Flash

little rusty. Like Madeline said, I don't get out much. I know my timing isn't always the greatest when it comes to this kind of thing, but—"
    "Your timing is just fine." She suddenly felt lighter and happier than she had in a very long time. "In fact, it's great."
    A curious warmth appeared in his eyes. "You really think so?"
    For a moment the silver-studded room seemed to slide away into another dimension. Olivia could still see the silvery decor around her. The mirrored balls continued to glitter. She could hear the music and the laughter of the crowd. But it was all happening in another, unimportant realm.
    The only thing that was important at that moment was the look in Jasper's eyes.
    The clarion call of the media shattered the spell. Typical, Olivia thought.
    "Am I interrupting anything here?" Andy Andrews asked as he shoved a cracker heaped with salmon spread into his mouth.
    "Yes," Jasper said without looking away from Olivia. "But since you're here, let me introduce you to Olivia Chantry. Olivia, this is Andy Andrews. He'll be crushed if you tell him that you've never heard of him."
    Olivia reluctantly switched her attention to the rumpled-looking man who had come to a halt in front of her. Automatically she went into full business mode.
    "Andy Andrews, with
Hard Currency
? How exciting. I always read your newsletter the instant it comes through my fax machine."
    Andrews was clearly unprepared for such a cordial greeting. He blinked and then grinned broadly around the mouthful of cracker and salmon. "Glad to hear it. I do my best to keep the info moving through the pipeline."
    "I especially enjoyed the piece you did last month on the charitable foundations that have been established by our new wave of local techno-millionaires." Out of the corner of her eye Olivia saw Jasper lift his gaze to the ceiling in silent supplication. She ignored him. He ought to know that a little judicious gushing worked wonders with the press.
    "You liked that one?" Andy asked eagerly.
    "It was not only extremely interesting, but useful as well," Olivia assured him. "It gave me some background on prospective clients."
    "Always glad to be of service to the members of the business community. That's what I'm here for." Andy cleared his throat. "It's a pleasure to meet you, Ms. Chantry."
    "Please call me Olivia."
    "Sure. Olivia." Andy tossed back the last of the champagne in his glass. "I tried to get hold of you yesterday."
    "Unfortunately I was so busy with tonight's event that I didn't get your messages until very late in the day. I intended to return your calls first thing Monday morning. I didn't realize you would be here tonight."
    "Between you and me, I wasn't planning to attend." Andy sidled closer to the bar and waved at the attendant. "I did Silver Galaxy Foods Night last year, and it was a dead bore. But when I heard that you were running the event this year, I decided to accept Silverthorne's invitation."
    Olivia smiled cautiously. "I'm flattered."
    "Big change from last year." Andy surveyed the glittering scene while he waited for the bartender. "A lot more glitz and glamour, y'know?"
    "Thank you," Olivia murmured.
    Andy eyed Jasper. "Didn't know you'd be on board tonight, Sloan. Got something going with Silver Galaxy Foods?"
    "No." Jasper gave Olivia a deliberate, intimate smile. "My interest here tonight is strictly personal."
    "Is that a fact?" Andy broke off as the bartender arrived. "S'cuse me a minute. Open bar, you know. Some first-class hooch on board tonight. Don't want to waste the opportunity."
    "I understand." Olivia traded glances with Jasper while Andy ordered an expensive single-malt whiskey. "The Silverthornes pull out all the stops on Silver Galaxy Foods Night."
    "They sure did this year, I'll give 'em that." Andy got his whiskey from the bartender. He turned and raised the glass in a small toast. Then he chugged a couple of swallows. When he was finished he let out a long, satisfied sigh.
    "I'm glad you're enjoying yourself," Olivia said.
    Andy gave Olivia a bland smile that did not disguise the shrewd, if slightly inebriated, gleam in his eyes. "So, everything settled down now at Glow?"
    "Yes," Jasper said before Olivia could respond. "I told you yesterday that everything was under control."
    "Yeah, so you did." Andy kept his attention on Olivia. "Losing Rollie Chantry must have been really rough on the firm."
    "It was rough on the family, too," Olivia said pointedly.
    "Oh, sure." Andy bobbed his