Debbie Macomber - Happy Mother's Day - Ready for Romance / Ready for Marriage

Cathy laughed. “It is.”

“That’s what I was afraid of.”

Precisely at noon Cathy arrived at the office. Jessica envied her petite friend her pixie good looks, short dark hair and big blue eyes. Cathy was adorable in her pants, which were black with huge white dots, and multicolored striped suspenders. Her blouse was white with small black dots and she was wearing black high heels. One thing was certain—no one would miss seeing her walk down the street. If Evan had been in the office, he doubtless would have begged an introduction.

“You must’ve forgotten about our lunch,” Cathy said more loudly than necessary, standing outside Jessica’s office. Loudly enough for Damian to hear.

Her friend’s ploy worked because a minute later he wandered out of his office.

“Damian, this is my friend Cathy Hudson,” Jessica said. “I might have mentioned her before.”

Damian and Cathy shook hands. “Jessica forgot we were supposed to meet for lunch toda,” Cathy said.

“It isn’t a good idea for Jessica to skip meals,” Damian said. His eyes twinkled and the effort to suppress a smile caused the corners of his mouth to quiver.

“So you’ve seen what happens when Jessica’s stomach growls. Wounded bears are easier to reason with than Jess when she’s hungry.”

“Hey, that’s not true!” Jessica flared. They were speaking as if she wasn’t there. She placed her hands on her hips and glared at the two of them. She hadn’t been keen on this idea of Cathy’s from the first and her instincts were proving to be right.

Her former roommate eased closer to Damian and was staring soulfully into his eyes. He didn’t seem to mind in the least; in fact, he seemed to lap it up.

“I’ll get my purse,” Jessica said stiffly, leaving Cathy and Damian gazing at each other while she went behind her desk and dug her purse out of the bottom drawer. The whole charade irritated her, and she was furious she’d allowed herself to be talked into it.

Cathy managed to tear her eyes away from Damian long enough to throw visual spikes at her friend. It took Jessica a moment to understand what was being signaled. Oh, yes—she was supposed to invite him to tag along.

“Would you care to join us for lunch?” she asked Damian, managing to sound polite, if unenthusiastic.

“Please do,” Cathy said, her words like warm honey.

Damian looked at Jessica as if seeking her confirmation, and to her credit, she did produce a smile. She didn’t know why she’d gone along with this. No doubt it was due to Cathy’s persuasive talents.

“I’ll be happy to join you,” Damian shocked her by saying. She’d never dreamed he would. The man was full of surprises.

“Great, just great,” Jessica muttered under her breath.

“Fabulous,” came Cathy’s melodious response.

Jessica rolled her eyes, and together the three of them headed out of the office. Damian suggested a well-known expensive restaurant, and before Jessica could comment one way or the other, Cathy had agreed. Jessica snapped her mouth closed before she could say something she’d regret. It irked her that Damian would so easily fall into Cathy’s snare. It might be just a charade, but she was left more than a little confused.

Outside the building, Damian waved down a cab, and Cathy managed to sit in the backseat with Damian. Jessica sat in the front while her best friend giggled her way through the streets of Boston. They drove past the Boston Common and the Freedom Trail, the winding path that led history buffs and tourists from one historic monument to another.

She was acting like a jealous fool, Jessica realized with a start. Jealous of Damian and Cathy? The fog that had clouded her thinking for the past few days cleared.

She was falling in love with Damian Dryden . It couldn’t have been any more obvious. It was one of the things Cathy had set out to prove, and her friend was right—she’d needed this blunt lesson.

Of course she loved Damian. From the minute she’d walked into his office and asked about the job. From the minute he’d stood on the footbridge that crossed the pond on his parents’ property and insisted on taking her to Cannon Beach.

From the minute he’d kissed her.

This was what Cathy had been trying to tell her.

When they got to the restaurant, Cathy excused herself and Jessica. With her arm wrapped around her friend’s, she dragged her to the ladies’ room.

Before Jessica could open her mouth, Cathy burst out, “Damian’s wonderful!”

“I know.”

“I haven’t met Evan, but I’m telling you right now if you’re not interested in his big brother, I am. He’s witty, he’s gorgeous, and—”

“I know all that.” And a lot more.

“Listen,” Cathy said, “I want you to make some excuse and leave.”

Jessica was stunned. “You want me to what? ”

Cathy was refreshing her makeup in front of the mirror, her eyeliner in hand. “You heard me. Remember an urgent appointment, something that’ll call you away so the two of us can be alone together. Only don’t make it sound phony, or Damian will know what we’re doing.”

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