After showing Liz his favorite shops, Parker pulled up to the gates of Mimi von Fallschirm’s Aspen home. As the car rolled along the long stone driveway, Liz realized there wasn’t even a hint of snow on the pavement.
“Are they so special they have their own weather?” Liz joked.
Parker laughed. “Mimi would like to think so. But no, it’s just a heated driveway. Makes sense up here.” They pulled up in front of the door, and a valet took the keys and drove the car away.
“The house is ridiculous,” Parker said, shaking his head. “It’s so over-the-top.” He rang the bell, and a servant opened the door.
Liz’s jaw dropped as they stepped inside.
The entry hall was part baronial manor, part Adirondack lodge, with tapestries hanging from the walls, and suits of armor standing sentry every few feet. Two stuffed polar bears reared in the corners, and an enormous chandelier made of hundreds of antlers hung from the ceiling. Animal heads glared down from perches high above them.
Mimi sashayed up to them, her fur-trimmed dress fitted close to her slim body, a Cosmo in her hand. Suddenly Liz felt underdressed.
“Hello, Parker,” she said. She kissed him on both cheeks, and tossed her long black hair over her shoulder. “Who’s your—” She cut herself off when she recognized Liz. “Well, Liz! Welcome to Aspen! I didn’t know your family had a house here!”
“They don’t,” Liz said. “I’m staying with—”
“Friends of my parents,” Parker interjected.
“Oh, really?” Mimi said. “Interesting. I had no idea Liz had become so close to your family.”
Liz looked at Parker. It was nice of him to jump in for me, she thought, but why did he need to lie to Mimi? She knows I’m a nanny. Is he ashamed that I’m here working? For the first time that day, she felt out of place.
“Come,” Mimi ordered. “This way.”
Liz and Parker stepped through an enormous archway and down into the huge living room. It was filled with dark oil portraits in gilded frames, and heavy, oversized furniture. There was a DJ at one end of the room, where the carpet had been rolled up and kids were dancing. Waiters in red jackets served drinks from silver trays.
“Your house is amazing,” Liz said, looking out the windows at the moonlight on the snow.
Mimi shrugged. “You should see the place in Vienna,” she replied.
Liz spotted several girls and their dates from Cameron’s tea party. The stoned brunette from the movie premiere—Cynthia—was also there, tottering on glittering heels and laughing loudly. It looked as if the party had been going on for some time already.
Parker’s cell beeped. He pulled it from his pocket and glanced at the screen. “Oops, gotta take this,” he said. He pecked Liz on the cheek and wandered away, a hand over his ear to drown out the party sounds.
Liz watched Parker weave his way through the dancing kids and out of the room, wondering what could be so important that he had to go have a private conversation.
She decided to shrug it off and turned to Mimi. “So, Mimi—”
“Excuse me,” Mimi said, moving away from Liz as if she didn’t want to be seen with her.
Whoa, Liz thought, as Mimi joined two tall guys doing tequila shots. Being a princess sure doesn’t mean you have any manners.
Maybe a drink will help. Liz grabbed a glass of champagne off the tray of a passing waiter. Sipping the crisp, bubbling drink, she made her way through the room, hoping to find a familiar, or at least friendly, face.
She leaned against the wall and scanned the crowd. She spotted two P-B girls dancing together, their heads thrown back, their arms up in the air. A few guys bobbed around them.
The dark-haired girl in the micro-mini is Leigh Penbroke, Liz thought. She’s in my English class. The redhead in the suede is… Liz shook her head. She couldn’t remember the other girl’s name. She decided to go talk to them anyway. Better risk getting the girl’s name wrong than look like a total loser hanging by the wall.
Liz downed her champagne and then picked up another glass on her way over to the P-B girls. As she wiggled her way through the dancers, she was relieved to see that many of the girls were dressed as casually as she was. She sidled up to Leigh and the other P-B girl and began moving in time to the techno drumbeat.
“Leigh!” Liz called over the music.
Leigh’s forehead wrinkled as she focused on Liz. “I know you,” she said. “You’re someone I know.”
“Liz Braun,” Liz said. “From Pheasant-Berkeley.”
“Right!” Leigh said. “From there.”
She’s totally wasted, Liz realized.
“Miranda,” Leigh said to the other girl. “This is Liz. From school.”
“I know,” Miranda said. “I’m standing right here.”
“I didn’t know you were a Mimi-ite,” Leigh said.
“She’s going to be Deb of the Year, you know,” Miranda said.
“Which is going to kill Cameron!” Leigh said, giggling.
The music changed to a slow song, and Leigh slung her arm across Liz’s shoulders. Liz tried to shrug the girl off, but it didn’t work. Where is Parker?
“We’re not debs,” she said in a loud stage whisper.
“But we’re SO rich!” Miranda said, laughing hysterically.
“That’s why Mimi likes us,” Leigh said.
“Why does Mimi like you?” Miranda asked.
The two girls stared at her expectantly. Great. She doubted Mimi liked her—or even thought much about her—at all.
“I’m here with Parker Devlin,” Liz said. Well, that was true, and it made her feel like at least she’d been invited.
Leigh’s eyes widened. “Ohmigod,” she said. “Are you—?” She turned and whispered something to Miranda, who giggled.
“Am I what?” Liz demanded.
“Nothing,” Leigh said. “It’s just, well, we heard that Parker was sometimes hooking up with someone who, well, someone not in his usual crowd.”
There’s been gossip about me? Liz thought. Then she realized: Of course there is.
“Where is Parker?” Miranda asked.
“He went to take a phone call,” Liz said.
“Well, send him our way,” Leigh said with a giggle. “We can always count on him for a good time.”
“Ooh, I love this song!” Miranda squealed. She grabbed Leigh’s hands and pulled her into a dance groove.
Liz scanned the room and didn’t see anyone she felt comfortable approaching. What is making Parker take so long? She decided to go look for him.
She ducked into the long hallway Parker had disappeared into. Thick carpeting silenced her footsteps, and she startled a couple making out on a love seat as she passed. More stuffed animal heads stared down at her accusingly. “Hey, don’t blame me—I’m practically a vegetarian,” she told them.
A loud burst of male laughter floated down the hall. Curious, Liz peered through an archway. Parker sat perched on the back of a leather sofa, talking to a group of guys playing pool. Tables set up with chessboards, checker boards, and cards were scattered throughout the dark room.
“Liz! Come on in,” Parker said when he glanced over at the doorway.
Liz stepped into the room. Was he just hanging out in here the whole time? “I was wondering what happened to you,” she said.
“Oh, yeah, sorry.” He reached out for her and wrapped his arms around her waist. The other guys grinned broadly.
Liz held herself slightly away from Parker. She was miffed that he had just abandoned her like that.
Parker didn’t seem to notice. He nuzzled her neck, and then took a swig of beer.
“So, I’m Liz,” she said to the guys at the pool table, irritated that Parker hadn’t bothered to introduce her.
“Oh, sorry,” Parker said. “Liz, these are some seriously shady characters, and I advise you to stay clear of them all.”
The guys laughed. The tall guy with shaggy blond hair holding a pool cue nodded. “He’s
right, Liz. We’re a bunch of desperados.”
“Oh, I don’t know,” Liz joked, determined not to allow her feelings to show. “I’ve seen worse.”
The blond grinned. “I’m Kyle, that’s Jono, and the guy losing the big bucks because he’s such a bad player is the always miserable Winston.”
“We haven’t seen one another since the last time we were in Aspen,” Parker explained. “We were just reminiscing about our wayward youth.” He looked at Liz and smiled.
His eyes had a funny shine to them. He’s stoned, Liz realized. That’s probably why he got so easily distracted.
Liz was bugged that he had gone off and gotten high, but it at least explained why he had just vanished. She didn’t get high herself, and Parker knew that. Well, maybe he’ll still redeem himself.
As if he could read her mind, he gave her a gentle squeeze. “Sorry I left you alone out there. Was it brutal?”
“Brutally boring,” Liz said, deciding to let it slide.
“Hey, Liz,” Kyle said. “Wanna hit a few?” He held out the pool cue.
Parker took Liz’s hand. “Liz came to a party, not to watch you three losers make fools of yourselves at the table. Besides, she doesn’t want to hear our old stories.”
“Or maybe you don’t want her to hear them,” Winston teased. He waggled his reddish eyebrows at Liz. “The things this guy gets up to.”
Liz laughed. “Don’t I know it.”
Parker kissed Liz. “And she still wants me!”
Liz felt as if she had played the game right: She didn’t get all prissy and huffy, she didn’t let them intimidate her by making her feel excluded, and best of all, Parker was leading her back to the party room.
Parker guided her smoothly onto the dance floor. They began to move in synch, and Liz realized he was a really good, sexy dancer. Moving very close to her but never touching her, Parker seemed to anticipate her every shimmer and step. He put his hands on her hips and pulled her into him, continuing to move to the beat.
“You’re a really hot dancer,” he whispered.
“You too,” Liz said. She flushed with pleasure. She didn’t want the music to stop. But she also didn’t want to wind up making out with Parker on the dance floor with everyone watching! She pulled herself away.
Parker looked down at her and grinned. “Getting a little too heavy?” he asked. He grabbed her hand and twirled her, then started dancing in an insane, overdramatic way. Liz burst out laughing.
“You mock me?” Parker demanded. He twirled around and then acted as if he were dizzy. He fell onto Liz, who was laughing so hard, she could barely hold him up.
“I think we need to take a break,” Liz said, gasping.
“Your wish is my command.” Parker said.
Liz and Parker found the bar again. “Water, my good man. Straight up!” Parker ordered from the bartender.
“I think I’ll have mine on the rocks,” Liz said.
She settled onto a bar stool and surveyed the room again. Parker became startled beside her. “Huh,” he said.
“What is it?” Liz asked. She peered at the crowd, wondering what he was reacting to.
Isabelle had just arrived.
“Is there a problem?” Liz asked, her body tense.
“What? No, I’m just surprised to see Isabelle here. I thought she was arriving next week.”
His cell phone beeped. Parker glanced at it, then gave Liz a sheepish smile. “I know. I know. But this one is important.” He walked back out into the hall.
Well, at least I know it’s not Isabelle calling this time, Liz thought as she watched Mimi greet Isabelle. The girls glanced over at Liz and started whispering.
Oh, great, Liz thought. Way to be subtle, girls.
Suddenly, Liz didn’t feel like being at the party anymore. She was tired of the mysterious phone calls, didn’t want to be left stranded again by Parker, and didn’t want to have to deal with Isabelle and Mimi.
Please come back now, Parker, Liz pleaded silently. And get me out of here.
“Sorry about that,” Parker said, coming up behind her.
“You sure get a lot of phone calls,” Liz commented. She sounded more whiney than she had wanted.
Parker ran a hand through his dark hair. “Well, yeah,” he admitted. “It’s catching up with everyone. We only see one another a few times a year.”
“That’s cool,” Liz said, sliding off the bar stool. “Listen, it’s been great, but I have a really early day tomorrow, so I should go.”
“You do?” he said.
“I do,” she said, hoping they could take a long, romantic drive home.
“That’s too bad,” Mimi said, appearing suddenly. “Don’t worry about calling a cab, Liz. I have a car and driver to take people home if they can’t drive.”
“I didn’t drive over,” Liz explained. “I came with—”
“Why don’t you take the car, Liz,” Parker interrupted. He waved at a bunch of kids who had just entered the party. “I should stick around and say hi to a few more people. And, like you said, you have to get up early.”
“Please,” Mimi said. “I’m happy to have you driven home.”
I bet you are, Liz thought, noticing Isabelle hovering in the arched bay window.
One of the newcomers to the party came up to Parker and clapped him on the shoulder. “Devlin the Devil!” the guy greeted him. “I thought you’d be here!”
“Walton!” Parker gave the guy an intricate handshake. “Are the rest of the team in town yet?”
Liz stood there as Parker and Walton compared notes on who was in Aspen and who wasn’t. She was acutely aware of Mimi waiting. Isabelle had now moved to the outskirts of the new group of kids, chatting them up. Homing in on Parker, no doubt, Liz thought.
“So, I’ll ring the driver?” Mimi asked, though Liz knew it wasn’t really a question.
“Well, okay,” Liz said. “I guess it makes the most sense.” She didn’t want to make a scene in front of Mimi.
Parker finally pulled his attention from Walton. “Sorry, Liz, but I gotta catch up with the crew! And I don’t want you to get in trouble with the doc.”
Liz forced a smile onto her face. “Of course.”
Hiding her disappointment, Liz left. She stepped into the black car, which bore on its doors the painted crest of Prince Von Fallschirm.
What a royal pain, Liz thought.
And then the tears came.
CHAPTER FIFTEEN
Grumpus calls
The caffeine in Liz’s morning coffee was not doing its job. Not after her night of tossing and turning. One question just kept going around and around in her head: What is going on between Parker and Isabelle?
Why did he want Liz to go home without him? So that he could stay at the party and, what—flirt with Isabelle? Or maybe do more than flirt?
“Grumpus wants to go ice skating!” David shouted, interrupting Liz’s gloomy inner monologue.
“Me too!” Heather exclaimed.
“Okay, okay,” Liz said. It will be a lot easier than skiing, she figured. “Go get your skates, and I’ll let your mom know where we’re going.”
“Yay!” David cheered.
Liz poured herself another cup of coffee as the kids went to get their skates. Her cell rang, and Liz looked at the number on the caller ID.
It was Parker.
Liz was about to let the call go to voice mail, when her curiosity about what Parker might have to say got the better of her. Did he even know he had been a complete and total jerk?
“Hello?” she answered.
“I’m so sorry,” Parker said.
Just hearing his voice, Liz felt herself go soft. At least he knows he’s in trouble. Then she shook her head. Stay strong. Don’t let him get away with treating you like crap.
“I was a jackass at the party,” he continued. “I went to take a phone call, and I got a little stoned, and I guess it made me really inconsiderate.”
“Well, yeah…” Li
z said. She shut her eyes, wishing she could be more confrontational. What is it about him that gets to me so totally?
“I know, I know. I don’t blame you for being furious,” Parker went on. “I mean, I’d hate it if you brought me to a party where I hardly knew anyone and then you got all caught up in talking to other people.”
“I wouldn’t do that, Parker,” Liz said. There. That was sticking up for herself.
“That’s because you’re an unbelievably fantastic human being, and I’m just pond scum,” Parker said. “Well, all the ponds are frozen over right now, so I guess maybe I’m more like snow slush. Oh—and did I say that you are not just an angel, a saint, and a delight, you’re a hot dancer and very, very forgiving?”
Liz smiled, and then forced herself to not give in to Parker’s charm so fast. The only way to not melt completely would be to hang up. “Look, Parker, I have to go,” she said.
“Liz, wait!” Parker said. “I need to see you.”
“I can’t, Parker. I’m taking the kids skating. Bye.”
Liz hung up, and quickly dialed Adrienne.
“Is it good news or bad news?” Adrienne asked when she answered.
“Both,” Liz said.
“Explain,” Adrienne ordered.
Liz quickly filled in Adrienne on the details. “So some of the time he is totally great and makes me feel like I’m the most special person on Earth. And then he gets completely distracted by his crowd, ignores me and, worse, may have something going with Isabelle. And yet he called me and apologized.” Liz sighed. “So do I forgive him? Or do I dump him?”
“Is that what you want to do?” Adrienne asked. “End it completely?”
“No,” she said in a small voice. “But I can’t stand this hot-and-cold treatment.”
“I know,” Adrienne said sympathetically. “It’s really confusing.”
“So what do you think?” Liz asked.
Adrienne paused as if she was thinking it over. “It’s hard to say,” she said finally. “Like you said, sometimes he’s so great to you. But, Liz is sometimes enough?”
Liz squeezed her eyes shut, and her throat felt tight. “I don’t know,” she said, her voice quavering as if she was about to cry. “When it’s good, it’s”—Liz searched for the right word to describe the incredible times she’d had with Parker—“it’s almost unreal. Like a fairy-tale dream come true.”
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