Sweet Surrender (Sweet Jealousy, Book Two) Read Free

said, shrugging.
    Savannah straightened up and narrowed her eyes, studying Addison’s face.
    “Addie,” she said, putting on a fake Southern accent. “Why, I do believe you’re blushin’.”
    Ever since Savannah had found out that Addison was from Georgia – “Really?
    You’re actually, like, from there? I was conceived there while my parents were passing through on a trip to Turks and Caicos. How hilarious!” – she loved to put on a Southern accent when she talked to her. A very bad Southern accent.
    “I’m not blushing,” Addison said, shrugging. “It’s just hot in here.”
    “It’s definitely not hot in here,” Savannah said. She tilted her head. “You have a crush on our boss!” The way she said it, so dismissively, like Addison was a high-schooler with a crush on their teacher, filled Addison with anger. It was all she could do not to blurt out what Nathan had been doing to her last night. Well, not all of it, obviously. She’d leave out the parts where he made her beg. And the parts where he spanked her so hard he’d left marks.
    The thoughts made Addison’s blush deepen, and she shifted on her chair. But all that did was remind her of the bruises Nathan had left, which made her blush even more.
    She took deep breaths and tried to calm herself, hoping that Savannah wouldn’t push her anymore. Why was it that she always felt like she was younger than these girls?
    They were her age, and yet they all seemed older, more sophisticated. Was it just life experience?
    But if Addison was worried about Savannah pushing her about Nathan Sweet, she shouldn’t have been. Because Savannah was already on to the next thing.
    “Did you hear that Joan is leaving?” Savannah asked. “It’s a total scandal.” She took another long sip of her espresso, and her bracelet slid delicately down her wrist again. Had she practiced that move? Addison wouldn’t have put it past her.
    “Really?” Tia asked, sitting up. “Why?”
    “Oops!” Savannah said, putting her hand to her mouth. “I don’t think it’s public yet.” She looked around the office, then motioned the girls closer. “But the rumor is that she’s pregnant.”
    Tia shrugged. “How is that a scandal?”
    “Because it’s not her husband’s baby.”
    This was a scandal. Joan Renfro was an associate editor who had been at Intuition for only a couple of years, and yet had already been making her mark on the journalism world. She wrote smart and thought-provoking articles about relationships.
    She had a blog on the side that had become quite popular, and she’d recently been doing gigs on morning shows on CNN and MSNBC, talking about the relationship dynamics between men and women whenever there was a new study or a topical story that came out. She was the kind of writer that most women’s magazine were lucky to have– smart and relevant with an edge, while still able to stay true to the brand.
    “Wow,” Tia said, whistling. “That is a scandal.”
    “I know!” Savannah said. “And her husband’s so hot, too.” She pursed her lips to the side, like the thought of someone cheating on a man who was hot was totally out of the realm of possibility. “Of course, you never know what’s going on in people’s private lives.”
    Addison almost laughed out loud. Wasn’t that the truth.
    “Can’t she just stay on and have the baby?” Addison asked. “I mean, a lot of people have affairs or cheat on their husbands. Unless you’re in the military or politics, I doubt anyone is going to really care.”
    Savannah shrugged. “I guess the new guy doesn’t want her working. It’s all very strange, I think she’s having some sort of mental breakdown.” She shook her head. “It’s always the ones you think have it all together.”
    The girls sat there for a moment in silence, contemplating Joan’s ruined future.
    “Anyway!” Savannah said brightly. “Her job’s going to be open soon. I’m totally applying.”
    “Her job is going