Read Online His Dark Embrace by Amanda Ashley - Free Book Online Page A

into the kitchen, she pulled back the curtains, revealing a day as gray as her mood. With a sigh, she plugged in the coffeemaker, then sat at the table, trying to decide what she wanted for breakfast, only to realize she was too depressed to eat.
    When the coffee was ready, she poured herself a cup, added a little milk and sugar, then went into the living room.
    She was sitting on the sofa, staring at the far wall, when her cell phone rang.
    “Tara!” she exclaimed. “How are you?” Sky had met Tara Reed in Chicago and they had quickly become best friends. They worked together at McGraw, Strait & Dunne.
    “I’m fine,” Tara said, a smile in her voice. “I just called to see how you are.”
    “I’m doing all right,” Sky murmured, leaning back against the cushions.
    “Now, why don’t I believe that?”
    “Probably because I’m lying. But I’ll be all right. It’s just hard, you know? I wish I’d called home more often.”
    “Sky, you called him every week.”
    “I know.” But she still felt guilty for not calling Granda more often. With Sam missing, she had been the only family her grandfather had left. “So, how’s everything at MS & D?”
    “Miserable without you. Leena from Accounting eloped with CJ. Everybody’s talking about it. I mean, really, he’s old enough to be her father.”
    “No kidding!” CJ McGraw was the CEO of MS & D, and Tara’s boss. “Boy, I didn’t see that one coming.”
    “Neither did anybody else, including me! Oh, guess what? I saw Harry at Gene & Georgetti’s the night before last.”
    “Oh?” Gene & Georgetti’s was Harry’s favorite restaurant. She told herself she didn’t really care, but curiosity made her ask, “Was he alone?”
    “No, he was with Ron and his wife.”
    Ron was Harry’s older brother.
    “Is everything all right with you and Harry?” Tara asked.
    “He seemed a little down.”
    “I should probably call him.” Sky felt a twinge of guilt. She had hardly thought of Harry since she had come home. “We didn’t part on the best of terms.”
    “You didn’t have a fight, did you?”
    “Not exactly. He wanted to come to California with me, and I told him I wanted to be alone.”
    “Ah. Well, you know how men are. They try to be so macho, but inside, they’re cream puffs.”
    “Right,” Sky said, laughing. “So, what else is going on?”
    “I have news,” Tara said. “I’m just not sure this is the right time to share it.”
    “So, we’ve finally come to the real reason you called.”
    “I think I’ll save it until you get back here.”
    “Oh, no, you don’t. Come on, Tara Louise Reed, spit it out.”
    “Well ... Lance asked me to marry him!”
    “He did? When?”
    “Last night. It was so romantic. We went to dinner and then he surprised me with tickets to Wicked. You know I’ve been dying to see it.” She blew out an exaggerated sigh. “He proposed during intermission.”
    “That’s wonderful! When’s the big day?”
    “Not until you get back here where you belong. After all, I can’t very well get married without my maid of honor, can I?”
    “Are you asking me?”
    “Of course. Who else would I ask? Anyway, we haven’t set a date yet, but it probably won’t be for at least a couple of months. I have to buy a dress, find a church and a caterer, pick out invitations, and get them in the mail. Bridesmaid dresses. I was thinking about lavender for the bridesmaids and maybe a darker shade for you. What do you think?”
    “Whatever you want is fine with me. As long as it’s not yellow!”
    Tara laughed. “No yellow, I promise. Anyway, all that takes time. And money. And planning.”
    “Everything will work out. You’ll be a beautiful bride.”
    “I know,” Tara said, and then giggled. “Oh, but that sounds vain, doesn’t it? But you know, all brides are beautiful. Listen, I’ve gotta go. CJ is calling me. I’ll talk to you soon, okay?”
    “Sure. And Tara? It was great hearing from you. Thanks for