Secret Defender. Debbi Rawlins

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СКАЧАТЬ made a face. “I’m going to forgive you for being so grumpy and overbearing because I know you have my best interest at heart. But like it or not, I’m an adult and I can make my own decisions.” She blew him a kiss. “I’ve got to run, but I’ll be back in plenty of time for the meeting.”

      “How are you getting there?”

      She gave him a tolerant smile and left his office before he bombarded her with more questions she had no intention of answering. Besides, he’d have a cow if he found out she’d been taking cabs around town.

      It was just so freeing to finally be able to make her own decisions about where she went and how she got there. It didn’t mean she didn’t appreciate his and Rick’s concern. In fact, it had always been Willard and her mother who’d been there for her as a child. Her father had cared for her, in his own self-absorbed way, but it was her mother, Inga, who’d made sure Sydney had all the love and emotional support a child needed to grow up without prejudice or fear and with a keen sense of fairness.

      It was the latter that ironically appeared to be getting Sydney into trouble. In her opinion, Wainwright Corporation had become too large, after having gobbled up smaller companies. When one of the senior vice presidents had approached her to allow him and two other executives to buy out their divisions, Sydney agreed and put the same offer on the table to all other division heads.

      That’s when the shit hit the fan. Willard told her she was insane. Her brother suggested she not be so impulsive. The union leaders threatened blood would be shed if they were ousted from the Wainwright factories. It all had gotten so complicated, when all she wanted to do was get a tan and count on a date every Saturday night.

      The elevator dinged the moment she pressed the button and when the doors slid open, Jeff walked out with a florist’s box of long-stemmed pink roses cradled in his left arm.

      He smiled when he saw her. “I was coming by to see you.” He eyed her purse. “On your way out?”

      She nodded, her gaze falling to the roses. “I have an appointment.”

      “Have time to put these in water?” He leaned in for a kiss.

      She gave him her cheek and then ducked his look of disappointment. She wasn’t comfortable with public displays of affection…and certainly not at the office. “May I assume they’re for me?”

      He lowered a lazy gaze to the roses. “Possibly.”

      She gave him a jab to the ribs that made him grunt. “Sorry, I didn’t hear you.”

      Jeff laughed and passed her the box.

      She smiled, genuinely touched that he had come across town to hand deliver them. “Actually, I’m late, but Margaret will take care of getting them in water. Hey, take a ride with me uptown. We can talk along the way.”

      He held up the briefcase in his right hand. “Sorry, but I’ve got an appointment on the tenth floor in fifteen minutes.”

      “Oh.” So he hadn’t made a special trip. It didn’t make the gesture any less sweet.

      The elevator doors opened again and Jeff reclaimed the flowers. “Go. I’ll give these to Margaret.”

      She slipped into the car before the doors closed again. “Oh, about dinner tonight. I have a board meeting. Can we make it tomorrow night?”

      He shrugged. “Sure. I’ll call.”

      The doors closed, but not before she saw annoyance enter his eyes. That barely fazed her. However, she wasn’t that disappointed about tonight. Which did bother her.

      Jeff was nice looking with a good sense of humor. He was smart, a good dresser, had a terrific job with a prestigious law firm. But deep down, she knew he wasn’t The One.

      And dammit. She wasn’t getting any younger.

      SYDNEY DASHED INTO the chic salon to find Julie looking at the clock. There was no missing the woman. Her hair was shockingly red and her purple spandex dress so tight it left nothing to the imagination. She had the figure to pull it off, though. When Sydney had first met her in prep school, Julie’s hair had been brown and she’d been a little chubby. Now, she looked as if she’d stepped off the pages of Cosmo.

      Julie put her hands on her hips as soon as she saw Syd. “You’re late.”

      “Only four minutes.” Sydney moved her hand from behind her back. “And only because I stopped to get you this.”

      Julie’s black-rimmed green eyes lit up at the sight of the iced mocha latte and she quickly snatched it out of Syd’s hand. “Okay, I forgive you.”

      “Gee, thanks.” Sydney stashed her purse on a shelf next to Julie’s blow-dryer and then took a seat in front of the mirror. She stared at her drab hair color and noticed her complexion was pretty dull, too. She needed to apply more of that self-tanning stuff.

      “I hope you’ve cleared at least two hours this afternoon.” Julie shook out a black cape and draped it over Syd, and then frowned. “Maybe you ought to wear a smock today.”

      “Two hours? For a trim?”

      “I decided to put in some highlights.” Julie picked up a lock of Syd’s hair and inspected it with pursed lips. “I think a nice light ash blond will work.”

      “You decided?” She laughed, and jerked her head away. “I’m not ready for highlights. Besides, I don’t have the time.”

      “Bull.” Julie brought out a tube of hair color and squirted it into a silver bowl. “Hey, when are you going to introduce me to that brother of yours?”

      Syd sighed. “I honestly don’t have time.”

      Julie stopped mixing to give her a sour look. “So, what—you think I’m not good enough for the heir apparent?”

      “I didn’t deserve that remark.” Syd stiffened. “Anyway, I meant I don’t have time for the highlights.”

      The other woman blinked and, muttering a curse, ducked her head. “You’re right. I shouldn’t have said that.”

      “But that’s what you think.” She tried to keep the hurt from her voice, but she failed. Miserably, by the look of alarm on Julie’s face.

      “I don’t. Honest.” Julie shook her head and put down the bowl. “Not you, of all people. You took me under your wing when none of the other girls would give me the time of day.” She ignored Sydney’s dismissive wave. “I’ve never forgotten that, Syd. I swear to God. I’m having a shitty day and I took it out on you.”

      “That’s okay. No problem.” Sydney shrugged it off. It really wasn’t a big deal.

      Shaking her head, Julie busied herself with mixing and stirring the color. She was still angry with herself, Sydney could tell by the jerky motions she used. Self-reproach was a habit Julie had established early.

      Sydney vividly remembered the day they’d met. Julie had been outgoing, full of joie de vivre. They’d both turned fifteen that summer, and Julie had just moved to Plano after her mother had married a prominent attorney СКАЧАТЬ