One Good Friend Deserves Another Read Free Page B

the long drive to the Briarcliff Country Club, she glimpsed Parker leaning against one of the Corinthian columns that flanked the entrance. His blond hair made him instantly recognizable, bleached a shade short of white by weekends spent sailing the Long Island Sound. The moment the Benz rounded the long, curved driveway, a sexy Mario Lopez dimple deepened in his cheek.
    She stepped out of the car and tossed the keys to the valet. Trey vaulted up the steps. “Hey, bro. Get in any sailing today?”
    “Nah. Worked all day.”
    “Parker Senior’s a taskmaster, eh?”
    “Hey, at least I’m not in the mailroom anymore.”
    “Yeah, I hear you. Listen, I’ve got to shower and change.” Trey tripped backward toward the door. “See you later for a drink?”
    “Count on it.”
    Parker watched Wendy come up the stairs. He held his drink with cocksure preppy confidence. He gave her that sideways little smile that always made her feel like he knew what she was thinking, and knew better than to ask.
    “Hey, you,” she said, raising her face for a kiss.
    “Hey, beautiful.”
    He tasted like breath mints and lime. His hand stretched across the small of her back, comfortably familiar.
    “You shouldn’t let Trey bait you,” he murmured. “You know it only pisses you off.”
    “I believe that’s his mission in life.” She noticed that the sunburn on his forehead and forearms was just starting to darken. “I suppose they’re waiting for me?”
    “Bitsy just ordered number three.” He guided her toward the doors. “Sorry I missed Dhara’s party. I was looking forward to watching her aunt Indira rocking on the dance floor.”
    Wendy smiled. Parker had attended a party Dhara’s family had thrown after Dhara finished her medical residency. Inspired by the family’s exuberance on the dance floor, he’d stripped off his tie with admirable abandon and joined them. It had been one of their first dates.
    “It was fantastically chaotic,” she admitted, as she stepped into the high-ceilinged lobby, where natural light spread down from a skylight in the cupola. “And, as unbelievable as this sounds, the marriage really has been arranged by her parents.”
    Then Wendy stiffened as she saw a tennis foursome blocking the path between the lobby and the yellow parlor. As they turned with pleasant smiles, she braced herself for the battering of small talk, curious questions, and embarrassing advice that her and Parker’s presence always seemed to elicit.
    But then Parker—perceptive Parker—gently took her arm and propelled her forward, smiling at everyone but not slowing their pace, nodding and making excuses until they’d passed through the gauntlet.
    “You know,” he said, his voice rippling with amusement once they were out of earshot. “You and I could always just skip out of here and get married on the sly.” He leaned into her. “We’d tell them we were going out on a date. No one would know we were missing for days.”
    “Yes, but as soon as we got back, my mother would continue with the wedding plans as if nothing had occurred.”
    “Your mother is a force of nature. But you’ll sail through the storm.”
    “Well, brace yourself tonight.” Wendy heard her mother’s voice, drifting from the open doors of the yellow parlor. “I’m going to talk about Birdie.”
    “Right now?” Parker stopped a few paces from the door and gave her an odd look. “Sure you want to do that?”
    “I can’t put it off much longer or the seating arrangements will be written in stone. I’m just glad you’re here—”
    “ Here are the lovebirds.”
    Wendy started. Bitsy appeared at the door of the parlor, striding forcefully toward them.
    “We’ve been waiting for you, my dear.” Bitsy brushed her smooth cheek against Wendy’s. Her hair, a mix of blond and white, was drawn back in a sleek ponytail. “Traffic bad?”
    “Terrible.” Wendy loosened her grip on Parker’s arm and gave him a here we go look. “We sat on