A Date with Deception Read Free

George?”
    â€œI don’t know,” George said, drying her just-washed hair with a fluffy blue towel. “Sorry, Bess, but Gary’s landing kind of pushed everything else out of my mind.” She gave a little shudder. “I just couldn’t believe it when I saw him climbing out of the plane. Did I tell you that apparently a huge downdraft hit the nose and forced the plane into a dive? Gary could easily have been killed.”
    â€œBut he wasn’t,” Nancy said. “And after that landing, he’s practically a hero.”
    George smiled. “I know. Jetstream’s really proud of him for saving their plane. Gary said he was just glad it wasn’t the new one.”
    â€œWhat new one?” Bess asked, rummaging in a drawer of the wicker chest for a pair of panty hose.
    â€œJetstream’s come up with some special new plane they’re really excited about,” George said. “It’s called the Jetstar. Gary tested it a couple of times, and the engineers and designersare making some changes now. They’re keeping all the plans under tight security because they don’t want the competition to find out about it. It’s supposed to knock everybody’s socks off*.”
    â€œSpeaking of knocking somebody’s socks off,” Bess said, “how will this do?” She held up a gauzy, peach-colored dress and fluffed out the short skirt.
    â€œIt’ll look fabulous,” Nancy told her, buttoning the cuffs on her silky yellow blouse.
    â€œBut will it get a certain dancer’s attention?”
    â€œIt’ll get everybody’s attention,” George said dryly.
    â€œYou know, who I mean,” Bess said.
    Laughing, Nancy tossed a flowered pillow at her friend. “If Sasha Petrov doesn’t notice you tonight, Bess, then he ought to have his beautiful blue eyes examined. I’ll see you two later—I’m going to see if Aunt Eloise needs any help.”
    Nancy hurried downstairs and glanced around the living room with approval before heading for the kitchen. The house was perfect for a large party. The main floor had high ceilings and large rooms that opened into one another and onto wide decks outside.
    By eight o’clock that night, the house was filled with the sound of music, the good smells of food, and the chatter and laughter of at least fifty people.
    â€œKeep me away from the buffet table,” Bessgroaned, eyeing the enormous platters of cold shrimp, bowls of pasta salad, and crusty loaves of French bread. “I can feel myself gaining weight just looking at it.”
    â€œI can hear my stomach growling just looking at it,” Nancy said. She picked up two plates and handed one to Bess. “Come on, Bess, you’re the only one in the world who thinks you need to lose five pounds.”
    â€œWell, all right.” Bess took the plate and sighed. “I wouldn’t be able to hold out, anyway. I can always swim it off.”
    â€œThat’ll be the day!” Shaking her head in amusement, Nancy reached for the bread. Another hand got there first, though, and glancing up, Nancy saw Sasha Petrov smiling at her.
    â€œNancy.” He was dressed casually, in pleated cotton slacks and a loose blue polo shirt that matched the color of his eyes. “When I heard this reception was being held at your aunt’s house, I couldn’t wait to get here.”
    Nancy decided to deliberately misunderstand him. “I don’t blame you,” she said. “The food looks great, doesn’t it?”
    â€œGreat, yes,” he agreed, still looking at her. “But the company is even better.”
    Suddenly Nancy saw Bess watching them, an I-told-you-so expression on her face. “Sasha,” she said quickly, “you remember my friend Bess Marvin, don’t you?”
    Giving Nancy a look that told her he knewshe was up to something, Sasha turned to Bess. “Of course I remember. You