The Invitation (Matchmaker Trilogy) Read Free Page A

where’s your private life?”
    “What’s a private life?” Shaye returned with mock innocence.
    Victoria saw nothing remotely amusing in the matter. “Private life is that time you spend away from work. It’s critical, sweetheart. If you’re not careful, you’ll burn out before you’re thirty.”
    “Then I’d better get on the stick. Four more months and I’ll be there.”
    “I’m serious, Shaye. You work too hard and play too little.”
    Suddenly Shaye was serious, too. “I’ve played, Victoria. You know that better than anyone. I had six years of playing and the results were dreadful.”
    “You were a child then.”
    “I was twenty-three when I finally woke up. It was a pretty prolonged childhood, if you ask me.”
    “I’m not asking you, I’m telling you. What you did then was an irresponsible kind of playing. We’ve discussed this before, so I’m not breaking any new ground. When I use the word ‘playing’ now, I’m talking about something quite different. I’m talking about reading a good book, or going shopping just for the fun of it, or watching a fluff movie. I’m talking about spending time with friends.”
    Shaye knew what she was getting at. “I date.”
    “Oh yes. You’ve told me about those exciting times. Three hours talking shop with a lawyer from another firm. Another firm—that is daring. Of course, the fellow was nearly my age and probably arthritic.”
    Shaye chuckled. “We can’t all reach fifty-three and be as agile as you.”
    “But you can. It’s all in the mind. That lawyer’s mind was no doubt ready for retirement five years ago. And your stockbroker friend doesn’t sound much better. Does he give you good leads, at least?”
    “It’d be illegal for me to act on an inside tip. You know that.”
    Victoria did know it. She also knew that her niece gave wide berth to anything vaguely questionable, let alone illegal. Shaye Burke had become a disgustingly respectable pillar of society. “Okay. Forget about stock tips. Let’s talk fun. Do you have fun with him?”
    “He’s pleasant.”
    “So is the dentist. Have you been with anyone lately who’s fun?”
    “Uh-huh. Shannon.”
    “Shannon’s your sister!” Victoria knew how close the two were; they’d always been so. Shaye, the elder by four years, felt personally responsible for Shannon. “She doesn’t count. Who else?”
    “Judy.”
    Victoria gave an inward groan. Judy Webber was a lawyer in Shaye’s firm. The two women had become friends. If occasional weekend barbecues with Judy, her husband and their two teenaged daughters comprised Shaye’s attempts at relaxation, she was in pretty bad shape.
    “How is Judy?” Victoria asked politely.
    “Fine. She and Bob are heading for Nova Scotia next week. She’s looking forward to it.”
    “That does sound nice. In fact, that’s one of the reasons I called.”
    “To hear about Judy and Bob and Nova Scotia?”
    “To talk to you about your vacation plans. I need two weeks of your time, sweetheart. The last two weeks in July.”
    “Two weeks? Victoria, I can’t take off in July.”
    “Why not?”
    “Because I’m scheduled for vacation in August.”
    “Schedules can be changed.”
    “But I’ve already made reservations.”
    “Where?”
    “In the Berkshires. I’ve rented a cottage.”
    “Alone?”
    “Of course alone. How else will I manage to do the reading and shopping and whatever else you claim I’ve been missing?”
    “Knowing the way you’ve worked yourself to the bone, you’ll probably spend the two weeks sleeping.”
    “And what more peaceful a place to sleep than in the country?”
    “Sleeping is boring. You don’t accomplish anything when you sleep.”
    “We’re not all like you,” Shaye pointed out gently. “You may be able to get by on five hours of sleep a night, but I need eight.”
    “And you don’t usually get them because you work every night, then get up with the sun the next day to return to the office.”
    Shaye