Pokrewne

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Chelsea Handler Chelsea Chelsea Bang Bang (epub
Brit Brinson [Dia of the Dead Dia of the Dead (epub)
Cody Goodfellow [Radiant Dawn Radiant Dawn (epub)
Cate Tiernan [Immortal Belove Immortal Beloved (epub)
C J Busby [Deep Amber 01] Deep Amber (retail) (epub)
Carl Ashmore [Time Hunters 01 The Time Hunters (epub)
Drew Hayes [Super Powereds 02 Super Powereds Year 2 (epub) i
Beth Harbison [Shoe Addict 02 Secrets of a Shoe Addict (epub)
Cara Lynn Shultz [Dark World The Dark World (retail) (epub)
Crissy Smith [Corporate Wolve Losing Control (epub)

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.“I can’t believe you’re still here! I thought for sure you’d gone home!”“Careful,” Mandy said, noticing the water that had splashed from the vase onto Beth’s arm.“Oh! Never mind that.These are for you! They were just delivered to the office!”Mandy’s mouth fell open.“Who would send me flowers?”“Well, there’s a card—but don’t worry! I didn’t read it.”Mandy took the bouquet from Beth.“Thanks, Beth.”Once in the car with the flowers secured in the passenger seat, Mandy ripped open the card.It read:With gratitude,Leonardo RomanoMandy tried to talk herself out of feeling disappointed.He wanted to thank me for the positive review.It’s probably just a courtesy.But couldn’t he have said something a little more personal on the card? Or even, gasp, an apology? All he has to say to me is “With gratitude”? Really?By the time she reached her apartment, she was caught between feeling appreciative of the flowers and growling that Leo’s attempt to thank her was as feeble as his attempt at an apology at Myra’s Coffee House.Still, perched on her kitchen counter, the wildflowers did look nice.Mandy was still in her work outfit, staring at the flowers when a knock at her door made her jump.She checked the peephole and froze.There stood her mother and Samantha.Mandy did a quick scan of her apartment and her heart sank.She’d stayed up late working the past several nights, trying to hit a handful of deadlines that all seemed to come at once.Laundry waiting to be folded lay piled on the sofa.Dishes in the sink needed to be washed.Mail was scattered on the coffee table.She was tempted to do a quick cleanup, but another, impatient knock stopped her.Mandy threw open the door.“Mom! Samantha! This is a surprise!”Her mother brushed past her.With an apologetic look, Samantha walked through the door and leaned over to Mandy.“Why haven’t you answered your phone?” she whispered furiously.“My phone? What are you talking about?” Mandy whispered back through clenched teeth, a fake smile plastered on her face.“Samantha and I were shopping at Park Meadows.We want you to come to dinner with us,” her mother stated as she inspected Mandy’s apartment.Mandy didn’t even have to look at her mother to imagine the disapproving look on her face.“It’s been a busy few days,” Mandy said, digging through her purse for her phone.She wanted to kick herself when she saw that she’d accidentally turned the ringer off.She scrolled through her call history.10 missed calls4 missed text messagesAll from Samantha.“Where did you get the flowers?” her mother asked.“They’re beautiful,” Samantha added.“Yes, but who sent them to you?” her mother repeated, obviously not about to let the question slide.“I wrote a positive review for a restaurant so the owner sent me flowers as a thank-you.”“That was nice,” Samantha said.Mandy could tell Samantha was dying to ask whether the owner was Leonardo Romano, but thankfully, she didn’t say anything.“Good grief, Mandy.When was the last time you swept your kitchen floor? Maybe we should stay here and help you clean up.This apartment looks atrocious,” her mother said as she eyed Mandy’s leftover breakfast on the kitchen table.Mandy swung her purse over her shoulder.“C’mon.I’d love to have dinner with the two of you.Let’s go.Have you picked a place? What are you in the mood for?” she rambled as she moved her mother in the direction of the door.Twenty minutes later the three of them were seated at P.F.Chang’s.“Mandy, when was the last time you had your hair cut?” her mother asked.“I think I can see split ends from where I’m sitting.Do you have a good hairdresser around here?”Mandy felt her jaw tighten.Let it go.It’s just dinner and then she’s going back to Evergreen.Don’t let her get to you.“It has been a while since I had a haircut.I should probably do that soon.Are you getting the chicken lettuce wraps, Samantha?”Samantha jumped in.“Absolutely.Want to share an order of dumplings?”Her mother shifted to the topic of Brian and Samantha’s upcoming anniversary, so Mandy was spared from having to make small talk and pretending not to be offended by her mother’s critical comments.But halfway through the meal, pretending started to get old.“Mandy, I’ve told you before that you wear too much black.I know it’s slimming, dear, but it seems like every time I see you, you look like you’re in mourning.You should introduce some color into your wardrobe.”Mandy looked down at the black blouse she was wearing.The day before she’d worn a red sweater and gold scarf.Today she’d worn black.Mandy narrowed her eyes.“Mom, do you have to—”“Where’s our waiter?” Samantha interrupted.“I’m so thirsty.”“There he is,” Mandy’s mother said and waved the waiter over.Mandy took that opportunity to practice the breathing exercises she’d learned during the first, and last, yoga class Ashley had dragged her to.By the time Samantha and her mother hugged her goodbye and left for Evergreen, Mandy felt as if she’d battled a silent war.Not quite ready to go home, she drove across the street to the mall.She grabbed a cappuccino and sat in a leather chair by the fireplace outside of Neiman Marcus.It was at times like this that she hated going home alone.She wanted someone to vent to, someone who cared about her feelings.But she’d have to settle for a crowd of strangers.With a sigh, she flipped up a handful of her hair and inspected it.Split ends.Just like her mother had said.Chapter 5At five minutes after eight the following Friday night, Mandy sat in her car in the Franklin Street Romano’s parking lot, giving herself a pep talk.Of course Beth would choose Romano’s as the restaurant where their editorial team would celebrate her birthday.Mandy knew she had to go in and comforted herself with the reminder that Leo would certainly be at the Fifteenth Street restaurant, so there was no danger of her running into him.Even though, despite her best efforts, the thought of seeing him again intrigued her.Tiramisu.Think tiramisu, Mandy.Leo is nowhere near here.You can go in, have a fantastic dinner, including dessert, and go home.But the moment she walked through the door, Mandy got the feeling that things weren’t going so well.The hostess looked overwhelmed and frantic and servers were dashing back and forth between complaining customers and the kitchen.After waiting longer than necessary, Mandy was directed to the table for eight that Beth had reserved earlier [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]