“Have you had a chance to look through the proposals I sent?” Sitting across from Senator Sondra Thatcher, I kept my hands folded in my lap and tried to meet her eyes, but it was difficult since she had a mask in place that was…well…distracting.

Sequins. Feathers.

A lot of sequins and feathers.

She was also wearing a wig. Either that or she’d found the be-all-end-all of hair growth treatments, because the last time we’d met, her hair was much shorter.

The huge, powdered masterpiece currently perched on her head gave me a headache just thinking about what she’d had to do to keep it in place.

“Yes, yes…” She pulled a compact from a purse that was barely bigger than my hand and checked her reflection. “Do you know who I am? I mean, who I’m supposed to be, of course.

I studied her. The mole. The dress. The insane wig and mask.

She waved her purse at me, and I had to admit, it was a good touch. If somebody had no clue about history, the cake-shaped purse wouldn’t help but, fortunately, I’d always been good with history.

“Of course, Marie.”

She beamed at me. “You should have let me help you find a costume, Dash. It’s a Halloween party. You can have a little bit of fun, even if you’re here on business.”

“I’m sure I’ll have fun. I’m just not a costume person.” Clearing my throat, I tried once more to get her to focus on the rehab center. That’s why I was here, after all. I had no time for parties otherwise. “About my proposal…”

“Oh, hush.” This time, she pulled her mask off, gingerly though, taking care not to muss her hair. “Dash. I’ve already said that I’ve read your proposal. It’s solid. I want to talk to a few friends and see what they think, but I’m on board. However, I can’t do anything tonight.” She pointed a finger at me. “Now, you just relax and have fun. I haven’t had a night off in months, and I intend to enjoy this. You should do the same.”

The car came to a stop, and a few moments later. we began to make our way up to the house.

I didn’t want to tell her that the last thing I had on my mind was fun. Not just tonight, but every night. I had more important things to do. No doubt it would come out as insulting as hell, and I didn’t want to do that, not only because I needed her help, but because I did genuinely like her.

But I hadn’t come out here to have fun. I hadn’t come out here to wear a stupid mask or costume, either.

Once we were inside, I thought Sondra would go her own way, and I could find a peaceful corner, maybe deal with email, and reach out to the sponsor network I was trying to build. Get some work done.

But that wasn’t meant to be.

Sondra hooked her arm through mine. “Come on. I’d like you to meet one of our hosts.”

I was along for the ride as we went from one politician to another, then the daughter of a politician and her new husband. She looked familiar, but I couldn’t place why. I didn’t have time to figure it out either, because Sondra was moving me along.

The next clutch of people had nothing to do with politics and everything to do with money. As soon as she introduced me, Sondra launched into a talk about the rehab facility I had planned, and it gave me a moment to take a look around at the group, not that I really needed it.

They were all old money. I didn’t need her to tell me that. I knew old money.

I definitely didn’t fit in that class, but Hollywood was a lot more accommodating about such things than most places. Philadelphia, however, wasn’t anything like back home.

After Sondra finally introduced me, one of the women made a sighing sound. “Your father broke so many hearts when he married your mother, mine included.”

I gave her a polite nod and managed a small smile. “I’ve heard that quite often, Mrs. Branch.”

It was a familiar sentiment, and it led to more of the same. Familiar ground, I was able to respond to the curious questions, and evade the ones I didn’t care to answer with ease.

After the typical small talk had been exchanged, Odelle Branch, the one who’d apparently had her heart broken by my father, turned curious eyes on me. “Why is the son of one of the greatest actors in modern cinema setting up a rehab facility?”

“Lost friends, no doubt.” It was a churlish response from a woman whose name hadn’t been offered. She gave me a look out of rheumy eyes and sniffed. “You know how it is with young ones who choose the high life. No discipline. No morals.”

“I know how it is to lose somebody I love,” I responded calmly. I’d dealt with enough petty or lonely people in my life to know how to handle them. They liked striking out. I didn’t bother giving them something to push back about, but that didn’t mean I wanted to continue this conversation.

Shifting my attention back to Sondra, I said, “I’m going to go find something to eat.”

“I’ll join you.”

I repressed a sigh. I’d been hoping to find some peace and quiet, but it looked like that wouldn’t be the case.

On our way to the room where food was spread out, Sondra kept waving and pointing out everybody she thought I just had to know. There was a damn lot of people I’d managed to go without knowing for almost three decades.

The sarcastic thought managed to tug a smile out of me, but it faded when Sondra tugged me down and whispered, “See… I knew you could have fun. You’re loosening up. Let’s get you a cocktail and see if we can get another smile.”

* * *

Separating myself from her two cocktails later – both of them hers. She ended up disappearing into the bathroom after snagging somebody female to help her, and I took advantage of it, moving to the nearest door and heading outside.

I went for the fresh air, but the grounds were amazing. One thing a city like Philadelphia had that California would never possess was the stately old elegance of homes like these.

Settling on a bench in a far corner of the garden, I sat down and settled back to admire the house. Ivy twined up the sides, and the windows beckoned with a warm golden glow. It was the sort of place that wasn’t just a house, but a home.

Somewhere close by, I heard somebody laughing, then a moment later, the sound faded.

Good.

I wasn’t in the mood to make nice anymore. Or at least not for a while.

I looked down and realized I was still holding the black silk mask I’d been given when I came inside. Rubbing it between my fingers, I wondered what Layla would have thought about a masquerade party at a place like this.

She’d always enjoyed…fun.

“Too much,” I reminded myself.

Cramming the mask into my pocket, I got up and wandered into the garden.

Sooner or later, I’d have to go back in there, and I wasn’t much looking forward to it. Sooner or later, I’d have to talk to people. People who would want to know my reasons for opening this particular type of clinic.

What will you do when you have to talk about me…?

I silenced that ghostly little voice and lifted my face to the sky.

It was a beautiful night. Too bad I had to spend it surrounded by people I didn’t know, pushing for help to get through shitty bureaucracy so I could focus on the one thing I really enjoyed doing.

“Might as well get it over with.”

I turned back to the house.

And again, I heard the ghost of a voice.

You don’t enjoy this. You need this. There is a difference, baby.

I ignored it. Denied it. Told myself that the noise and chaos, the desire to keep busy, was all a necessary evil. I didn’t want it or need it.

But the truth of it was…I did.

I had nothing to do and nobody to talk to. And when my mind had nothing to occupy it, I was outright miserable.