”

“It’s not Pamela Wainwright.” David cut off her monologue of the attractive young woman’s virtues. He was well aware that everyone, including the governor, had decided that Pamela Wainwright would be good for his political future. Her father had been in state politics for years, and Pamela was at ease in the fast-paced climate of elections and candidates. But David had found her company rather tiring and shallow. He’d avoided spending any more time with her than was necessary, and had resisted pressure to make them a twosome.

Stella raised an eyebrow. “Who, then? Do I sense some reluctance in your choice?”

“Not at all.” David met her eyes directly. “I’m very pleased that she has consented to go with me.”

“Well, do I know her?” Impatiently, Stella settled her hands on her hips. “Really, David, I don’t understand what’s going on here. Are you planning on making a grand entrance with some famous supporter on your arm? Is some movie star coming that I don’t know about?” Her eyes sparkled. “That would be just like you—waltzing in with Hollywood’s latest diva.”

David silently groaned. He should have been open about taking Melissa and avoided all this unnecessary speculation. Now he would have to bring Stella up-to-date on the arrangement he’d made to keep two little boys and their temporary nanny.

“Have a seat, Stella,” he said reluctantly. “I have some personal business that I suppose you ought to know about.”

She listened without interruption as he explained how he had become responsible for finding a home for Jolene McCombre’s two children. “The boys are staying at my house in the care of a young woman, Melissa Chanley, while an investigator searches for a relative to take them in. I talked with him this morning. Unfortunately, so far he’s come up empty searching for relatives on the mother’s side, but he is hopeful that something positive will break on the father’s side.”

“And what if it doesn’t?” Stella asked bluntly. “Really, David, I think you’ve let yourself be drawn into a situation that’s exploiting your good intentions. This Melissa Chanley sounds manipulative to me.”

“Really? Well, I guess you’ll have a chance to decide for yourself. She’s the one I’m bringing to the fund-raiser.”

Stella lost her voice for a moment and then sputtered, “You…you have to be kidding. How did this woman manage to get you to agree to such a thing?”

“You wouldn’t believe it if I told you,” David said, laughing.

“Don’t you know how important it is for you to be seen with the right people, David? What is everyone going to think when you walk in with this woman?”

“They’ll probably think that she’s the most poised and beautiful woman in the room. Trust me, Stella, I won’t have to make any apologies for Melissa Chanley, but I’m not sure how the rest of the company will measure up in her eyes.” He frowned. “I don’t think all the superficial folderol will impress her in the least.”

Stella rose. “Let’s just hope she doesn’t make the kind of fool of herself that hits the papers.”

Even though Melissa had covered some of Denver’s social events when she was just out of college with her journalist degree and working briefly for one of the local newspapers, she’d never been a guest at any of the governor’s affairs. Not in her most fanciful dreams had she pictured herself walking into a sparkling banquet hall with an escort as polished and suave as David Ardell.

As Melissa dressed for the important evening, she was filled with misgivings, and her hands trembled as she applied light makeup. What if she made some terrible faux pas? She couldn’t bear to think that she might embarrass David in some way. When she was ready, she was almost afraid to go downstairs.

The boys were in the Erickson’s apartment, playing a game with Hans while Inga was preparing dinner. Inga had promised to get them to bed early, and Melissa hoped they wouldn’t give her a bad time before settling down.

As she walked down the stairs and across the foyer to the front parlor where he was surely waiting, she hoped he wouldn’t be able to tell how rapidly her heart was beating. This was worse than going on a first date, she thought, but she put a smile on her lips and went on.