Second Time Around Read Free Page B

over this. I let you take Fourth of July weekend off because I’m a nice guy, but you have to work Labor Day. Those are the busiest weekends of the summer, and we need all hands on deck.”
    Jamie glanced down and let her hair shield her face. “I get it, but it’s not like I’m traipsing down to Cabo for vacation. It’s a
funeral
.”
    “Family member?”
    She started to nod and had to correct herself. “Well, not technically. One of my oldest and dearest friends from college.”
    “If it’s not a family member, then I’m sorry, but I can’t give you the time off.”
    Her head snapped back up. “Okay, fine, it’s my grandma.”
    The bar manager crossed his arms. “You just told me it wasn’t.”
    “Pretend I didn’t.”
    “Jamie.” He closed his eyes and massaged his temples.“You’re my best bartender, and the customers love you, but I can’t deal with your drama all the time. If you don’t show up to work this weekend, you’re making a choice.”
    Her fingers twitched, itching for a cigarette. “I’m sorry, but I have to go to New York tomorrow. It’s not optional.”
    “Then you’ll have to find a new job when you get back.”
    “Probably for the best.” She lifted her chin and tossed out a little T. S. Eliot. “I’ve been measuring out my life with coffee spoons for too long.”
    He narrowed his eyes. “What’s that supposed to mean?”
    “It means you can’t fire me, because I quit.” She threw back her shoulders and marched toward the break room to collect her belongings. “Dare to eat a peach!”
    O n the flight from LAX to JFK, Jamie sweet-talked her way into first class and gratefully accepted the flight attendant’s offer of red wine, even though it was only ten a.m. She hadn’t been able to sleep at all the night before, and hadn’t bothered with a shower or makeup, so she looked like crap, the upside of which was that she’d be left alone to read in peace.
    Or so she thought.
    Five minutes after takeoff, the businessman seated next to her leaned in so closely that she could smell the starch in his crisp white shirt. “Good book?”
    “Mmm.” She didn’t raise her gaze from the text.
    He squinted to read the title on the back cover. “
Wings of the Dove
? Never heard of it. What’s it about?”
    “A beautiful heiress who dies young and leaves a ton of money to her ratbag friends who don’t deserve it.”
    “Pretty heavy stuff for a plane ride.” He took in thebright blond hair and the boobs and asked, “Are you an actress?”
    “Nope. Unemployed bartender.”
    “Well, do you have any interest in acting? Because I’m starting a production company and I could really—”
    “Look, no offense, but I’m having a bad week and I just need a little downtime.”
    “Sure. I’ll leave you alone. Sorry.”
    “No need to apologize.” She turned the page and sipped her wine.
    He managed to contain himself for a few more minutes, then leaned in again. “You headed to New York for business or pleasure?”
    Jamie put down the book and looked him straight in the eye. “Funeral.”
    She spent the next five hours reading in undisturbed silence.
    A rden’s memorial service was even more wrenching than Jamie had anticipated. After the last “amen” echoed off the arched stone ceiling of the Upper East Side cathedral, she straggled back out into the sunlight with Brooke, Anna, and Caitlin by her side.
    Anna wiped her nose and drew a shuddery breath. “Well, that was …”
    “Devastating,” Cait said.
    “Draining,” Jamie said.
    “Beautiful,” Brooke insisted bravely. “A beautiful tribute to a beautiful spirit.” Then her lower lip started to quiver. “God, that was horrible. Her mother’s face …”
    “Enough,” Anna took one more swipe at her eyes, thencrumpled up the tissue and addressed the other three sternly. “No more crying. We’re supposed to be celebrating her life, not dwelling on her death.”
    “I have never felt less celebratory,” Jamie