Page 67 of The Best of Friends

As he watched her go, he remembered what she’d said about her mother dying. How she’d been all alone, and the Wordens, mostly Elizabeth, had taken her in. He’d never known that kind of tragedy or fear. To be still in high school and completely alone in the world. She’d done the best she could with what she had, and when it became impossible to separate herself from Elizabeth’s unreasonable demands, and possibly Rebecca’s, she’d done the only thing she could. She’d decided to leave.

Who was he to get in the middle of that? To make trouble now, when she was so close to escaping? He should do what he could to make the situation better, not worse. Except he didn’t want to let her go. He wanted… something else.

Ordering a scotch from the bartender, he’d barely gone two steps when Elizabeth and one of the potential brides joined him.

“David, you remember Wendy.”

“Of course,” he said, smiling at the beautiful redhead. “Nice to see you again.”

“Thanks. Great party.”

“My mother’s doing.”

Elizabeth brushed off the compliment. “Wendy’s a lawyer. High-powered corporate law, but she also volunteers as legal counsel at a women’s shelter.”

Wendy, tall and slender, dressed in a fitted suit he would guess cost more than Jayne and all three of her friends made in a month, smiled modestly. “I think it’s important to give back.”

“Of course it is, dear. Wendy’s father is our banker. Her mother and I serve on several boards together. Isn’t your sister pregnant?”

“Six months and counting,” Wendy said. “I can’t wait until the baby gets here. I love children.” She turned to David. “Don’t you?”

David nodded. “If you’ll excuse me for a second, I need to talk to my mother.” He took Elizabeth’s arm. “This way, Mother.”

“Whatever it is can wait. I’m sure Wendy is hungry.”

“I’ll be right back,” David promised, and propelled his mother through the living room and into the first room off the hall. It happened to be Blaine’s office, which was empty at the moment. David shut the door and faced Elizabeth.

“You have got to stop,” he said.

“Stop what? Introducing you to women like Wendy? She’s perfect, by the way. I’ve been asking around. No drugs, moderate alcohol. There was a touch of bulimia when she was in college, but that seems to be under control.”

“Enough,” he said, his voice a low growl. “I appreciate that you want me to find the right woman, but the key part of that statement ismefinding her. Not you.”

“I’m facilitating the process.”

“You’re holding a contest, and I’m the prize.”

“This is an important decision.”

“Which I will make on my own.”

She shook her head. “You’ve been gone a long time. The dating pool is very different. I’m offering you good choices.”

“I’ll find my own girl. This hasgotto stop.”

“You knew the reason for the party weeks ago. Don’t pretend you didn’t.”

“I expected something more casual. I appreciate the opportunity to get to know your guests, but stop presenting them to me. I don’t need to know their credentials up front.” He ran his hand through his hair.

“You’re acting like your sister,” Elizabeth snapped. “So there are too many pretty girls. Isn’t your life hard and full of pain? Grow up, David. This is how it’s done. You’re not just getting married, you’re making an investment in your future. This woman will be the mother of your children. Her credentials are important, as is her family and her past. Play all you like, but when it comes to a wife, you can’t afford to screw around.”

“Like Blaine did with you?”

Elizabeth froze in place. Her eyes widened, as color exploded on her cheeks. David immediately felt like a jerk.

“I shouldn’t have said that,” he told her.

“No. And you shouldn’t have thought it, either.”