Part 23 (2/2)

”You loved him. I remember how you felt, how happy you were.”

”Why didn't we just leave well enough alone? I would have been so much happier living with you and going over to his place for s.e.x. That's when I loved him most, when we didn't have to try so hard to get along all G.o.dd.a.m.n day. And it's when he loved me too.”

”But that wasn't what you wanted. You wanted to build a life together. You couldn't do that living with me.” And Carmen couldn't have endured all those nights alone knowing Brooke was with Geoffrey.

”I can't seem to build a life with anybody, Carmen. I f.u.c.ked up with Anthony and now I'm f.u.c.king up with Geoffrey. What is it about me that turns men into cold-hearted b.a.s.t.a.r.ds?”

”You didn't do that to Anthony. He had to be born that way to be so good at it.”

”But Geoffrey used to be such a nice guy. We used to laugh and make love all day.”

Carmen hoped this wasn't going to turn into another conversation about Brooke and Geoffrey f.u.c.king. ”Why don't you laugh now?”

”Because nothing's ever funny. It's all just pathetic.” She leaned into Carmen's arms and sighed. ”When Cathy said that 161 about leaving her stupid cheesecake with Hank, it just made me cry. I can't imagine what it would feel like to love Geoffrey that much.”

Carmen wished she would leave Geoffrey once and for all. It was obvious he didn't come close to giving her the kind of love she needed. He was too selfish, too wrapped up in his own needs.

But she couldn't be the one to say that. Brooke would have to take that step on her own. ”You two need to talk to somebody. If he won't go, then you'll have to go by yourself.”

”Can't I just talk to you?”

”You know you can. But I can't help you.”

”I don't know if I even want help anymore. Sometimes I think I just don't want to be married, not ever again.”

Carmen tilted her head to rest against Brooke's. Her heart was filled with love and concern, and her arms ached to offer protection from that which caused her beloved friend pain.

Brooke Healey had known enough pain in her life.

”Let's do something next weekend,” Brooke said. ”What if I pick you up on Sat.u.r.day and take you on a tour of all the places I've decorated for the realtors? I'd love for you to see my work.

You're the only one who really cares about it.”

”We all care about it. Didn't you see how excited Cathy and Priscilla were when you were telling us?”

”I know they were interested. But that's not the same as caring about it like you do. That's why I want you to see it.”

”I can't. I'm busy next weekend.” It wasn't unusual for her to be busy with her work or her family, so she hoped Brooke would simply accept her vague excuse.

”Are you working? We could do it Sunday.”

”I'm having company, someone from New York.”

”Sofia?”

”No.” Why was Brooke so interested in her personal life all of a sudden? ”A woman I met at the convention last month.”

Brooke sat up straight and turned to face her. ”You're seeing 162 someone? Why didn't you tell me?”

”We just met a month ago, that weekend I went for the convention.”

”Did you see her again when you went back?”

Getting the third degree from Brooke was unusual. ”Yeah, we had dinner and went to a show.”

Brooke's face took on a confused look and she slumped against the couch.

”What's wrong?”

”Nothing. I'm just surprised you like somebody enough to invite her here for a weekend, but you don't tell your friends about it. What's with that?”

”We just started seeing each other.” Carmen could almost feel her insides roiling. Hiding the truth about Judith from Brooke betrayed both of them. ”Not everybody I go out with is lucky enough to meet my friends.”

”And I'm not letting you fall for just anybody. She better be something special if she wants my seal of approval.”

163.

Chapter 13.

”Hold on . . . almost ready.” Carmen juggled a cardboard box filled with groceries, s.h.i.+fting it to one hip as she slipped her key into the lock. Prissy whimpered impatiently, tearing through the door as soon as it cracked open. Carmen dropped the leash and caught the falling box. ”Thanks for your all your help,” she said sarcastically.

She lugged the box into the kitchen and dropped it on the counter-all the ingredients for a romantic candlelight dinner, something she hadn't orchestrated in over a dozen years.

So what was it about Judith O'Shea that had her obsessed with pulling off the perfect evening? Considering where they had left things in New York, this seduction scene probably wasn't even necessary. A h.e.l.lo kiss would probably send them straight to the bedroom. But she didn't want a night like the one Raul had interrupted at the hotel. She was adding the romantic ele-164 ment to officially undo that clumsy start, to recast their relations.h.i.+p as more than just a fling.

Ironically, that was Brooke's doing, because it made her think all week about what she wanted from Judith. All along, they had talked about being themselves, and Judith had shown her personal side in New York. Carmen needed to do that too.

”Please be good this weekend, Prissy. Mommy likes Judith very much and we want her to like us so she'll come back and see us again.”

She got out the cutting board and cleaver to prepare the chicken. It needed to marinate for two hours, and that would put it just about right for Judith's arrival. By the clock on the stove, she would be getting to the airport in New York soon.

Unable to resist, Carmen plucked her cell phone from her purse and dialed the familiar number. It was answered after only two rings. ”I hope you're in a taxi . . . No, a bus isn't sort of a taxi.

I can't believe you'd endure all of that, especially dragging a suitcase.” She hadn't thought fast enough to keep from saying that.

It made her sound sn.o.bbish to suggest that only a fool would take ma.s.s transit. Judith did it all the time, as did millions of other people in New York. ”You're welcome. I know you would have been fine in coach, but I wanted you to be relaxed when you got here. And I'm sending a car for you so you won't have to worry about a thing on this end . . . Because I'll be here cooking you a wonderful dinner, so don't eat on the plane. Mine will be better, I promise . . . Besides, I don't drive much. People tell me I'm not very good at it.”

Judith's laugh brought an instant smile to Carmen's face.

That's what she wanted for the weekend, a chance for them to relax and enjoy each other's company. Among other things.

Prissy began to bark at a bird on the rail of the balcony.

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