Skinny Dipping (The Au Pairs 2)

beats a VIP table

ONCE THE SHOW WAS OVER AND REINALDO HAD TAKEN his bows, there was a stampede toward the reception on the grounds of the country club. Garrett had arrived just as the show ended and given Megan a once-over before completely dismissing her from his attention. Mara gave Megan her goody bag to hold so she could say hello to her friends.

Once the real celebrities had departed and Garrett appeared at her side, the paparazzi finally noticed her. Mara saw that Megan seemed to be feeling awkward, but Mara had to say hello to so many people--gossip columnists, magazine editors, the various publicity handlers whose clients' designs Mara had worn at some point during the summer.

"Dollink!" Mara screeched, saying hello to a slightly overweight girl in a tight Liberty print. She had finally figured out what Mitzi was saying to her all the time--"darling," in an affected British accent. Not that it had stopped her from copying it. "You look fabulous!" Mara said.

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When the girl turned away, however, she whispered to Garrett, Megan, and anyone else who was in earshot, "If you call wearing a tablecloth fabulous!"

Garrett laughed, and the Perry twins sauntered over to join the fun.

"Oh, wow," Sugar said, when she saw Megan's outfit. "I loved that dress."

"Really?" Megan asked. "Thanks."

"Yeah, last season," Sugar snickered. "I gave mine away to Goodwill."

Mara pretended not to hear that. She had told Megan to borrow something from her closet, and this was exactly why.

Megan excused herself to check out the buffet, giving Mara a hurt look. Mara shared a cigarette with Sugar.

"God, who can eat at a place like this?" Sugar asked.

Mara shrugged. "Should we go to Dragonbar now?" she asked, referring to the real

after-party that only a select few had been invited to, including the three of them.

Several of Sugar and Poppy's friends, including an heiress to a large pharmaceutical fortune, joined their circle. "Hey, Plum, isn't that your sister?" she asked, pointing to Megan, who was having trouble juggling two cocktail-sized plates filled with stuffed mushrooms and crab legs.

"Um, uh, well... not exactly," Mara replied, feeling uncomfortable.

Megan didn't hear what she said, but someone else did. Mara looked up to see Ryan Perry staring at her, shaking his head.

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"Hi, Ryan," she said, blowing smoke in his face.

"I never would have believed it," he said.

"Excuse me?"

"You've become one of. . . them? he said, motioning to the crowd. "My sisters are bad enough, but you ... I always thought you were different."

"What do you mean by that?" Mara asked, but Ryan had already turned and was walking away.

Mara looked around, hoping someone else had heard their conversation and could confirm how totally out of line Ryan was, but there was no one near her, save for a waiter who didn't look exactly pleased to be there. She went back to sit next to Garrett and watched Ryan say hi to Eliza. Megan caught up with her, still holding a plateful of appetizers.

"Mar, I'm exhausted. I think I'm going to go home early," Megan said, looking deflated. "And I think I'll just take the earliest bus back to Sturbridge tomorrow."

Mara was still distracted by Ryan's words "You're just like them." Like who? Megan was talking, but Mara wasn't listening. "Um, okay, sure," she nodded, distracted.

"Mara, didn't you hear me? I'm going," Megan said.

But Mara only reached into her purse and handed Megan the keys. "The top lock sticks a bit--you have to turn it twice," she said.

Megan nodded, swallowing. "Well. Okay. I guess I'll see you when you get home at the end of the summer then," she said.