Veronica sighed. “Turns out he was fine. Just taking a little snooze with his eyes open. It happens more and more as one gets older. It was very near the end for him and the poor dear’s health was failing rapidly. I was just glad that he had the chance to enjoy one of his favorite treats just days before he departed this planet for points unknown.” Veronica paused, opened the special menu for private parties and smiled to herself. “Happily he enjoyed his favorite treat in the world just moments before he died.”

Veronica turned to him with a glow in her eyes. “You’re a very attractive man.” She raised her eyebrows expectantly.

I was afraid it might come to this, Gavin thought fretfully. I’ll have to head her off at the pass. Damn it, I’ll have earned every last penny I get for that bracelet. He spotted a bottle of mineral water on the bar.

“Speaking of health,” he stammered as he fumbled out of his seat and over to the bar. “I’ll bet you haven’t had your six to eight glasses of water today. Allow me to pour you one.”

“In a setting such as this I prefer champagne,” Veronica cooed.

Gavin lunged for glasses, twisted open the dark green bottle of Pellegrino and hurriedly poured its sparkling contents, causing it to bubble up and overflow. Grabbing a cocktail napkin, he mopped it up. “But this has bubbles too and you can drink so much more of it.” He laughed with nervous relief as she beamed and accepted it from him. She had had a couple of whiskey sours, wine, and a cappuccino at dinner, he calculated rapidly. A couple of these should send her scurrying to the loo, and with any luck that dress will take minutes to negotiate around the toilet seat.

Settling back on the couch, Veronica patted the cushion next to her and motioned to Gavin. “Besides the pigs in a blanket, it’s always good to have a wheel of Brie at a party, don’t you think?”