The Diplomat's Pregnant Bride. Merline Lovelace

gave her a jaundiced smile. “Talk to me again after you’ve had an inebriated best man puke all over you. Or spent two hours sifting through piles of garbage to find a guest’s diamond-and-sapphire earrings. Which, incidentally, she calls to tell you she found in her purse.”

      “At least she let you know she found it,” Gina replied, laughing.

      “She’s one of the few. Seems like our insurance rates take another jump after every event.” He slanted her a sideways glance. “You did good tonight, St. Sebastian. Better than I expected when I read your resumé.”

      “Thanks. I think.”

      “You need to keep a closer finger on the pulse of the party, though. The natives got a little restless before the cake was brought out.”

      Gina bit her lip. No need to remind her new boss that he’d sent her out to the terrace to shepherd some underage smokers back inside right when the cake was supposed to have been presented.

      “I’ll watch the timing,” she promised.

      “So go home now. I’ll do the final bar count and leave this mess to the cleaning crew.”

      She wasn’t about to argue. “I’ll see you tomorrow.”

      “Nine sharp,” he warned. “We’ve got a preliminary wedding consult. I’ll talk, you listen and learn.”

      She popped a salute. “Yes, sir.”

      “Christ! You got enough energy left for that?” He didn’t wait for an answer, just shooed her away. “Get out of here.”

      * * *

      The Oz the Great and Powerful bat mitzvah set the stage for the dozens of events that followed during the busy, busy month of May. Almost before she knew it Gina was caught up in a whirl of wedding and engagement and anniversary and graduation and coming-of-age parties. She gained both experience and confidence with each event.