It’d taken a while to extricate herself from Mrs. Darius and her grandson, but not that long. His careful language and easy blush had spoken of a girlfriend he obviously hadn’t told his grandparents about—a bummer since she really could use another client. Someone in a glittering green dress pulled a cell phone from her bra and snapped a picture. Brooke took a step forward, then paused. Antonio would freak if she ended up in the papers so soon after their conversation. A picture of her talking to the mayor at the gala was explainable, but not this. Another camera flashed. Brooke lurched toward Luke. “You’re crazy,” Nathan yelled at Luke. Candi helped him to his feet. A waitress hurried forward and handed him a stack of cocktail napkins for his nose. “What were you thinking?” Brooke hissed at Luke. “What happened?” A few more people took out their phones. The reporters, clearly differentiated by the press passes on lanyards around their necks, were converging on the scene.
