Read Online Strange Bedpersons by Jennifer Crusie - Free Book Online Page A

dressed in clothes that were so well tailored they could probably stand without the people in them.
    Tess felt herself stiffen and told herself to relax, shut up and make nice. It was only for two days, and she looked properly adult in her crepe dress, a dress that had been perfectly pressed by Henderson, who had appeared at her door to suggest that her clothes might have been mussed in the packing process. Henderson was so brilliant at this that he managed to make it sound as though the wrinkles were his fault, and Tess had handed over her dress because she couldn’t bear to disappoint him by turning him down. Now he was quietly making sure that everyone found the buffet, had a full glass and wasn’t lifting the silver. Watching Henderson might make up for the weekend, Tess thought as Nick led her across the lush carpet to the padded bar. It was so rare to see a man who simply took care of everything and then faded into the background. This must be why men liked having wives. Since she wasn’t eligible for a wife, maybe someday she could have a Henderson. Maybe Nick would give her one for Christmas. It did seem mercenary of her, but she was prepared to share him with Gina. Gina would love having a Henderson.
    Then she saw Gina standing at the bar, looking up at Park with her face glowing.
    Not good.
    “What’s wrong?” Nick asked.
    “Nothing,” Tess said. Park must have turned on the charm on the drive down. She watched him with Gina for a moment and then tried to make herself be fair. He was smiling down at Gina, laughing with her, paying absolutely rapt attention to her. No wonder she was glowing. Still, there was no point in Gina’s getting involved with Park. Park made movie stars look stable.
    “That’s Gina,” Nick said, startled.
    “Of course that’s Gina,” Tess said, still annoyed with Park. “You told me to get Park a date.”
    “I told you to get him a respectable date.”
    “Hey.” Tess transferred her annoyance to Nick the lawyer. “That’s my best friend you’re trashing there. Back off.”
    “I like Gina,” Nick said, and then looked back at the bar with a troubled face. “But frankly I don’t think her grammar and her gum are up to this kind of party.”
    “She will do fine,” Tess said coldly, and stomped toward the bar, enraged with Nick and with Park and with herself for getting Gina into this.
    “Oh, great. Tess Trueheart in person,” Park said when they reached them. He looked at Nick. “I suppose you had to.”
    Tess’s temper flared. This was the jerk who had lured Nick into yuppiedom, and now he was making fun of her. All the antagonism she’d felt for her landlord and the Foundation trustees and Nick fused into her glare at Park. “Great to see you, Park,” she said. “Did I ever mention that your name sounds like low-income housing?”
    “Tess,” Gina said weakly.
    “Still the same tact, I see,” Park said, glaring back.
    “Still the same tan, I see,” Tess said. “You know, studies have shown that excessive tanning—”
    “Gina, you look terrific,” Nick said, kicking Tess smartly on the ankle.
    “—can lead to skin cancer and premature aging,” Tess said, moving out of his reach. “Just wanted you to know.”
    “Thank you,” Park said. “I’m touched.”
    “Aw, Tess,” Gina said.
    “Come on, Tess,” Nick muttered. “Play nice.”
    “He started it,” Tess said.
    “Oh, that’s mature,” Nick said. “Could you please act like an adult?”
    “Tess,” Gina said pleadingly.
    “Okay, okay. I’m sorry. Let’s try this again.” Tess took a deep breath and smiled a nice bright toothpaste smile. “Hello, Park, it’s good to see you again.”
    Park smiled back tightly. “Always a pleasure, Tess.”
    “Now see,” Nick said, “that wasn’t so hard, was it?”
    Tess shot him a look of contempt and took Gina’s arm. “I need to talk to you,” she whispered before she turned to Park and Nick and said, “Gina and I are going to go