Re: Pepper and Phil (open to Tony and Maria)
"With a critical eye, I'm sure. She should try the candied apples, I'm certain there's nothing at all suspicious about them." Pepper liked Maria. They'd largely come to terms with one another after bonding over their mutual relationship woes and, Pepper knew, Maria realized she was not the threat she'd feared. The concept of 'fun' seemed like a stretch for Agent Hill, but Pepper liked the idea that she'd come to the party at all.
"I've never been very good at taking vacations either," Pepper admitted sympathetically. "I tend to read or micro-manage every moment of the trip to keep from getting anxious thinking about all the things I'm not doing back home." Of course, he was right - it was much better with someone; Pepper hadn't thought about work once the one time she and Tony had gone away together (although that may have had something to do with the fact that they'd hardly left the room).
While Pepper couldn't say she understood all the details, she knew enough of the situation to know that Maria had panicked, and that she understood all too well. Smiling in sympathy, she accepted his offer with a delighted nod. "I'd love to." As they moved onto the tennis court, pulling up the hem of her dress with one hand to keep from tripping, Pepper asked. "How are things between the two of you since you talked? Still good?"