Closer Read Free Page A

auburn, shoulder length hair that she always wore in a chignon. Bethany also had the height of a model, a cool five foot ten with killer legs, not that Emma was jealous. Emma was just so competitive, she didn’t like looking up to anyone.
    “So, how’s work going?” Bethany inquired sitting herself down at a table nearest the large display window looking out onto the street.
    “You know I can’t talk about work. Why do you always ask? Don’t you have any juicy stories to tell me so I can live vicariously through you?” Emma asked, smiling brightly at her friend.
    “Since you asked, because you know I wouldn’t have brought it up otherwise, there is something.” Bethany responded.
    Yeah right.
    “I went out last night with Aaron. It was our second date,” Bethany taunted. “He could not keep his hands to himself. I finally had to tell him enough was enough, and I wasn’t interested in taking it any further than second base. I let him feel me up, but that was it.”
    Bethany still used middle-school terms to describe her sexual escapades. And God knows there were a great number of them. Bethany wasn’t a slut; she just truly enjoyed the company of men.
    “So, how was he? Was he a good kisser?” Emma wondered as she took a bite of her turkey and veggie sandwich.
    “No, God, he was awful. For such a good-looking man, he had a drooling problem. His kisses were too sloppy. I had a hard time continuing to kiss him,” Bethany cackled, “I almost gagged.”
    “Then why did you let him continue?” Emma wondered as she put down her sandwich and wiped at her mouth.
    “Because I didn’t want to be rude.” Bethany explained.
    For such a brilliant girl, Bethany could really be stupid at times. The conversation continued on and reached its inevitable conclusion of Bethany politely declining a third date with the man.
    “In a month or so, want to take a trip to Cancun? Just you, me, and Ashely?” Emma inquired as she wiped the last traces of her sandwich away.
    Bethany shoved her last bite into her mouth and exclaimed, “Hell yeah!”
    “Great! I will talk to Ashley and then make the arrangements,” Emma said as she sipped the last of her water. “I will let you know how much, and we can narrow down the dates. I want to do it soon though. Deal?” Emma asked.
    “Deal!” Bethany declared, slurping the last bit of her Diet Coke through her straw. Emma was not at all looking forward to going outside. From the front window of the deli she could see the biting cold wind blowing the dust and debris around in circles on the street.
    As Emma sat listening to Bethany go on about what she was going to wear on her newest date with a man she had just met at a club the previous weekend, the hair on the back of her nape stood on end. An uneasy feeling washed over her. She looked around. She could feel someone watching her. She knew intellectually they probably had spies stationed at her high-security building, so it wasn’t out of the realm of possibility she was being followed. Emma did not get to where she was by relying on her instincts. No. Emma had a brain, and by God, she used it. She looked out of the window and only noticed the regular lunch crowd on their way to and from the downtown office buildings; nothing seemed out of order. She was just paranoid. Maybe it was just a draft from the door opening with a new rush of people. That would clearly explain the chill that came over her. Still, what about the feeling that someone was watching her? Maybe she had an admirer . Now she was just being silly.
    “Are you ready? I need to get back to work,” Emma said uneasily as she started to stand, her gaze still riveted to the streets outside the building. Absentmindedly, she grabbed for her coat.
    “What are you looking for?” Bethany wondered as she stood up with Emma, shrugging on her own jacket.
    They threw their trash in the garbage can and placed their trays on top then walked out into the blustery cold weather,