Until We Touch Read Free Page A

“What the hell. Let’s be wild.”
    Dellina, a local party planner and Sam’s fiancée, tossed her menu down, as well. “I don’t have any client meetings this afternoon.”
    Isabel laughed. “I have a store to run. I’d better be careful or I’ll accidentally put the new merchandise on sale.”
    “I love being bad,” Taryn announced. “I just love it.”
    “You’ve always been bad,” Dellina told her. “You’re the type. I can tell about these things.”
    Larissa leaned back in the booth and prepared to listen. She enjoyed being around these women. They were smart, successful and yet so very different. Taryn was one of the partners at Score. While all four partners were equal owners, the three guys would admit that Taryn was just a little more equal than the rest of them. She was good at keeping her “boys” in line.
    Larissa had always admired her. Taryn dressed in beautiful clothes, walked around in five-inch heels and had a handbag collection that belonged in a museum. Better than that, Taryn was a good friend.
    Dellina handled events of all kinds in town. Birthday parties, weddings. A couple of months ago she’d planned and managed a big weekend event for Score’s biggest clients. She was also recently engaged to Sam.
    Isabel owned Paper Moon. On one side, a clothing store, on the other, wedding gowns. All three women were professionally dressed in suits or dresses. Larissa glanced down at her yoga pants. Maybe in her next life she would inherit the fashion gene, she thought wistfully. Until then, she was going to dress for comfort and practicality.
    Jo, the owner of the bar, came over and took their order. Taryn ordered nachos for the table and a pitcher of margaritas. Jo raised her eyebrows.
    “Not planning to work this afternoon?” she asked.
    “We’re going to see how it goes,” Taryn told her.
    “I’ve heard that before.”
    “She doesn’t think we’re behaving responsibly,” Dellina murmured when Jo had left.
    “Then my work here is done,” Taryn said. “So what’s new with everyone?”
    “I’m busy with fall clothes.” Isabel smiled. “You have to come in and see what’s new. There are some beautiful things.” She turned to Taryn. “There’s a suede jacket you’ll love.”
    “I’ll come see it when we’re done here.”
    Dellina shook her head. “No way I’m stopping by,” she told her friend. “You tempt me with gorgeous clothes.”
    Isabel laughed. “That’s the point.”
    “I’m saving my pennies.”
    “For a wedding?” Larissa asked, her gaze settling on Dellina’s shiny new engagement ring.
    “No. I’m going to be moving into an office. Sam’s house is great and he’s mentioned that I can set up my office there, but I think it’s time I joined the real world and had an actual office.” She wrinkled her nose. “I’m kind of getting to the point where I need to hire an assistant. That means more space.”
    “Wow! Good for you.” Isabel leaned over and hugged her friend. “That’s a big step. Congratulations.”
    “Yes, congratulations,” Larissa said, pleased her friend was doing so well.
    “You’re a tycoon,” Taryn teased. “Impressive.”
    “I’m no tycoon, but I’m doing well. So what’s going on with everyone else?”
    Taryn mentioned a new account Score had just signed, then all eyes turned to Larissa. She froze, painfully aware that her life wasn’t like theirs. She didn’t own her own business. In fact, there was a sameness to her days that was kind of sad. The newest thing in her life was her mother’s talk with Jack and there was no way she was mentioning that.
    “I adopted a cat,” she said instead. “A lady died. She was ninety-three. Her kids couldn’t take in her cat, so I did. Her name is Dyna. She’s a Ragdoll cat. Really beautiful.”
    She pulled out her phone and showed them a couple of pictures.
    Dellina’s eyes widened when she saw the photograph. “She’s stunning.” Her mouth twitched. “Taryn, if