Read Online Reservation (Preservation Series) by Rachael Wade - Free Book Online Page A

this,” I said. “Something we’re missing. When did he spring this on you? And what sparked his interest in Florida? Even if he’s seriously considering this, he wouldn’t be able to pull it off for a while. Even if he has financial help getting out there, he needs to find a job, find a place, sell his stuff...that would take time.”
    Dean opened his mouth to answer, but was cut off by my ringtone. It was my flavor of the week, ‘Kiss with a Fist” by Florence and the Machine. I wouldn’t have answered it, but it was Kate. Guess she didn’t want to wait an hour to talk.
    “Dean, it’s Kate. Hold that thought.”
    What filled my ear next was Kate’s frantic rambling, her voice shaky and on the verge of crying. What the hell?
    “Calm down, baby, what’s going on?” I cupped my other ear to hear her, stepping closer to the kitchen window. The reception was bad and some kind of background music was drowning her out.
    “I just talked to Carter,” she yelled. “Ryan, I can’t believe this. I don’t know what’s going on with him, but he—” She paused, excusing herself. A man’s voice responded, something muffled. Whatever he said, it made her laugh, softening the tension in her tone. She said something back to him, and his eager response made my skin crawl. “Hold on, Ry, I’m stepping out. Okay, can you hear me now?”
    The blaring music weakened, the bass lessening as the sound of a door latch clicked. “Yeah, where are you?”
    “I was invited to this place called Fusion. The closest thing they have to a real club on the island. It still looks like a shack. You’d love it. There’s a view of the ocean and—”
    “Who are you with?”
    “Friends from work. Look, I’m really upset. I need you to talk to—”
    “I thought your work friends were all women.”
    “No, they’re not all women. Listen, Carter is talking about leaving Seattle and it’s driving me crazy. I just got off the phone with him and he won’t listen to a word I have to say. I don’t know what got into him, but I need you to talk to him, Ry. I can’t lose my best friend. He’s only been home a few days and I don’t even recognize him.”
    My mind lingered on the man’s voice I’d heard on the line and the fact that it was a weeknight—from what Kate had told me, she only went out with her friends on Fridays or Saturday nights—but I dragged it to the present to focus on her concern. “I know. I just got home and Dean showed up at my place. I’m with him now. He’s filling me in.”
    “Dean’s there?”
    “Yeah, he is. Do you want to talk to him? Maybe you guys can figure out—”
    “No, I don’t want to be rude, I should get back inside. I know we were supposed to have a phone date, but I didn’t expect to be invited out after work. Can we talk tomorrow on my lunch break?”
    “Yeah, it’s no problem.”
    “Okay, thanks, babe. God, I’m just so confused, so emotional this week. I miss you, miss all of you guys. I just want to come home.”
    My heart started that swelling thing again, absently carrying me to one of the kitchen bar stools. I sat and breathed deep. “I’ve only been gone a few days. How are we going to do this?”
    She sniffled, and God did I hate the sound. Kate crying was probably my least favorite sound on the planet, only worsened by the fact that I wasn’t nearby to wipe away the tears. “I don’t want to think about it,” she said. “And now this thing with Carter...it’s why I agreed to come here tonight. I needed to have a few drinks, dance, and just blow off some steam. I feel helpless, being stuck here, you know?”
    “You’re not stuck, baby. You like your job and you’ll get through it. You’ll be coming home before you know it to get ready for your own book tour.”
    “I guess you’re right.”
    “What do you want me to say to him?” My eyes found Dean’s. They were pleading with me, imploring me to step in and intervene somehow. He sat on the couch,