Del searched the ballroom for Cassandra. It had taken longer than he hoped with Mrs. VanBuren. But she’d wanted to talk to him about having her daughter’s wedding at the hotel. Not something he normally dealt with personally, but Evelyn was busy and the hotel’s wedding planner wasn’t here tonight. Not to mention Mrs. VanBuren had given a sizable donation to the history museum tonight.
He’d felt it was his responsibility to at least show her around and talk to her, and wow, could the woman talk. He finally gave her the wedding planner’s business card and excused himself. But it had taken way more time than he’d wanted. Now all he wanted was to find Cassandra and go somewhere quiet. Away from the crowds. Steal a kiss or two. A smile slipped across his lips at the thought.
He spied Ted and Patricia across the room and headed that way, stopping too many times to smile and say hello to people. He finally reached the other side of the room.
“Ted, I’m looking for Cassandra. Have you seen her?”
“She wasn’t feeling well and headed up to her room. I think she looked a bit pale.” Ted’s forehead creased. “And she said she was tired.”
“We’ve had some late nights. I guess they finally caught up with her.” Regret swept through him, but he did his best to hide his disappointment. He’d hoped to have a few quiet moments with her as the event wound down. Maybe a nightcap on the porch. But they had been keeping late hours. Not surprising that she’d be tired.
Camille came walking up to them, clinging to a man’s arm. At closer inspection, he saw it was Charlie, Donna’s ex-husband. Well, that was a change from the senator or the CEO of the bank.
“Camille.” He nodded, wondering why she kept showing up here at the hotel. Was there no other place in Florida for her to hang out? “And Charlie, right?”
“Yes, that’s Charlie.” Patricia frowned at the couple. “What are you doing here?”
“Got as much right to be here as you and your—” Charlie grinned a menacing grin. “What do we call old Ted here, anyway? Your boyfriend? Ex-lover?”
“I think that’s quite enough.” Ted’s voice was stern, cold, and brittle as ice.
“Ah, don’t mind me. Patricia and I go way back. Though, I guess you go way back with Ted here, too.” Charlie winked.
Delbert looked from Charlie to Camille. Looks like two troublemakers had found each other. Just great.
“I saw Cassandra tonight.” Camille interrupted the exchange between Charlie and Patricia, flashing a smile that showed her perfect white teeth and flipping her curls behind her shoulder. “She looked lovely. She said she’d come here with you? So you two are dating?”
He didn’t really want to answer her. He just dipped his chin briefly.
“Good luck with that,” Cassandra said, eyeing him closely, a small smile on her lips.
He frowned. What did she mean by that?
“Though she doesn’t live here, so I assume not much will come of it.” Camille turned to Charlie. “I see the senator over across the room. Do you mind if we go over and say hi to him?”
Ah, now there was the Camille he knew. Always searching for someone better or more important to talk to.
“Of course we can, darlin’.” Charlie turned to Ted and Patricia. “Great to see you again, Patty.”
Patricia’s mouth dropped open, but she quickly recovered her poise and nodded aloofly at him.
Camille and Charlie headed across the floor.
“I just detest that man,” Patricia drilled out the words as she watched Charlie leave.
“Don’t let him upset you.” Ted put his arm around Patricia’s shoulder.
“He always was one to cause trouble. I wish he’d decide it was time to leave town.” She shrugged. “He rarely stays this long, and I’m sure once he leaves it will be years before we see him again. Good riddance.”
“Well, I should go mingle some more. Make the rounds,” Del said as he watched the crowd swallow Charlie and Camille. He kind of felt like Patricia. Good riddance. “You two have a good evening.”
He headed out into the crowd, but in the opposite direction of Charlie and Camille. Smiling and making small talk to the guests no longer had much appeal. Maybe he’d sneak off and head to his suite. The night sure hadn’t ended like he’d hoped it would. He’d really wanted to have some time alone with Cassandra. He would call her first thing tomorrow and check on her. And he made himself a promise not to keep her out so late night after night.