His Uptown Girl by Gail Sattler Page A

this dress, so please show me which things would constitute a straight exchange.”
    The woman directed her to an alcove at the back of the store, bearing a sign reading Designer Fashions, New Arrivals. Georgette couldn’t see any prices from where she stood, but the security guard lurking at the entrance to the alcove made it obvious they were the most expensive in the store.
    â€œAnything from this area can be a straight exchange.”
    She quickly sorted through the racks, and selected a dark-green sheath with no adornments other than a single black button at the throat. It was a simple dress, but she didn’t care how she looked in it. She wanted it only for the color.
    The dress was the same green as Bob’s eyes.
    â€œI’ll take this one.”
    â€œDon’t you want to try it on?”
    That’s not necessary, I love it and I know it will fit.”
    The woman entered the exchange in the computer, put Georgette’s selection in a bag and wished her a pleasant evening.
    â€œThank you,” Georgette said as she turned around and returned to her car. She doubted she would have a pleasant evening. Not only was she again forced to spend another evening with Tyler, but her father would also be there.
    Â 
    Bob straightened his tie, and walked into the banquet hall. He hated formal functions, but today’s dinner was a buffet rather than sit-down meal, which allowed the guests to mingle more freely. It also meant he could leave early.
    He chatted with a few people he knew, as he filled his plate, when a face he hadn’t expected to see caught his attention.
    Almost as if she felt his eyes on her, George turned around. The second they made eye contact, her mouth opened slightly in visible surprise. She spoke to a man to her right and left the group of people to join Bob.
    Bob smiled at the sight of her. Normally, George dressed well, at least first thing in the morning. But tonight, she was positively striking.
    â€œHey, George. Nice dress,” he said softly, meaning only to compliment, and not to make it look as though he was ogling her. “That color really suits you.”
    A slight blush highlighted her cheeks. “Thanks.” Her voice lowered. “What are you doing here?”
    Bob glanced at the group she’d just left, recognizing Tyler. “Bart couldn’t make it, so I agreed to come for him. Are you enjoying yourself?”
    She looked down at her plate, picked up a canapé, popped it into her mouth and grinned. “I didn’t think I would have a good time, but I discovered a trick. I can put a polite amount of food on my plate, eat it all, then go back for seconds. I just have to make sure I join up with a different group of people each time, which isn’t hard with a crowd like this.” She pointed to her plate. “This is my fifth round of ‘seconds.’ Not bad, don’t you think?”
    His smile dropped. “So you’re here with Tyler?”
    â€œUh…yes.” She turned and searched the room, then quickly turned back to him. “But my father is here, too. My father knows Tyler’s family quite well.”
    Part of him wanted to ask her to introduce him to her father, but part him wanted to run and hide, even thoughhe knew the impulse was foolish. He wasn’t dating George, and even if he were, he was well past the age of it being rational to fear a girlfriend’s father. Once again, he glanced to the group of people she’d been with. “I guess I should let you get back to Tyler, and I’ll go find—”
    A tall man with graying hair appeared beside George, cutting off Bob’s words. “Georgette, honey. I’ve been looking for you.” The man turned to Bob. “I’m William Ecklington. Have we met before?” William shuffled his plate to his left hand, and extended his right.
    Bob did the same, returning George’s father’s handshake.
    â€œNo. I