Friends Upgrade Read Free Page A

was so sweet of you. I can pick up the tab for the bed and breakfast.”
    “No way. Consider that as part of your birthday present.” Doug reached for the pencil to mark his menu. “And speaking of your vacation, would you like some company?”
    “Huh? What do you mean?”
    “I thought about leaving the shop for a couple of weeks myself. I have enough work to leave the guys. They don’t need me there at the moment.” Doug marked his menu and set it aside while waiting for Judith to make her choices.
    “Wow, when was the last time you took a vacation?” She put more of her packages on the floor so she could sit more comfortably in the booth.
    “That’s my point. I need one, too. I can’t be detailing cars twenty-four/seven you know.” And I just want a few moments with you—alone.
    “So, you’re actually considering coming to a bed and breakfast?”
    I’ll consider going to Iraq, as long as you’re there. “Sure, why not? Guys like pampering, too.”
    Judith nodded. She marked her menu sheet for the sushi she wanted and handed it to Doug, who then handed it to the waiter.
    “You know, it might be fun. I would love your company.”
    Like another girlfriend, he mentally groaned. “Great. Then I’ll make reservations for both of us tomorrow. Since we’re calling two weeks in advance, we should be able to decide on the packages we want. They have themes, you know.”
    “You’re the travel agent,” Judith said. “Try to make sure we have a room right next to each other. If this place is that popular, it might be hard to do, so calling two weeks in advance is a good idea.”
    Doug smiled to himself. “Yeah, it might be real hard at that. I hope I can swing it. Just remind me first thing in morning.” Of course no matter how early he called, there would only be one room available for the both of them.
    Perfect.

 
    Chapter Two
     
     
    “Back to the old grindstone tomorrow,” Doug said, driving back to Judith’s condo.
    “Ugh. And I was enjoying myself. You know I have a calendar on my wall at work, and I cross off the days. It looks like a prison calendar marking off the time for my release.”
    Doug laughed, giving her the warm fuzzies as usual.
    “The days will fly by before you know it.” He pulled into her parking lot.
    Judith gathered her all her packages together while he got out of the car to open the door for her.
    Judith glanced at her watch as they headed for the lobby, trying to get a better grip on her stash. “Wow, I didn’t realize how late it was.” “Here.” Doug grabbed most of her bags. “Let’s get you upstairs and tucked into bed,” he teased.
    She smiled, as she watched him juggle her bags. Always the gentlemen. Chivalry will never die on his watch. At the door, Judith took out her key, unlocked it and walked in. Doug moved past her and placed her packages on the couch, doing a quick scan of her place.
    Judith shook her head. “All clear?”
    “Hey, you never know. Someone can come pass that security guard.”
    “True.” She stretched out her arms and yawned. “I’m pooped, so let me take a bath and hit the sack.” She took off her jacket while walking Doug to the door. “Thank you again. That was too sweet of you.” She stood on her tiptoes again, aiming to kiss the corner of his mouth.
    This time Doug redirected the kiss. He grabbed her face with both hands, taking her lips in his mouth. It was a deep, slow, sultry kiss. A kiss that said more than, “I’m your best friend.”
    Judith’s brain cells attempted to reconnect. She didn’t know what to do with her arms at first. Let them fall to the sides or wrap them around his neck? She slowly crept them up and wrapped them around his neck, allowing her fingers to find their way to his thick dark, wavy mane. After raking her fingers through his hair for a few seconds, she slid her hands down and found his face, rubbing over the scruffy surface of his impending five o’clock shadow, some of it tickling the