Conceived Deception
3: Conned Assistance
They obtained the Gilmore's goodwill by upgrading her previously discarded cart coffee with the superb cappuccino she now held in her hand. Two of the three stooges were happy to listen as Rory regaled them with descriptions of the rather unusual environment she grew up in. When she reached the arrival of Hell-on-wheels among the sleepy occupants of Stars Hollow the guys became enraptured. Apparently the notion of her being drawn to another man while still in a committed relationship was big news. Rory wondered idly about what their reaction to the Dean affair would be.
As someone approached the unlikely set he observed his friends' leaning positions in the reporter's direction and mused over what she could say that would hold their attention so completely.
Not caring if he'd be welcome Logan arrived at the booth and took a previously vacant seat among them. When Colin and Finn both failed to acknowledge his arrival Logan transferred his attention to the person who had them so enthralled. Rory had a smile dancing around the corners of her mouth and when her gaze came across his, her eyes expressed delight at knowing something he didn't.
"Wow," Finn's tone was disputing for the most part. A one word response from him meant Rory had declared something that was either unexpected coming from her or something he had yet to experience. Seeing as it was Finn, Logan assumed it was the former.
"Care to share?"
Hearing the poorly disguised interest in the question Rory, the only one paying any attention to him, supplied the repartee. "Whatever are you talking about Logan?" Her face took on a smug look that he would have called her on had her handbag not rung at that moment.
After checking the caller id she answered and sighed, "You had better not be suggesting what I think you're suggesting." Glancing up she noticed they were all eavesdropping unabashedly to her side of the conversation. "It's a fantastically foolish idea. Nothing short of my showing up affianced to someone of sufficient wealth and circumstance could possible distract her from that. And you know it.
"Say I do this for you, how would I be repaid for undertaking such a venture?" Rory remained silent for a full five minutes as the suggested payment was explained, her face impassive. "I'll need that in a notarized document before it can officially be translated into actions but I'll start calling in favors tonight. You know you will be repaying me forever? Good. Yeah, see you then."
Replacing her cell phone to it's place in her purse Rory signaled a waitress and ordered a rum and coke causing raised eyebrows to be sent her direction. "I wanted to make sure it wasn't too soon, meeting the family can be intimidating. Yeah, that'll work," she smiled appreciatively as her order was set in front of her, "Not to find the right man for the job."
So focused on the task at hand Rory seemed to have forgotten the gentlemen were there. And, because they had no notion of just how misleading her appearance could be, they all, Logan most of all, underestimated how much of her mother's infamous falsity Rory possessed.
Nothing else could have accounted for the invitation slipped under his door later that night. He had a vow renewal to attend the following weekend where he was to be introduced as Rory's beau. God help him.
