Read Online Watchdog by Laurien Berenson - Free Book Online Page A

...”
    His voice trailed off, but I knew what he meant. With all our other obligations, there never did seem to be enough time just for us. Sam designed computer software and was mostly self-employed, though in the last month he’d taken two consulting jobs on the side.
    Weekdays, Davey and I needed to be in Stamford. Lately, weekends had often found Sam on the road. Aside from Tar, he had four other Standard Poodles at home. He’d found a local pet-sitter, but the only way he could spend the night at my house was if we made arrangements in advance. Welcome to life in the nineties.
    â€œI’m a little confused,” I said. “Are you proposing, or breaking up with me?”
    I’d been half kidding, but his expression was suddenly sober. “I think I’m proposing.”
    A dozen different thoughts rocketed through my brain, the tumult fast and furious, and much too tangled to sort out.
    Sam was looking at me intently, his eyes the color of an early morning sea. His hand came up and cradled my jaw, thumb rubbing softly over my cheek. Then he dipped his head down and kissed me. His lips were warm and tasted of the red wine we’d had with dinner.
    I breathed in deep and drank him in. I wanted to go somewhere beyond thought. I wanted to lose myself in the moment, in the man. For now, it was the only answer I had to give.
    Â 
    After a day like that, going back to work on Monday seemed dull by comparison. Unfortunately, it’s just when I’m in that kind of mood that the day seems to stretch on interminably. My last session of the day was with Kate Russo and her best friend, Lucia Thornton, both of them further behind in their schoolwork than they ought to be, and paired in my sessions so that they could support each other in their struggles to catch up.
    Like Kate, Lucia was tall and slender; unlike Kate, she watched her weight religiously. Lucia was an equestrienne. She showed her Thoroughbred hunter, Remarkable, in weekly horse shows ranging from Connecticut to Palm Beach; and she’d explained the first time we met that the skin-tight, buff colored riding breeches worn for competition showed every extra ounce. My opinion— unsolicited by the headmaster and therefore unoffered—was that if Lucia spent half as much time on her studies as she did on the back of her horse, she wouldn’t have had any need of my services.
    As they packed up their books at the end of class, Lucia looked out the window at the parking lot below. She flipped her blond hair behind her shoulders and glanced at me slyly. “Looks like Ms. Travis has a boyfriend.”
    â€œLet me see.” Kate leaned over and had a look. “I hope it’s the one I met yesterday. He’s a real stud.”
    â€œWhat are you two talking about?”
    â€œDown there.” Lucia gestured. “There’s a guy leaning against your car, like he’s waiting for you to come out.”
    Sam? I thought, then quickly discarded the idea. If he’d needed me for something, he would have called. “I’m sure it’s a mistake,” I said, walking over to see.
    â€œLook!” Kate giggled, waving her hand in a broad motion. “He’s waving back.”
    I should have known, I thought when I reached the window. Who else would hang around the school parking lot, embarrassing his sister and drawing attention to himself by waving at students in their classrooms?
    No one but my brother, Frank.

Six
    I gathered up my things and walked out to my car.
    â€œNow what?” I demanded.
    You have to understand, Frank and I are not buddies. In the course of a normal month, we’d be lucky to see each other once, and more likely not to cross paths at all. All this hanging around together was beginning to get on my nerves. Besides, whenever Frank shows up it’s pretty much of a sure bet that he needs something.
    â€œIs that any way to greet your favorite brother?”
    Judging by