Read Online Doreen by Ilana Manaster - Free Book Online Page B

mark my words, when you are young and lovely and well groomed, you do not often have to wait long to receive the generous attentions of—”
    â€œPardon me,” said the waiter, setting two glasses of champagne before the girls. “But the gentleman at the bar wishes to—”
    â€œOh no, I’m sorry, please send it back,” said Heidi with a wave of her hand.
    â€œYes, madam.”
    â€œHeidi! Are you sure?”
    Heidi shot Doreen a reprimanding look then returned to the waiter, all smiles. “We are having a nice time, you see,” she explained, “and we do not wish to be interrupted. Please thank the gentleman, whoever he is, and give our regrets.” The waiter nodded. He disappeared with the two flutes.
    â€œDo not turn around,” Heidi commanded in a whisper before Doreen could locate the mystery man.
    â€œBut I don’t understand. You were just saying—”
    â€œVeuve Clicquot. A nice touch. Young, though, not much older than we are, I would say. An older man would approach. This is an old-world gesture, a movie gesture. Either he’s a geezer or he’s a young man putting on airs. Let’s hope for the latter, shall we?” Heidi said with a wink.
    Sure enough, almost as soon as the words escaped Heidi’s mouth, a young man approached their table. He was tall, with an athletic build. His clothes were a sharper version of the Chandler look: starched pink shirt, khakis, blue blazer. His hair was deep black and charmingly rumpled.
    â€œToo early in the day for champagne?” he asked. “You don’t look like the kind of girl who watches the clock. Peter Standish. This is my compatriot, Coburn.” Another young man stepped up from the shadows, the same age and type but blond with watery blue eyes and a general dimness of expression. “Coburn Everbock. He, like myself, is a Harvard man. A crew man. We have come to Gotham in search of distraction. Unfortunately, we have had no luck.”
    â€œWhat a shame,” said Heidi dismissively. “Have you tried Broadway?” She rolled her eyes at Doreen, but the girl seemed altogether too fascinated by the two boys. Heidi hoped she would catch on soon.
    â€œYou see, our studies up in Cambridge are quite immersive—fascinating stuff, really, from the minds of giants. Distraction, for that reason, does not come easily. We require beauty, wit, charm—but mostly beauty,” he said with a twinkle in his eye. “We were sure that our country’s cultural center would have much to offer us in this regard, but as I have recently reported, wheresoever Venus may lurk in this fair city, she has eluded us.”
    â€œUntil now. Oh, sorry, was I meant to wait for the punchline? How rude of me to interrupt,” said Heidi.
    â€œAh, but it is your privilege! So you were right after all, Coburn. Grace and intelligence have not abandoned the city. I was sure we had wasted our time.” Peter pulled a wallet out of his blazer and decorously passed a bill—one of many, Heidi could not help but notice—to his friend. “Your winnings, my friend. I give them to you happily and you have Ms. . . . ?”
    â€œWhelan,” said Doreen. “Heidi Whelan. And I am Doreen Gray.” Heidi made a show of appearing irritated at Doreen for encouraging the boys, but flashed an approving glance, undetectable by the hovering suitors. A tiny smile of recognition appeared on Doreen’s lips as she began to understand the game.
    Peter nodded at Doreen, allowing his gaze to linger. “Well, Coburn, you have Ms. Whelan and Ms. Gray to thank for your victory.”
    â€œThank you,” said Coburn.
    â€œPlease sit,” said Doreen. Heidi expressed overt displeasure with her friend while continuing to give silent approval. They were working as a team now, communicating in wordless, imperceptible looks. Heidi had felt from their first meeting that Doreen could