Evie suppressed a loud “ha!” “Well, he certainly does know how to make a girl appeal to the Lord.”
“I wish you every happiness. I heard they’re putting you on two nights a week now. Is… is that true?” Another closed-mouth smile. But Evie sensed the worry behind it. Sarah Snow might have her eyes on the cross, but her heart was full of ambition. It almost made Evie like her more. Almost.
“Yes. It’s true,” Evie said brightly.
Sarah faced forward again, her eyes on the golden arrow counting down the floors. “I suppose everyone loves a great romance.”
Evie’s smile faltered. “I suppose so.”
Evie blew into the Algonquin and shook the damp from her cloche. The ma?tre d’ led her through the packed, oak-paneled dining room. Every head turned as Sam rose to greet Evie.
“Lamb Chop!” Sam clasped her hands and gave a small sigh.
“Makes me sound like dinner,” Evie muttered through clenched teeth.
“Does it, my little Venison De Milo?”
Evie glared. “You’re enjoying this, aren’t you?”
Sam whispered into her ear, “More than you can imagine.”
A waiter appeared. “Shall I bring you the Waldorf salad, Miss O’Neill?”
“Yes, thank you. And coffee, please.”
“Mr. Lloyd?”
Sam gave a small sigh. “Usually I feast on our love, but since the lady’s having something, I’ll take a Reuben. Extra horseradish. And an egg cream.”
“As you wish, sir,” the waiter said. “You two must be very happy.”
“Over the moon. Who’d’ve thought a regular schmoe like me could land a gem like Baby Doll here,” Sam said.
Evie had to lock her hands around her knees to keep from kicking Sam under the table. Once the waiter had gone, Evie leaned forward, her voice low. “Laying it on a little thick, aren’t you, pal?”
Sam shrugged. “I heard we were in a romance. Thought I’d play along. But if you’d rather not, I’ll call the papers right now and tell ’em the truth.”
“You’ll do no such thing, Sam Lloyd! You got us into this mess. Now we’re stuck.”
“Is that so? Tell me why I shouldn’t fess up to the news boys.”
“Do you know how many calls the radio station got today about us? One thousand!”
“A… thousand?”
“One-oh-oh-oh, brother. And they’re still calling! Mr. Phillips wants to put me on two nights a week. This is going to make me famous. More famous.” She glared at Sam. “You, too, I suppose.”
Sam rubbed his chin, grinning. “I bet I’d be good at being famous.”
“How lucky for us all,” Evie snapped. “The point is, if you tell them it was just a joke now, I’ll look like a joke, too. Nobody wants to back a joke. Makes people grumpy. There’s only one solution, I’m afraid. We’ve got to play out this hand for a bit.”
The waiter delivered a plate of rolls and Evie dove for it. Being anxious made her hungry. She could’ve eaten ten rolls. Sam laced his fingers and leaned his elbows on the table, inching his face closer to Evie’s. “Yeah? What do I get out of this deal, Baby Vamp?”
“I agree not to kill you,” Evie said around a mouthful of bread. She twirled the butter knife between her fingers.
“Your terms are generous,” Sam said. “But I have two conditions of my own.”
Evie swallowed her lump of bread. She narrowed her eyes to slits. “I will not pet with you. You can cross that one off the list right now.”
Sam smirked. He dabbed a spot of butter from her face with his napkin. “Doll, I have never had to make petting part of a contract. Every girl in my rumble seat has been happy to be there. I had something else in mind.”
Evie didn’t know whether to be relieved or insulted. “What?” she said, wary.