Read Online Confidential: Expecting! by Jackie Braun - Free Book Online

“You don’t have a real social life, so I know whatever is going on between you two has got to be work related.”
    She wanted to deny it and was a little troubled that she couldn’t, not completely. “Your point?”
    “Unless it’s something an intern could write in her sleep, you shouldn’t be working on it.”
    “What? Are you my editor now?” Mallory asked. “If so, I missed the memo.”
    “Leave the real stories to those who can do them without costing the newspaper a bundle.”
    Sandra’s remark posted a direct hit. Mallory felt herface heat, partly from irritation but mostly from embarrassment. She couldn’t prove it, but she knew she’d been set up. Still, it was her own fault. Even if she was able to return to her beat eventually, would she ever be able to live down her costly mistake?
    “I’ve got to go.”
    When she attempted to walk past Sandra, the other woman blocked her path and pointed a finger in her face. “Just so you know, I’m watching you. One more screw-up and you’ll be gone.”
    “You’d like that, wouldn’t you?”
    “I live for the day.”
    Mallory managed to sound bored when she said, “Then you need to get a life, Sandra.”
    “Charming woman,” Logan remarked when Mallory rejoined him.
    “Yes, we’re the best of friends.”
    “As tight as Brutus and Caesar, I’d say.”
    “Exactly, which is why I watch my back whenever she’s around.”
    “How about if I keep an eye on your back…and other things…tonight?”
    His brows lifted and so did the pall the encounter with Sandra had cast over Mallory’s mood.
    “I see a table over there.” She pointed to one that was adjacent to a side entrance.
    “Good choice,” he replied, nodding toward the doors.
    “I thought so.”
    She changed her mind a moment later. Two other couples already were seated there sipping cocktails andsharing a plate of appetizers. Introductions were made, although both of the women knew Logan—or, rather, knew who he was—even before he gave his name.
    So much for Mallory’s hope that the two of them could just chat between themselves until the opportunity to leave arrived.
    “Oh, my God! You’re Logan Bartholomew! The Logan Bartholomew!” the bustier of the two brunettes shouted. “I just love your show. I listen to it every morning while I’m getting ready for work.”
    “Thank you.”
    “My name is Anita, by the way. And this is my husband, Victor.”
    “It’s nice to meet you, Anita.” Logan turned to shake Victor’s hand. “And you, too.”
    “The same,” Victor replied, although he didn’t appear to be nearly as starstruck as his wife.
    “I feel like I already know you.” When Anita winked flirtatiously, Mallory gritted her teeth, feeling oddly possessive.
    The other brunette piped up then. “I’m your biggest fan, Dr. Bartholomew. I never miss your show.”
    “Please, it’s just Logan.”
    “Logan.” She actually giggled. “I’m Julia Richmond.” Motioning to the irritated-looking man sitting beside her, she added, “Thanks to you, Darin and I have been able to work out some of our differences and keep our relationship moving forward. We’re getting married in the fall.”
    She extended her left hand, showing off a diamondengagement ring big enough that it should have required an escort of armed guards.
    “Wow,” Mallory said. “That’s some rock.”
    “Tell me about it,” Darin muttered.
    Logan cleared his throat and offered a diplomatic “Congratulations to you both.”
    “Thanks. We owe it all to you, don’t we, honey?” Julia wrapped an arm around Darin, who said nothing. Instead, he hoisted his drink in a mock toast and took a liberal swig. Mallory gave their marriage a year, tops, assuming they even made it to the nuptials, which at this point looked dicey.
    Julia was saying, “The advice you give on your show, especially to couples who are having problems, is right on the money. It’s like you wrote the book on relationships or