Second Act - Diana Xarissa Page 0,3

you?” Camille asked Terri as the waiter cleared the table.

“So far, so good,” Terri replied. “The AP classes are always interesting, but I think I’m going to enjoy freshman English this year, as well. I only have one class of it and there are a few interesting personalities in the mix. We’ve already had a lively debate about whether or not Shakespeare is still relevant.”

“And is he?”

Terri laughed. “I’m an English teacher, so I’m always going to say yes to that question, but I can see why some people don’t agree.”

“Dessert?” the waiter asked.

“I have to try the flourless chocolate tart,” Terri told him.

“Me, too,” Camille added.

“Refills on the drinks, as well?” he asked.

“Yes, please,” the women both replied.

The pair chatted about their children as they waited for their desserts. The waiter brought them with their drinks a short while later.

“Anything else right now?” he asked, glancing over his shoulder as he spoke.

“No, we’re fine,” Camille told him.

“Who is in the kitchen?” Terri wondered as the man walked away.

The words were barely out of her mouth when the kitchen door swung open. Neither woman had ever met the man who walked through the door before, but they both knew exactly who he was.

“Why is Lucas Hogan here?” Camille asked as the handsome, dark-haired man surveyed the room.

“I’ve no idea. Maybe Douglas is sick or maybe he quit because Lucas makes him work too hard,” Terri replied, trying not stare.

“He doesn’t look fifty-five,” Camille said.

“He must work out a lot. That’s probably what he does while Douglas runs his empire.”

“Except Douglas only runs his empire in Ramsey. He has other empires, all over the world, or so I’m told.”

“Yeah, I’ve heard the same thing. I’ve also heard that he never bothers to visit any of them, but here he is.”

“I’ve lived in Ramsey my whole life and I’ve never met him,” Camille said. “That doesn’t mean he’s never been here before, though. We don’t really move in the same social circles.”

“You do now.”

Camille flushed. “I don’t know if Max knows Lucas. He certainly didn’t mention that Lucas was coming for a visit.”

They watched as Lucas walked over to the bar and spoke to the bartender.

“What would bring him to Ramsey?” Camille asked after a bite of her dessert.

“As I said, maybe Douglas is sick or quit.”

The kitchen door opened again and Douglas Holloway strolled out into the dining room. He looked around slowly, nodding and smiling at the various people at the tables before he crossed the room to the bar to join Lucas.

“He doesn’t look sick,” Terri muttered.

“And he seems to be getting along fine with the boss,” Camille added as Lucas said something that made both Douglas and the bartender laugh.

“What else can I get you?” the waiter demanded, his eyes pinned on the men at the bar.

“Just the check, please,” Terri told him.

“Is your dessert okay?” he asked, looking at the slice of tart that Terri had barely touched.

“It’s delicious. We were just busy talking,” Terri replied, flushing. She tore her eyes away from the bar and focused on her tart. It truly was wonderful and she was happy to give it her full attention for a short while.

“He’s talking to Karen and Donald,” Camille told her a moment later.

“Who’s talking to Karen and Donald?”

“Lucas Hogan.”

“Oh, that makes sense. No doubt they’re in his social circle, at least here in Ramsey.”

Karen Henderson-Archer had gone to school with Camille and all three women had children around the same age. Her husband, Donald Archer, was a doctor with a large and very successful practice in the area.

Terri was just scraping up the last remnants of her tart when Camille kicked her under the table.

“What?” Terri demanded, looking up from her plate and right into Lucas Hogan’s eyes.

He grinned at her. “Maybe you’d like another piece of cake?” he suggested.

Chapter 2

Terri flushed. “It’s really good,” she muttered, putting her fork down.

“I’m glad to hear that. We pay the pastry chef almost as much as the head chef,” Lucas replied.

“He’s worth every penny,” Camille told him.

“May I join you?” Lucas asked. When both women nodded, he pulled a chair over from the next table and sat down between them. “I’m going to guess that you know who I am,” he said.

“You say that like it’s a bad thing,” Terri replied.

He shrugged. “Once in a while it would be nice to talk to people who didn’t have any preconceived notions as to who I am.”

“You’re Lucas Hogan, multi-millionaire owner of the nicest hotel