Hannah's List (Blossom Street #7)(88)

She nodded. "We're supposed to be done by five, but there are no guarantees."

I mulled it over, then gave her a reassuring smile. "We'll make it work."

"How?"

"I'll go on to the dinner ahead of you, and you can join me once you're done, no matter how late it is." This was a sensible compromise. I'd rather have Macy with me when I arrived, but that couldn't be helped. And afterward, I'd bring her back to my house--Hannah's house--for the first time. Because soon, I hoped, it would be Macy's, too.

"You don't mind?" she breathed.

"It'll be fine." Seeing the relief on her face was all the reward I needed. Although I wouldn't object if she wanted to express her gratitude in other ways...

As if reading my thoughts, Macy threw her arms around me and brought her mouth to mine. I pulled her into my lap and kissed her repeatedly, unzipping the back of her dress. While my hands explored her slim body, she smiled and spread happy kisses over my face. I could see that my life with Macy was going to be a wild ride--one I was eager to experience.

Friday night, I arrived at the hotel as scheduled and made excuses for Macy. All during the cocktail hour, I watched and waited expectantly. Obviously, the TV shoot had gone on much longer than planned. I could only imagine how nerve-racking this must be for her.

She still hadn't appeared when the ballroom doors were opened, but I wasn't too concerned, even though the crowd had begun to file in.

"You sure she's coming?" Ritchie muttered, following me into the ballroom. This was a question he'd asked more than once.

"She'll be here," I said confidently as we wove between tables looking for our assigned seating. The room was filling up quickly.

Because I'd been nominated for this award, my table was close to the front of the massive ballroom. I'd told Macy that the table number was listed on the dinner ticket and hoped she'd notice it.

"Is she perpetually late?" Ritchie asked as we found our place.

"She has a part in a commercial," I said. I'd explained as much several times.

We sat down with one empty space next to me. The salads were already on the table and the noise of clanking silverware and conversation rose to the vaulted ceiling. I'd selected my seat so I had a view of the door. I wanted to see Macy as soon as she came in.

The poached salmon with wild rice and asparagus was brought out by an army of servers in white jackets. As they moved smoothly about the ballroom, I became aware of a commotion in the back. The noise level instantly fell as half the room turned to find out what had caused the ruckus.

I swallowed tightly, instinctively knowing this involved Macy.

"If you'll excuse me a moment?" I said to my friends. I set my linen napkin beside my plate and stood.

Sure enough, it was Macy. She stood at the entrance to the ballroom, arguing with one of the security guards. I blinked when I saw her. The dress she'd previewed for me the night before was nowhere in sight. Instead, she had on a housedress that resembled something my grandmother might have worn. She clutched a large purse to her chest as though it held every valuable she possessed.

"Macy," I said. "Is there a problem?" I directed the question to the guard.

"Michael! Oh, thank goodness you're here. Would you kindly inform this...this man," she said in righteous tones, "that I am not a street person trying to crash this dinner and that I'm your invited guest?"

The man employed by the hotel regarded me skeptically. "Is she with you?"

"She is." I placed my arm protectively around Macy's shoulders. "Do you have your dinner ticket?"

"I...I couldn't find it." She draped the oversize purse over her arm and let it dangle.

"Not to worry," I said, frowning at the security guard. "If need be, I'll purchase another."

"That won't be necessary," he said and walked off.

Seeing how upset Macy was and because the two of us had become the focus of attention--I gently eased her into the lobby and away from the ballroom.

"Oh, Michael, I'm so sorry."

"What happened?" I asked as I hugged her close.

She trembled in my arms. "The taping went much later than I expected," she whispered.

That much I'd figured out.

"I guess you didn't have time to change clothes." She must've been wearing what she'd had on for the commercial shoot.

Macy nodded, her face against my shoulder. "I didn't know I was doing two scenes. The first was the modernday grocery store and the second was from the 1960s. If I'd gone home and changed, I would've missed the dinner entirely."

"It's all right."

"No, it isn't," she said, sounding close to tears. "All I've done is embarrass you. I can't stay."

"Of course you can. I want you to meet my friends. I'm not embarrassed--I'm proud of you."

She shook her head. "I can't...I'm sorry. I've ruined everything."

Clasping her shoulders, I held her back from me and looked down into her face. "Don't be silly," I said, reaching for her hands. "Come inside with me and have some dinner. You'll feel better once you do."

"I can't.... I shouldn't have come, but I couldn't let you down...I just couldn't." She buried her face in her hands, and, seeing how distraught she was, I realized it would be even more upsetting for her to walk through the ballroom in full view of everyone.