Valentine Vote by Susan Blexrud Read Free Book Online

sexual innuendo. Damn if he didn’t just come across like a snarling wolf. “Courtney, I’m sorry. That was crude, and I didn’t mean to downplay your feelings.”
    “Didn’t you?” She pushed herself out of the chair. “Thanks for the drink.” She stormed out and didn’t look back.
    • • •
    Courtney rushed to the street and hailed a cab. When she gave the cabbie her destination, the Dirty Martini, he informed her that it was just a short walk from the Mayflower. She thanked him and pulled her camel hair coat tighter around her. Tears flowed down her cheeks. She hiked up Connecticut Avenue, chiding herself with each slap of boot on pavement. She’d let the day get to her and then Eric had been a complete jerk. They’d had an opportunity to really talk, and he completely blew it. Thank goodness Helen would be at this event tonight. Her
pro bono
work as a guardian
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often put them in the same places at the same time. She needed to vent.
    She elbowed her way into the restaurant/bar, which was already jammed. An old Bob Seger song, “Still the Same,” played in the background. The Dirty Martini was a popular spot for political and non-profit events, and tonight’s fundraiser had really packed the huge space. She squeezed her way to the bar, but was directed by the bartender to a waiter holding a silver tray laden with champagne flutes above his head. “There’s going to be a toast first,” he’d told her. She held up her hand to the waiter, and he made his way to her. Lowering the tray, Courtney chose the fullest flute.
    A poke in her ribs jerked her head to the left. Helen pointed to a space at the end of the bar, and the two women shimmied through the crowd.
    “Whew,” Helen said. “I think they’re going to corral us into a private space soon, but it wasn’t ready when I came in.”
    “How long have you been here?”
    “Let’s see, this is my third champagne, so about half an hour.” Helen blinked. “Did the cat drag you in? I thought you’d be all bouncy and glowing from your meeting with Eric.”
    “It was awful. I’d get drunk, but I’ve got too much work to do.” Courtney rolled her eyes, and then caught her reflection in the huge mirror behind the bar. She
did
look horrendous.
    “Oh, get drunk anyway. Sometimes it’s the only remedy.” Helen took another swig.
    Courtney downed her flute in two gulps and then let Helen pull her toward another room where a
maître d’
was corralling patrons. She picked up another glass on the way in.
    About fifty people milled around a long buffet table. A woman in a red suit stepped up on a riser at one end of the room.
    She tapped the podium microphone, which made a popping sound and got everyone’s attention. “Welcome, everyone. I’m Rebecca Arch, executive director of the Special Olympics, and I’m so pleased to see you here this evening. I’m particularly pleased to welcome a senator who’s no stranger to our cause. He spearheaded Project UNIFY in his home state of North Carolina. Would you raise your glasses in a toast to Senator Eric Morrison?”
    Courtney stiffened. She’d forgotten Eric was involved in Special Olympics. Heck, she’d forgotten what the event benefitted. Where was her head?
And why didn’t he tell me he was coming here tonight? ’Course, I didn’t tell him where I was going either.
    “As many of you know,” Ms. Arch continued, “Special Olympics Project UNIFY is a series of innovative activities through which public and private schools can become more involved in Special Olympics through a variety of youth leadership activities, sports, and awareness activities. But I’ll let Senator Morrison tell you about the difference Project UNIFY has made in his state. Senator?”
    Courtney wanted to crawl under the nearest table. A punch to her elbow signified that Helen was on board. She whispered in Courtney’s ear. “I’ll prop you up if you get woozy.”
    “You’re woozier than me,” Courtney