Confessions of a Teen Nanny 02 - Rich Girls (11 page)

"Those are serious slopes," Lars said.

"Know 'em like the back of my hand," Parker said. "My friends and I have been hanging up there even before they got hot."

Friends like Isabelle? Liz wondered.

"Have fun with the rest of the bunnies," Parker said. He gave Liz a quick kiss."And don't fall for the ski instruc- tor," he whispered. "It's so clich�."

Liz giggled. "Don't worry," she promised. "I'm noth- ing if not unique."

Parker leaned back on his skis, a slow smile spreading across his face. "You got that right."

Then he turned and skied away, a gorgeous sight in the already gorgeous landscape.

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you should see

the place in Vienna

M om had nothing to worry about, Liz thought four days later as she soaked in the hot tub in the enclosed patio just off Dr. M-C's Aspen living room. I am definitely here to work!

Every muscle hurt from learning to ski, falling, and grabbing kids. She'd been kept so busy by David and Heather during the day, and then by Dr. M-C's demands to help her work on the book at night, that Liz had barely seen Parker other than in passing.

But tonight! Tonight is going to be awesome, she thought, and all thanks to Parker's smooth moves. Parker had dropped by (after daily flirty phone calls and text messages) and had persuaded Dr. M-C to let Liz go out with him. Although Dr. M-C had been reluctant to lose Liz's secretarial skills, she relented--once Parker invited the doc and her kids to his parents' ultra-exclusive Christmas party.

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Liz climbed out of the hot tub, wrapped herself in the luxurious robe that had been provided in her tiny broom closet/bedroom, and headed upstairs to dress.

She frowned as she looked in her suitcase. Parker never told me what we're doing, Liz realized, so I have no idea what I should wear. And even if I DID know, would I have the right outfit?

For the last four days Liz had been checking out what the other girls in Aspen were wearing. She fit right in on Buttermilk, where the little kids, the older couples, and the beginners tended to ski. But the few times she'd spotted Parker in the Lodge, or in town, the girls in his orbit wore Chanel, Prada, and the high-priced Moon Boots that J.Lo was recently photographed in.

Liz sighed. She didn't have a lot of clothing options. All she could do was find a sweater that flattered her com- plexion and tight velvet jeans that highlighted her long legs and hope for the best.

"Parker, come in," Dr. M-C's voice boomed up the stairs.

Uh-oh. I'd better get down there and rescue him, Liz thought. She applied a fresh coat of lip gloss and hurried downstairs.

Parker smiled when he saw her. She felt her knees go weak. I'm glad we decided not to go skiing together, she thought. I'd fall right over. There was just something about Parker that hit her hard every time she saw him. She

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noticed with relief that he was wearing a sweater and cords--nothing over-the-top.

"So what do you two have planned?" Dr. M-C asked.

Parker slipped his hand around her waist, his fingertips brushing against her skin, and Liz felt herself tingle.

"Liz hasn't had a chance to see much of the town," Parker said."So I thought we'd check out some shops, and then swing by a friend's party. Don't worry," he added,"I'll get Liz back at a completely reasonable hour. I know how important taking care of David and Heather is to her."

Dr. M-C beamed. "Have a wonderful time, Liz. I know you're in the best of hands. And Parker," she said as she walked them to the door,"do give my best to your par- ents. I am so looking forward to their Christmas party."

Once outside, Parker opened the door of his gleaming Range Rover, and Liz slipped inside. Parker dashed around the car, then got in behind the wheel. He swiveled to face her.

"So hi," he said, brushing a strand of her dark hair out of her face.

"Hi," she replied.

"I was beginning to think I'd never get a chance to be alone with you," he said. He tipped her face up and kissed her softly.

Liz kissed him back, thrilled to be this close to him again. It has been a long time, she thought as she finally pulled away to smile at him.

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He grinned back. "Now, that's the Liz I remember." He started up the car, and they drove into Aspen.

"It looks like a town from some Western movie," Liz observed, checking out the small wooden and brick build- ings.

"Well, it did start out as a mining camp, and there's a whole historic preservation movement happening here," Parker explained, taking Liz's hand and helping her out of the car."But somehow I doubt Cartier had a shop catering to the miners!"

Liz laughed. Parker was right. Aspen was a weird cross between cowboy-ville and Madison Avenue. Limos fought for parking; socialites and movie stars sipped hot cocoa and coffee; store owners rung up thousands of dollars of sales-- and all against the stunning backdrop of the mountains and old, rustic buildings.

Despite all the glitz and glamour, though, Parker made Liz feel as if she belonged there--not in Aspen so much as she belonged right by his side.

After showing Liz his favorite shops, Parker pulled up to the gates of Mimi von Fallschirm's Aspen home. As the car rolled along the long stone driveway, Liz realized there wasn't even a hint of snow on the pavement.

"Are they so special they have their own weather?" Liz joked.

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Parker laughed."Mimi would like to think so. But no, it's just a heated driveway. Makes sense up here." They pulled up in front of the door, and a valet took the keys and drove the car away.

"The house is ridiculous," Parker said, shaking his head."It's so over-the-top." He rang the bell, and a servant opened the door.

Liz's jaw dropped as they stepped inside.

The entry hall was part baronial manor, part Adirondack lodge, with tapestries hanging from the walls, and suits of armor standing sentry every few feet.Two stuffed polar bears reared in the corners, and an enormous chandelier made of hundreds of antlers hung from the ceiling. Animal heads glared down from perches high above them.

Mimi sashayed up to them, her fur-trimmed dress fitted close to her slim body, a Cosmo in her hand. Suddenly Liz felt underdressed.

"Hello, Parker," she said. She kissed him on both cheeks, and tossed her long black hair over her shoulder. "Who's your--" She cut herself off when she recognized Liz. "Well, Liz! Welcome to Aspen! I didn't know your family had a house here!"

"They don't," Liz said. "I'm staying with--"

"Friends of my parents," Parker interjected.

"Oh, really?" Mimi said."Interesting. I had no idea Liz had become so close to your family."

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Liz looked at Parker. It was nice of him to jump in for me, she thought, but why did he need to lie to Mimi? She knows I'm a nanny. Is he ashamed that I'm here working? For the first time that day, she felt out of place.

"Come," Mimi ordered. "This way."

Liz and Parker stepped through an enormous archway and down into the huge living room. It was filled with dark oil portraits in gilded frames, and heavy, oversized furni- ture. There was a DJ at one end of the room, where the carpet had been rolled up and kids were dancing. Waiters in red jackets served drinks from silver trays.

"Your house is amazing," Liz said, looking out the windows at the moonlight on the snow.

Mimi shrugged."You should see the place in Vienna," she replied.

Liz spotted several girls and their dates from Cameron's tea party.The stoned brunette from the movie premiere-- Cynthia--was also there, tottering on glittering heels and laughing loudly. It looked as if the party had been going on for some time already.

Parker's cell beeped. He pulled it from his pocket and glanced at the screen. "Oops, gotta take this," he said. He pecked Liz on the cheek and wandered away, a hand over his ear to drown out the party sounds.

Liz watched Parker weave his way through the danc- ing kids and out of the room, wondering what could be so

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important that he had to go have a private conversation.

She decided to shrug it off and turned to Mimi. "So, Mimi--"

"Excuse me," Mimi said, moving away from Liz as if she didn't want to be seen with her.

Whoa, Liz thought, as Mimi joined two tall guys doing tequila shots. Being a princess sure doesn't mean you have any manners.

Maybe a drink will help. Liz grabbed a glass of cham- pagne off the tray of a passing waiter. Sipping the crisp, bubbling drink, she made her way through the room, hop- ing to find a familiar, or at least friendly, face.

She leaned against the wall and scanned the crowd. She spotted two P-B girls dancing together, their heads thrown back, their arms up in the air. A few guys bobbed around them.

The dark-haired girl in the micro-mini is Leigh Penbroke, Liz thought. She's in my English class.The redhead in the suede is . . . Liz shook her head. She couldn't remember the other girl's name. She decided to go talk to them anyway. Better risk getting the girl's name wrong than look like a total loser hanging by the wall.

Liz downed her champagne and then picked up another glass on her way over to the P-B girls.As she wig- gled her way through the dancers, she was relieved to see that many of the girls were dressed as casually as she was.

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She sidled up to Leigh and the other P-B girl and began moving in time to the techno drumbeat.

"Leigh!" Liz called over the music.

Leigh's forehead wrinkled as she focused on Liz. "I know you," she said. "You're someone I know."

"Liz Braun," Liz said. "From Pheasant-Berkeley."

"Right!" Leigh said. "From there."

She's totally wasted, Liz realized.

"Miranda," Leigh said to the other girl. "This is Liz. From school."

"I know," Miranda said. "I'm standing right here."

"I didn't know you were a Mimi-ite," Leigh said.

"She's going to be Deb of the Year, you know," Miranda said.

"Which is going to kill Cameron!" Leigh said, giggling.

The music changed to a slow song, and Leigh slung her arm across Liz's shoulders. Liz tried to shrug the girl off, but it didn't work. Where is Parker?

"We're not debs," she said in a loud stage whisper.

"But we're SO rich!" Miranda said, laughing hysteri- cally.

"That's why Mimi likes us," Leigh said.

"Why does Mimi like you?" Miranda asked.

The two girls stared at her expectantly. Great. She doubted Mimi liked her--or even thought much about her--at all.

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"I'm here with Parker Devlin," Liz said.Well, that was true, and it made her feel like at least she'd been invited.

Leigh's eyes widened. "Ohmigod," she said. "Are you--?" She turned and whispered something to Miranda, who giggled.

"Am I what?" Liz demanded.

"Nothing," Leigh said. "It's just, well, we heard that Parker was sometimes hooking up with someone who, well, someone not in his usual crowd."

There's been gossip about me? Liz thought.Then she real- ized: Of course there is.

"Where is Parker?" Miranda asked.

"He went to take a phone call," Liz said.

"Well, send him our way," Leigh said with a giggle. "We can always count on him for a good time."

"Ooh, I love this song!" Miranda squealed. She grabbed Leigh's hands and pulled her into a dance groove.

Liz scanned the room and didn't see anyone she felt comfortable approaching. What is making Parker take so long? She decided to go look for him.

She ducked into the long hallway Parker had disap- peared into.Thick carpeting silenced her footsteps, and she startled a couple making out on a love seat as she passed. More stuffed animal heads stared down at her accusingly. "Hey, don't blame me--I'm practically a vegetarian," she told them.

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A loud burst of male laughter floated down the hall. Curious, Liz peered through an archway. Parker sat perched on the back of a leather sofa, talking to a group of guys playing pool. Tables set up with chessboards, checker boards, and cards were scattered throughout the dark room.

"Liz! Come on in," Parker said when he glanced over at the doorway.

Liz stepped into the room. Was he just hanging out in here the whole time? "I was wondering what happened to you," she said.

"Oh, yeah, sorry." He reached out for her and wrapped his arms around her waist. The other guys grinned broadly.

Liz held herself slightly away from Parker. She was miffed that he had just abandoned her like that.

Parker didn't seem to notice. He nuzzled her neck, and then took a swig of beer.

"So, I'm Liz," she said to the guys at the pool table, irritated that Parker hadn't bothered to introduce her.

"Oh, sorry," Parker said."Liz, these are some seriously shady characters, and I advise you to stay clear of them all."

The guys laughed.The tall guy with shaggy blond hair holding a pool cue nodded."He's right, Liz.We're a bunch of desperados."

"Oh, I don't know," Liz joked, determined not to allow her feelings to show. "I've seen worse."

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The blond grinned."I'm Kyle, that's Jono, and the guy losing the big bucks because he's such a bad player is the always miserable Winston."

"We haven't seen one another since the last time we were in Aspen," Parker explained. "We were just reminisc- ing about our wayward youth." He looked at Liz and smiled.

His eyes had a funny shine to them. He's stoned, Liz realized. That's probably why he got so easily distracted.

Liz was bugged that he had gone off and gotten high, but it at least explained why he had just vanished. She didn't get high herself, and Parker knew that. Well, maybe he'll still redeem himself.

As if he could read her mind, he gave her a gentle squeeze. "Sorry I left you alone out there.Was it brutal?"

"Brutally boring," Liz said, deciding to let it slide.

"Hey, Liz," Kyle said."Wanna hit a few?" He held out the pool cue.

Parker took Liz's hand. "Liz came to a party, not to watch you three losers make fools of yourselves at the table. Besides, she doesn't want to hear our old stories."

"Or maybe you don't want her to hear them," Winston teased. He waggled his reddish eyebrows at Liz. "The things this guy gets up to."

Liz laughed. "Don't I know it."