Free Double Standards by Judith McNaught Page A

tinged with the same annoyance she saw in his expression. "I'm sorry, Lauren. If I'd known Tracy 's 'little gathering' was going to be like this, I'd never have brought you here. It's going to be noisy, crowded and frenetic."
    Although she felt rather ill at ease surrounded by such famous people, she managed an air of nonchalance and gave him a jaunty smile. "Maybe, if we're lucky, no one will realize we're here."
    "Don't count on it," he warned dryly. They strolled along the perimeter of the lawn, which was bordered by dense woods. When they came to a bar that had been set up for the use of the guests, Nick stepped behind it. Rather than staring at him like a besotted idiot while he made their drinks, Lauren forced herself to turn and observe her surroundings. As her gaze moved over to a chattering group nearby, a gorgeous redhead glanced up and saw Nick.
    With a smile dawning across her perfect features, the woman left her friends and hurried toward Nick and Lauren, her wide-legged lounging pants billowing softly at her ankles. "Nick, darling!" she said, laughing, her beringed hands already sliding up his arms as she leaned forward to kiss him.
    Nick put the liquor bottle down and obligingly curved both his arms around her, drawing her to him to return the kiss.
    Even after he released her, Lauren noted that the redhead kept her hands on his arms while smiling warmly into his gray eyes. "Everyone has been wondering if you were going to disappoint us and not come," she said. "But I
knew
you'd be here because the phone has been ringing off the hook with calls from your office. The servants and everyone else have been taking messages for you all afternoon. And who's this?" she asked brightly, at last taking her hands from his arms and stepping back to regard Lauren with open curiosity.
    "Lauren, this is Barbara Leonardos," Nick began the introductions.
    "Call me Bebe—everyone does." The woman turned back to Nick and continued, almost as if Lauren wasn't there, "I thought you were bringing Ericka."
    "Really?" Nick mocked lightly. "And I thought
you
were in Rome with Alex."
    "We were," Bebe admitted, "but we wanted to see you."
    When she left a few moments later, Nick started to explain, "Bebe is—"
    "I already know who she is," Lauren admitted softly, trying not to sound awed. Barbara Leonardos was the darling of the fashion magazines and gossip columnists, an American oil heiress who was married to a fabulously rich Greek industrialist. "I've seen her pictures in fashion magazines and newspapers dozens of times."
    Nick handed Lauren the drink he had mixed for her, picked up his own and inclined his head toward the couple who were striding quickly toward them, arm in arm. "Do you recognize either of those two?"
    "No," Lauren admitted. "They don't look even slightly familiar."
    Nick smiled at her. "In that case, I'll introduce you. They happen to be our host and hostess, as well as very good friends of mine."
    Bracing herself for the inevitable round of introductions, Lauren studied the beautiful brunette in her thirties and the rather heavyset man beside her, who was close to sixty.
    "Nick!" The woman laughed delightedly, flinging herself into Nick's arms in utter disregard of the drink he was holding and kissing him with the same intimate, enthusiastic familiarity that Bebe had. "We haven't seen you for months!" she scolded as she stepped back. "What on earth have you been doing?"
    "Some of us still work for a living," Nick told her with an affectionate smile. Reaching out, he caught Lauren's arm, drawing her into the circle of comradery. "Lauren, I'd like you to meet our hosts, Tracy and George Middleton."
    "Lauren, I'm so happy to meet you," Tracy said, then she demanded of Nick, "Why are you two standing way over here by yourselves? No one will even realize you're here."
    "Which is precisely why I'm standing over here," Nick told her bluntly.
    Tracy 's breath came out in a rueful laugh. "I know I promised you this was