Breath of Scandal Read Free

Gary's IQ was, Neal would never understand how she could prefer a piss-poor farmer like Gary over him. Not only did she show a marked lack of interest, but Neal got the impression that she felt disgusted by him. With an inexplicable reverse snobbery, she regarded him as a lowlife. Oh, she was always polite-Jade was courteous to everybody-but beneath her polite veneer, Neal detected a scornful attitude that ate at him.

    Maybe she didn't know what she was missing. Maybe she hadn't realized that she was settling for less than the best. Maybe it was time she found out.

    "Come on," he said suddenly, sliding out of the booth. He tossed down enough money to cover the cost of their drinks and Hutch's burgers, then sauntered to the door.

    Outside, he headed for the window where customers placed carry-out orders. He didn't have to ask Hutch and Lamar if they cared to follow. They fell into step behind him, as he had known they would.

    Donna Dee opened the passenger-side door of Gary Parker's car and slid in beside Jade. "I didn't know you were coming here," Jade said. "You could have ridden from church with us."

    "And been a fifth wheel? No, thanks."

    There was no rancor in Donna Dee's voice. The two girls had been inseparable since the first day of kindergarten. While it was obvious to anyone who saw them together that Jade outshone the other girl, Donna Dee harbored no malice toward her more attractive, more accomplished friend.

    "What'd you think of the sermon tonight?" Donna Dee asked. "Did you feel God's breath on the back of your neck every time the preacher said the word fornication?"

    Jade had been uncomfortable with the subject of the sermon, but she replied evenly, "I've got nothing to be guilty about. "

    "Yet," Donna Dee said.

    Jade sighed in consternation. "I knew I never should have confided in you that Gary and I had talked about it." "Oh, for crying out loud, " Donna Dee exclaimed. "Y'all

    have been going together for three years. Everybody thinks you've already done it a million times."

    Jade bit her lower lip. "My mother included. We had an argument before Gary picked me up tonight."

    "So?" Donna Dee borrowed a lipstick from Jade's purse and spread it on. "You're always having arguments with your mom. I hate to say it, Jade, but your mom's a real bitch. "

    "She doesn't understand that I love Gary."

    "Sure she does. That's the problem. She doesn't want you to love him. She thinks you can do better than him." "There is no one better."

    "You know what I mean," Donna Dee said, still searching through Jade's purse. "She'd like to see you wind up with somebody rich and influential, you know-somebody like Neal."

    Jade shuddered with disgust. "Fat chance."

    "Do you think he really felt up Florene at the country club Valentine's dance? Or was she just bragging? She can be all mouth."

    "I don't think being felt up by Neal Patchett is anything to brag about."

    "Well, you're the exception."

    12

    Sandra Brown

    Breath of Scandal

    13

    "Thank heaven."

    "Neal's good-looking," Donna Dee observed.

    "I can't stand him. Look at him now. He thinks he's so cool. "

    The two girls watched Neal and his friends encircle Gary where he was waiting in line to place his take-out order. Neal punched Gary in the shoulder a couple of times, and when Gary told him to cut it out, he assumed a boxer's stance.

    "He's so obnoxious," Jade said with distaste.

    "Yeah. I wish Hutch didn't hang around with him so much. "

    It was no secret that Donna Dee was madly in love with Hutch Jolly. She wore her heart on her sleeve. Secretly, Jade thought Hutch looked and acted like a bumpkin, but, at the risk of hurting Donna Dee's feelings, she never voiced her opinion.

    Nor had she ever told Donna Dee about all the times Hutch had called her asking for dates. She had declined his invitations because of Gary. But even if she hadn't had a steady boyfriend, she would never have dated Hutch because of Donna Dee.

    "You don't like Hutch, do