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“What are you doing?”
“Trying to figure out the parallel universe I got sucked into,” her friend joked. “Come on, stop being negative. What’s wrong with a little afternoon entertainment? You’re a big girl. Maybe you need to use him and not let it be the other way around. Sex could lead to friendship, friendship could lead to love. Whatever.”
Mary Paige ignored the idea of using anyone for anything, but she couldn’t ignore the last part. Her heart throbbed with the mere thought of a happily ever after with Brennan. It wouldn’t happen. There was no alternate universe. Just reality.
“Here’s the deal. He has a fascination with me because I’m a regular girl. I have a fascination with him because he’s gorgeous and rich and all that our mothers told us to chase after with a leash. But he won’t fall in love with me, ask me to have his babies, or take me to live in his mansion on the hill.”
“New Orleans doesn’t really have hills, you know,” Mitzi said, shaking her head and rolling her eyes. “Besides, why can’t he take you off to have his babies? It’s not like he’s freakin’ royalty and you’re some tavern wench. You act like he’s special.”
“No, but gazillionaires don’t fall in love with prostitutes and marry them like they do in movies.”
“Pretty Woman?Really? That’s why you’re cutting off your nose to spite your face? Besides you’re not a prostitute.”
“Okay, maybe basing my reasons on a movie isn’t so valid, but if you play with fire, you get burned.”
“Or light a torch that will burn forever.” Mitzi crossed her arms and gave her the look her mother gave when you didn’t clean your plate.
Mary Paige started moving across the polished aisle toward the section with the vibrant yellow dress. “Never knew you were such a romantic under all that acerbic wit and blustery bravado.”
“I don’t even know what those words mean. I went to public school.” Mitzi unwrapped a piece of gum and popped it in her mouth. “And if you’re going to play with fire, you might as well lookah-mazingdoing it.”
“But only if you let me buy you something, too.”
Mitzi stopped in front of a mannequin wearing a full-length faux fur and looked down at her thin body clad in a bulky jean jacket and leggings. An expression of infinite sadness flitted across her face before she said, “In the children’s section?”
“If you’d wear the prosthetics, no one would know.” Mary Paige slid her arm through Mitzi’s then tucked a red curl behind her friend’s ear.
Mitzi swatted her hand away. “I know.”
“Mitz, lots of women have breast cancer and have surgery like yours. Why don’t you go to the support group and talk—”
“Stop trying to fix me. I’m trying to fix you,” Mitzi growled, her eyes almost feral.
So it was too early for her friend to greet the reality of life without that part of herself. “Fine, but I’m buying you something. At least a manicure.”
“Deal. We need to go to the spa anyway.” Mitzi turned toward the section where Mary Paige would drop a lot of coin. No doubt about it.
Mary Paige could do a new dress, but she was absolutely not getting any unmentionable areas waxed. A gal had to draw a line somewhere…and it wouldn’t be a landing strip.
14
MALCOLMROLLEDOVERand looked at Judy sleeping in the morning light that streamed through the sheer fabric hanging in the oversize windows of his room. She looked like an angel, and his heart swelled with love.
Last night had been the best night of his life. He’d laughed, loved, and fallen hard for the small woman with the huge heart. It felt incredible.
Why had he waited so long to ask her out? Why had he waited so long to fall in love again?
He knew that answer. He’d made MBH Industries his life, ignoring anyone with a heartbeat, including his only grandson.
“Morning,” Judy whispered, her lovely gaze finding his, caressing him with the softest of looks.
“Morning, beautiful.” He lifted a strand of brown hair from the pristine whiteness of the down pillow.
Judy rolled over and stretched, her shoulders bare, her face relaxed. “I can’t believe I slept so late.”
“It’s not late. Only eight-thirty.”
“Late for me.” She glanced down at her body covered by the sheet. “I can’t believe I slept naked.”
