Trouble in High Heels Read Online Free Page B

there?”
    “Yes, I’m still here,” she muttered, picking up the bottle of Cristal and swallowing the last drops.
    “As much as I can sympathize with your anger and your desire to tie one on when you found out about the letters, you’re gonna pay for this big-time in the morning. Trust me. I want you to promise me that you won’t drink any more champagne tonight.”
    That was easy. The bottle was empty. “I promise,” she said, smothering a burp. “No more champagne tonight.”
    “You promise?” Delilah repeated skeptically, as if she knew she’d extracted the agreement too easily.
    “I promise. I not only promise. I promise to keep that promise.”
    “You’re really loaded, aren’t you?”
    “Don’t worry. I’m not driving.”
    Delilah chuckled. “I may have one of my Dallas managers check in on you tomorrow,” she said.
    Delilah had expanded her spa business so that she now had an additional location in Dallas. Lori could feel the haze of alcohol closing over her brain, but she didn’t want Delilah worrying about her. “I’m fine. I’ll be fine. Remember, I’m surrounded by people eager to do my bidding.”
    She slumped down against her pillow and yawned, closing her eyes.
    “If you’re sure,” Delilah said.
    “I’m sure. I’m really sure,” Lori said, absently stroking Kenny.
    “Well, I doubt you’ll remember this, but the reason I called is to tell you that I’m pregnant.”
    Lori’s eyes popped open. “
Again?
That’s three times in three years!”
    Delilah gave a low chuckle. “What can I say? Benjamin inspires me.”
    Lori felt the slightest stab of envy but pushed it aside. She knew Delilah had suffered before she’d found her dream man. “Is Ben excited?”
    “Of course, and he’s so sweet about morning sickness. He brings me crackers, caffeine-free soda, and a prenatal vitamin every morning before he leaves for the office.”
    “Must be nice to have a man so crazy for you.”
    “The feeling’s mutual, but I don’t want to gush too much. Something tells me you might be dealing with a queasy stomach in the morning for a totally different reason.”
    “Well, I won’t need any prenatal vitamins, that’s for sure.” She closed her eyes again. “Congratulations on the new baby, sis.”
    “Thanks, Lori. I’ll call you tomorrow afternoon. Don’t forget to wash off your makeup and take an Advil before you fall asleep.”
    “Absolutely,” she said, wishing her voice didn’t sound so slurred. “’Night, Dee.”
    As she began to fall asleep, she muttered to herself. “I’m going to fix my father. I don’t know how, but I am really going to fix my father good.”
    The next morning, Lori awakened to the sound of Kenny barking and a pain in her head that felt as if she were being hit with one of her father’s ten irons. She opened her eyes with effort, recalling that she hadn’t washed her face. Her makeup felt as if it were cracking on her skin.
    Lori made a face and lifted her head. Her stomach turned and her head pounded. “Oh, I should have taken that Advil. Why didn’t I take the Advil?”
    Kenny continued to bark, no doubt wanting to relieve his little bladder. The sound abraded her senses. Her fingers holding either side of her head, she gingerly made her way to her bedroom door. “Hang on, Kenny. It’ll be just a minute. Just a minute.” She turned the doorknob and he rushed down the stairs.
    The only way Lori could imagine getting downstairs was either crawling or throwing herself over the railing. She fumbled for the button for the intercom. “Mabel?” She paused and waited, hearing Kenny’s staccato yips jab at her brain like knives. “Mabel?” she repeated, hearing the desperation in her own voice.
    No answer. She walked down the hallway and covered her eyes to shield herself from the bright, offensive sunlight streaming through the half-circle window above the front door.
    Peeking down at the ominous grand stairway, she adjusted her peach