My Spy 5: A Southern Girl in Paris

Cold As You

My mother instantly gets to her feet but I remain unfazed in my chair. Betty and Scarlett are all smiles dressed in long cocktail attire when they reach our table.

"Dolly darlin', how are you?" Betty asks as she kisses Momma on the cheek. I don't stand until I am addressed by Scarlett- I don't have a reason to be rude to her.

"Sawyer, you look as marvelous as ever. Such a fun dress," she says and I give her two quick cheek kisses. I greet Betty warmly and then we all face the two newcomers.

"Sawyer, Delilah this is Petunia Cartwright and her nephew Sebastian," Scarlett says and we all shake hands. I draw my hand back before I get to Sebastian and I catch the smirk on his face.

"Sebastian is over here from the U.K visiting his aunt," Betty adds like we had no idea and I feign enthusiasm for Betty's sake.

"How are you liking Mississippi?" Momma asks him and he shrugs before saying, "I used to come here as a boy, so it's as I remember." Momma nods to his, well basically non-answer, and adds, "I'm sure your aunt is glad for the company."

"Yes, forced company is always the best, right Petunia?" He snarkily says and if I didn't hate him already, I would have laughed. Betty and Scarlett exchange a glance between them while Petunia looks around the room. My momma tries to fix the staleness of the conversation by saying, "Well Sebastian, if you're ever in Hollis I'm sure my daughter here would love to show you around. We own a winery and would love it if you and Mrs. Cartwright came by." I want to groan loudly at her suggestion but instead, I give my best fake smile to him.

Petunia raises her eyebrows before saying, "Oh that's right, you bought the Penderghast winery right there in town. We must come down and see what you've done with it." She glances at Sebastian but all he says is, "I'm more into French wine myself. Cheap stuff gives me a headache."

I perk up and smugly say, "Oh we actually carry a variety of French wine. We even carry a few bottles of Romanée Conti and Pétrus for wine snobs like you." I make sure to enunciate the French brands just as Rory Cunningham taught me and am shocked to find myself thanking Rory for something.

"Do you?" Is all Sebastian says flatly and I nod. I feel I am over talking to this smug, snobbish man and decide to let the hens know there will be no more of it by announcing, "Well I am no wine snob tonight, so I am off to the bar to get snockered." Scarlett and Momma's eyes bulge but Betty just laughs me off. I squeeze behind them and dart toward the open bar. I'm sure my mother is apologizing for my rudeness but I have no interest in talking to that man any longer.

Once I am at the bar, Georgina appears at my side and asks, "Did I just see you talking to Sebastian Crawford?" She bounces her eyebrows up and down and I notice her champagne flute only has drops left at the bottom. I roll my eyes at her and reply, "Wasting my breath more like. He thinks he is God's gift let me tell you."

Her face falls as she says, "Really? That's a bummer." Then she perks back up and adds, "But I'm sure most girls here will tolerate a little smugness if it means holdin' his attention." I look at her and realize she's right. He can be an ass and girls will still throw themselves at him. I shake my head and order a glass of Rosé. Once the prize is in my fingertips, I ask, "Where's Millie?"

She shrugs, "No idea. Probably hiding under a table or behind a curtain tryin' to convince herself to go talk to him. She is so anxious to meet him but doesn't have the confidence to approach him."

"If she would like an introduction, I'll help her. Although tell her it's a waste of her time, I promise," I say before pursing my lips. I have no problem going up to him if it means showing all these women here that he is a pompous ass and not worth the price tag of their dress for tonight.