Together Again(40)
“You’re blushing worse than I’ve ever seen. There’s something going on.” Kiki walked out the door, saying, “I’ll find out. You know I have ways.”
Margo went back to the pile on her desk. Buried in her caseload, she forgot about Kiki’s curiosity so when the younger woman walked into her office several hours later with a latte in her hand, Margo didn’t think anything of it. She should have known better. Kiki didn’t get lattes for anyone unless she thought there was a payoff, usually in the form of information.
Kiki put the cup down in front of Margo. “Here’s what I found out: off and on during the week in Philly you were seen with a drop-dead gorgeous guy. He’s about six feet tall, has the sexiest brown eyes on the Eastern seaboard and a body to die for. He’s a police detective. You graduated from high school with him. You looked especially cozy in the bar at your hotel after the big dinner and the next night, too. I’m guessing he’s who put that look on your face.” She cocked her head and smirked.
“For God’s sake, Kiki, who’ve you been talking to? I was at a conference, not having a wild week. The guy I was with was my co-presenter. We were planning our presentation and enjoying our success.” Margo pushed the cup back toward Kiki. “Here, give this to someone else. No latte is worth this cross-examination.”
“Keep it. I know I’m right. You’re blushing again. I always protect my sources but I will say, my source says Danny was pretty envious of you and Greer thought … ”
“Danny Hartmann told you? And Greer’s talking? Jesus.”
“No, I didn’t hear it from Danny. She just mentioned something about it to someone at the Justice Center who told someone over here who told me. And you know Greer. She always talks about the good-looking men she meets. If he made it onto her radar, he must be a stunner. When will he be here so we can meet him?”
“Never, if I can help it. It’s my private life. Leave it.”
With a parting smirk, Kiki opened the door only to bang into Jeff Wyatt, the Multnomah County District Attorney, her boss, as well as everyone else’s. She apologized and scampered back to her desk.
“What was all that about?” Jeff asked. He scrutinized Margo’s face. “Whatever it was, you’re blushing.”
“Just Kiki’s usual gossip-mongering. I swear, she could work on one of those TV entertainment shows, she’s that good.”
“I’m just grateful she’s on my side. It’d scare the devil out of me if she was on the wrong side of the law.”
“Point well taken. You have something for me, boss?”
“Eventually, but first I wanted to thank you for standing in for me at the conference. I heard great things about your presentation. It was the hit of the day, a colleague from Seattle said.”
“Really? I thought we did better than just hit of the day.”
“Okay, maybe he did say it was one of the best presentations he heard. Actually, he asked if you’d repeat it at the West Coast DA’s meeting next year.”
“Happy to. Just me or does this get my co-presenter a free ticket to the West Coast?”
“I hear you know the guy you presented with.”
“We grew up together. Been friends for years.”