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open mind about these things, don't you think?"
"I think this is getting a little out of hand," Nick said.
"No, Nicholas. It's all right. I'd like a job." She smiled at Ferrington again, and Nick's stomach
dropped to his knees.
As Ferrington started to describe to Maggie the thrills and chills she'd experience as a spokes-model,
Nick glared at Hoop, trying to telegraph both confusion and annoyance. The whole idea was to secretly
install a spy at Vision. Preferably a girl with some sort of investigative background. Not a nymphette like
Maggie, who occasionally showed up naked on doorsteps. And certainly not a girl who might as well be
wearing an I-Know-the-Attorney-for-Palmer-Enterprises T-shirt.
Well, if Nick hadn't already decided that trying to get Maggie in as their Girl Friday was the stupidest
idea since New Coke, this little stunt would have sealed the decision.
Hoop just shrugged and glanced toward where Ferrington was fawning over Maggie, apparently
unconcerned with Nick's irritation.
He ran a hand through his hair. So much for his hope that the birthday surprises had drawn to a close.
He sighed. Well, at least the evening couldn't get any more bizarre and complicated.
When the door to the ladies' room swung open and Angela sashayed in, Nick realized just how wrong
he was. She turned slowly, her eyes seeking him out. "There you are, darling."
His first instinct was to bolt, but he managed to stay rooted firmly in place by reminding himself that
running would only make him look guilty. Guilty? Guilty of what? Automatically, his eyes found Maggie.
Oh, yeah.
Angela glanced pointedly at Ferrington, then back to Nick. "Unusual place for a business meeting.
Anyone mind if I join in?"
"It's not a meeting, Angie. I'm just having a little one-on-one with my sister."
Angela looked with disinterest at Deena and Maggie, then aimed her million-megawatt smile directly at
Ferrington, managing not to let any of its shine bounce off Hoop. "My Nickie hates to admit that he mixes
business with pleasure." She leaned closer and lowered her voice. "But the fact is, he's ever so good at
both."
Ferrington took a half-step backward. "I'm sure that's true, Ms. Palmer. But so far he has nothing to
admit. I think I'm the only one sneaking a little business in. I was about to suggest that Ms. Goodman's
friend audition for a job on my show."
Like a hawk suddenly realizing it was hovering over a field mouse, Angela turned her focus to Maggie.
One ring-laden hand extended toward the girl, and Nick was struck by the dichotomy between these two
women who, for the moment at least, played a huge role in his life.
"We haven't met," Angie crooned, as Maggie tentatively grasped her hand. "You are . . . ?"
"Maggie," she said, her voice stronger than Nick expected. "I'm Maggie."
"And I'm Angela."
"I know. You're the bi "
"Birthday boy's fiancee," Deena rushed to put in.
Nick turned to his sister, and she gave him a sheepish grin. He stifled a chuckle.
"Right," said Maggie. She looked toward Nick and rewarded him with a self-satisfied smile.
"And you're a friend of Deena's? How sweet."
"We just met."
"Oh." Her social chit-chat going awry, Angela deflated a bit. "I thought he said . . ." She trailed off,
looking to Ferrington for help.
Time for a rescue. "Mr. Ferrington's mistake was quite natural," Nick said with a glance toward Hoop.
"I imagine Mr. Hooper may have overstated the situation."
Hoop shrugged and hoisted himself up on the antique vanity near the door. "Just calling 'em how I see
'em." He leaned against the wallpaper, his arms crossed over his chest.
"Well, then, whose friend are you?" Angela demanded.
Maggie's gaze darted to Nick, then back to Angela.
Ferrington stepped up to the plate. "Forgive me if I intruded in a private matter." He took Maggie's
hand. "When you're finished here, find me if you're interested." He kissed the back of her hand and
headed for the door, stopping short of the threshold. He turned back. "I am curious about one thing.
Have you ever been in front of a camera?"
"A camera?" She nibbled on her lip. "Oh! Yes. I think so. Yes."
Ferrington looked to Nick, pushing his glasses up on his nose. "I knew it. The camera would have to
love her." He pulled open the door. "The audition's yours if you want it."
The door swung shut, and Angela turned on him, her eyes flashing and color rising in her cheeks.
"What the hell were you thinking?"
"Me?"
"You embarrassed him. No wonder he left. Really, Nick. What happened to your finesse?"
He kept his mouth shut. No sense telling Angela that he had a hard enough time maintaining self-control
around Maggie. Actually finessing a meeting was way out of the question.
Hoop jumped off the vanity and strode to the middle of the room. "I can't believe I'm saying it, but for
once I'm gonna side with the Ice . . ." He swallowed. "With Angela." He plopped down on the arm of
Maggie's chair. "I mean, he's the one coming after Mags, here. He's doing all the hard work for us."
"She can't work for him."
Angela put her hands on her hips. "Why not?"
"Because we just had this cozy little tete-a-tete." He turned to Hoop. "Not that I wanted to use Maggie
as our girl in the first place, but what were you thinking? Even if he was to hire her, it wouldn't do us a
damn bit of good."
"What was I doing?" Hoop repeated. "Cleaning up her mess, that's what I was doing." His finger
pointed accusingly toward Angela.
"Me?"
"Yes, you. You want to acquire Vision for Daddy? I suggest you leave the maneuvering to the
professionals."
Angela turned to Nick, her mouth set. "Would you like to tell me what he's talking about?"
His answer to that would be no, because Nick was just as clueless as Angela. He turned to Hoop,
hands out to his sides, silently begging an explanation.
"Just hiding out in the open," Hoop explained, a bored expression on his face.
Angela's brow arched toward the ceiling.
Hoop sighed, shifting on the armrest. "Miss Priss here gets all gung-ho and invites Ferrington, right?
Okay, that's cool. Except my number-one draft pick's also at the party. And my buddy Nick's talking
and dancing with her, and Ferrington's watching the whole thing and practically drooling."
Nick nodded, following Hoop's reasoning.
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