I walked with them, still puzzling about Cordelia’s toast.

“So you must have a lover, with dozens more waiting in the wings,” said the elegant lady as she fell into step with me.

“Me?”

“No?”

“No,” I answered.

“How do you feel about older women?” she flirted.

Cordelia was dancing with her blonde. Too short for you, I thought. She started to turn in my direction and I hastily looked away. I linked arms with the elegant lady. Let Cordelia see that.

“I find older women quite intriguing,” I flirted back as we left the living room.

Careful, Micky, or you’re going to have half the women at this party expecting to sleep with you before the night is over. My loins told me that they, at least, would be happy with the idea. It’s dangerous to be around this many women and be this horny.

Elegant woman, Julia, by name, was fun to flirt with, but we quickly established that neither of us was truly serious. We parted company at the library door. I went to the front porch, then onto the lawn. I paused under a tree, looking back at the bright house.

What if she thought I did it for money, crossed my mind. I was still worrying over Cordelia’s half-smile. A few months ago her grandfather had died, leaving her a considerable fortune. Was she toasting my supposed success at getting a rich woman for a lover? Likely, I thought, if she had talked to Danny and Danny had passed on her suspicions that I was sleeping with Emma. Danny passing it on was very likely. I had to find Danny and set her straight before the rumors got too out of hand.

I started back to the house. Of course, Danny was probably dancing with Cordelia right now. Better than the blond runt.

A figure in white stepped out onto the porch. I stopped, hiding myself in the shadow of a tree. Her height gave her away. It was Cordelia. I backed farther into the shadows, not wanting her to catch me staring. She was joined by her blonde.

I turned away from them, walking until I was safely out of range of the outdoor lights. Then I turned back toward the house, following the dark edge of the woods around to the back, so that when I finally re-entered the house, it was through the back door. I stayed on the porch, unwilling to be trapped too far inside.

The built blonde that I had seen earlier sashayed over to me. This time I stared at her tits, but she coyly covered her cleavage with a gloved hand.

“Later. But not too much later,” she said, then turned and went back into the house.

“Not much,” I answered to her retreating curves. She was familiar. I was still trying to place her, when I saw Cordelia enter the dining room. I left the porch, going back out on the lawn. I retraced my previous circumnavigation and ended up on the front porch again.

Let me find Torbin, see what ludicrous outfit he’s concocted, then I’ll go hide up P.C.’s favorite magnolia tree, I told myself, feeling foolish at my constant motion.

“Aha, got her.” A hand gripped my shoulder. Danny. “Explanation time, dear El Micko,” Danny continued. She led me to a corner of the porch. Elly, Joanne, and Alex were there. “Why do we keep hearing you referred to as ‘one of Emma’s girls’? How did you meet?”

“It’s a long story,” I answered.

“It’s a long night. We’ve got time,” Danny countered.

Someone joined the group, handing out filled champagne glasses over my shoulder. I half-turned to look. Cordelia. “Go on,” she said, handing me a glass.