A Weekend Getaway Read Online Free Page A

her back.
A thrill zipped through her body and she felt eighteen years old again. Her
throat went dry. All of the old longing returned. If they weren’t both taken,
maybe she’d throw herself at him right now. One last Hail Mary. And why not? Somehow
for one night, all of those years ago, he’d been hers. They’d never spoken of
it. Pretended it never happened. She’d tried to forget it, find contentment
with Drew, but suddenly she couldn’t help wondering “What if?” Especially now
that Parker stood inches away from her.
    He leaned in to be heard over
passing traffic. “I always start with my goal. What do I want people to think
or do after they hear my speech?”
    “I don’t know. I want those
active in the club now to realize what a great opportunity they have. I want
them to take advantage of everything—join committees, run for office,
make things happen.”
    He nodded. “That’s great. Now
make it personal. Think of anecdotes about your life that illustrate the
benefit of getting involved with the club. Did it help you in your job, in
other organizations, as a wife and mother?”
    Her spine stiffened. Did he
think she was married?
    He laughed. “I didn’t mean to
freak you out. I looked you up on Facebook. You married a guy at your company
and you have a little girl, right?”
    She paused, choking on the
memory. “The little girl isn’t my daughter.” It took her a moment to recover
her train of thought. “I’m not married, but Drew and I are living together.” Why
did she hate to admit that to him? After all, he wasn’t available. He’d been
with her friend for forever. He’d made his choice and she’d had to live with
the consequences. Again, she paused, fighting to maintain her focus on the here
and now. “Emma is Drew’s niece.” She needed to switch topics. “Anyway, Ivy told
me Mall Land is doing well.”
    He blushed. “I hate how she
brags about money.”
    A six-foot tall, handsome businessman who blushes. He would’ve made a
great husband. An even better father. Too bad.
    As they approached, the doorman
waved them into the crowded bar. The band still played, but of course, Ivy’s
voice no longer vibrated through the room. It was a male vocalist now.
Hopefully Parker wouldn’t want to leave because his wife wasn’t there. He
leaned toward the bartender and ordered. A moment later he paid and handed Beth
a strawberry daiquiri, her favorite.
    She took the pink drink. “You
remembered.” How many Weight Watchers’ points were in this? One-hundred
calories in the whipped cream alone. Of course, what did it matter? She’d stuck
to her diet this time thinking that she wanted to be thin for her wedding day.
But Drew didn’t even care enough to be her date this weekend.
    They headed toward the back of
the room in search of a place to sit. A couple stood and left a table. Parker
rushed forward and secured it before any other by-standers could take it.
    Inside, the air actually felt
hot, so she removed his blazer and put it over the back of her chair. She took
a long sip of her sweet drink, hoping the rum would hit her brain fast.
Parker’s movie star looks always made her nervous.
    He put a paper napkin on the
table and handed her a pen. “Here, you write.”
    She scribbled a few key words—goal,
anecdotes, work--on the napkin before taking another sip. She needed something
stronger. Something to numb this desire she still felt.
    As if reading her mind, he
ordered two Jägermeisters from a passing waitress. “This was where I celebrated
my twenty-first birthday. And this was my favorite shot.” He lifted his glass.
“You have to try one.” He pushed the other tiny glass toward her.
    She hadn’t gone to a bar on her
twenty-first birthday and she’d never had shots. So why not give it a try? One
wouldn’t hurt. She lifted it and tossed it back like she’d seen on TV. It
burned her throat raw. She coughed with a goose-like honk. A quick sip of her
daiquiri muffled