The Friends We Keep. Susan Mallery

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СКАЧАТЬ wearing heels. “It was an honest mistake.”

      “Prostitution is illegal. I’m not even dressed that sexy. It wasn’t honest. It was sick. What kind of a man assumes a woman is a hooker?” She swung around to face him. “It’s one o’clock in the afternoon. In a park. Did you think I was just going to blow you in your car?”

      He shifted uncomfortably. “I didn’t think that part through. And, no, I don’t assume every woman is a hooker.”

      “Just me?”

      He winced. “I’m sorry. Really sorry. But you have to admit, you’re dressed provocatively.”

      “No, I don’t.” She glared at him. “You’re saying I look like a slut?”

      “I’m saying you’re all that.”

      Under any other circumstances, she would have found him interesting. And maybe charming. But not like this. Not when he was that hideous author. She started walking again.

      He slipped the money back in his wallet. “I’m sorry,” he repeated.

      “You should be.”

      “You really don’t like me.”

      She barely glanced at him.

      They went along the tree-lined path, toward the main camp building. Normally the kids were outside, but for this event, they were kept contained.

      “Why did you assume I would be a jerk?” he asked.

      “We are not having this conversation. I’m taking you where you need to go and nothing more. No. Wait. I’ll be taking pictures of you with Tyler and you will pretend this is the best time of your life.”

      “Yes, ma’am.”

      “This is really important to him.”

      “I got that.”

      They reached the main camp building. She opened the side door before he could and stomped inside, then pointed. “Room five. Act happy. I’ve got mace in my bag.”

      Jairus nodded once and reached for the door handle. He turned back to her, but she only continued to glower and point. When he went inside, she crept close and watched through the window.

      The kids screamed loud enough to shake the building. She spotted Tyler standing in front of everyone, his eyes wide, his whole body shaking with excitement. Jairus approached him and said something she couldn’t hear. Tyler nodded. Jairus held out his hand. Tyler flung his arms around the man and Jairus hugged him back before glancing over his shoulder to where Nicole was watching.

      “I got this,” he mouthed.

      She turned away and hurried to the bathroom. Once there, she checked out her reflection even as she was peeling off layers.

      Okay, so the makeup was a little heavy for the middle of the day. And yes, the dress was kind of tacky-sexy. But she’d been teaching tango.

      “A hooker,” she muttered as she stepped out of her dress. She slipped on shorts and a T-shirt, then traded in heels for flip-flops. “Talk about a jerk. I knew it. I just knew it. That internet article about him was exactly right.”

      Too bad he was so appealing. That was just wasted. God should have given Jairus more ugly. The man deserved it.

      She had makeup wipes tucked in a side pocket of her tote. She used them to remove her tango-centric eye and face makeup. It only took a second to brush out her hair and secure it in a simple ponytail.

      Now she looked like what she was. A mom. She supposed it was her own fault for being late. If she’d gotten to the park ten minutes earlier, this never would have happened. Not that Jairus wasn’t still going to have to pay.

      She came out of the bathroom to find the party moving outside. The counselors had set up several tables with balloons and goody bags, along with a big cake. All part of the prize package. Not only were the kids being given a special afternoon with Jairus, they were taking home an advance copy of his next book. Oh, joy. She knew what she and Tyler would be reading before, during and after dinner. For weeks. Damn Jairus and his ridiculous creation.

      Tyler ran up to her. “He’s here!”

      “I know. I met him.”

      “He’s nice and funny and he told me secrets about Brad.”

      “No way.”

      Tyler nodded earnestly.

      She dropped to her knees and took her son’s hands in hers. “I’m so proud of you. You worked hard to make this happen. You and your friends are having a great day and it’s because of you.”

      He hugged her. “This is the best day ever, Mommy. You helped, too.”

      “I know, but you’re the one who believed. I love you, big guy.”

      “I love you, too.”

      Tyler ran back to where Jairus was sitting on the grass talking to the kids and answering their endless questions about Brad and why things had turned out the way they had in his various stories. He seemed to be genuinely enjoying the kids. When it was time for the cake to be cut, he did that himself and served it to all the kids and counselors.

      Nicole wanted to say it was because she’d frightened him, but she had a feeling his actions had nothing to do with her. He was too easy with the children. Too comfortable. He must do these parties a lot, she thought, wondering if they were part of his deal with his publisher, or if he chose to interact with his littlest fans.

      The afternoon wore on. She kept to the fringes of the event, watching but not getting involved. This was Tyler’s moment. He reveled in the joy of being close to Jairus. The questions never let up, but the man took them in stride. Despite their disastrous meeting, Nicole had to admit Jairus was good at what he did.

      Probably because he was so rested from counting all his money.

      After about an hour, the goody bags were passed out. Jairus read the new book to everyone, then patiently signed every copy. Parents started arriving to pick up their kids. A few went over to meet him. He shook hands and posed for pictures.

      One of the camp counselors walked over to join Nicole. “He’s so hot,” the twenty-year-old said with a sigh. “I tried to give him my number, but he wouldn’t take it.”

      “You’re probably too wholesome,” Nicole muttered.

      “What?”

      “Nothing. Sorry. I was thinking of something else.”

      “He’s been so great with the kids.”

      “He has.”

      She said the words reluctantly, but there was no denying the truth. Either Jairus truly liked children or he was the best actor on the planet. And as she refused to give him any credit for talent or ability, she was left with the uncomfortable fact that he seemed to really like children. And didn’t that suck?

      She СКАЧАТЬ