Between Friends Read Online Free PDF Page A

shower.”
    Whitney’s eyebrows arched as she questioned their reasoning. “So you would be squeaky clean when you wiped up the mess?”
    “Errr…” Mick looked sheepish. “Yeah. That’s a good point.”
    “Clearly planning isn’t one of his strong suits,” Eddie said as he came into the room and gestured at the mess.
    Between Friends
    27
    “Kind of scary for a doctor,” Whitney said, needling her good friend.
    Mick played up the puppy-dog eyes. “You’re mean.”
    She laughed and rolled her eyes. “That doesn’t work on me. I’m immune after all this time living with you.”
    “Thank god.” Eddie took the pillow closest to her and reached for the pitcher of iced tea. He filled her glass first then Mick’s and his.
    Rather shockingly, he leaned over and pecked her cheek. “Thank you for grabbing dinner and picking up the mess.”
    “You’re welcome.” Whitney’s skin tingled from the warmth of his unexpected kiss.
    “Hey! Don’t leave me out.” To her utter surprise, Mick leaned across the makeshift table and kissed her other cheek. “Thank you, Whit.”
    “Anytime.” Whitney’s face blazed. Sure, as roommates, the three of them had constant contact, but never kisses, not even gentle, chaste ones like the two she’d just received. Something had changed. Had it been inspired by her transformation in attitude? She had been bold as brass and felt up Eddie while she grabbed his keys.
    “So,” Mick said as he dished out food onto his plate, “how was Paris? How was Miami?”
    “Miami was fabulous!” Whitney poked a pair of chopsticks into the nearest container of fried rice and pushed a serving onto her plate.
    “It was so nice to see the girls and lounge around the pool with a mojito and a good book. There are some amazing clubs down there.
    And the food!” She closed her eyes in exaggerated remembrance.
    “Delicious!”
    “Clubs, huh?” Eddie’s tone caught her attention. She sensed a little jealousy. “You were careful, right?”
    “I watched my drink like a hawk. I declined the shots offered to me from random dudes. I came in a group and left in a group. I kept my pepper spray and the rape whistle you gave me in my purse. We took a cab between the hotel and club instead of walking because it 28
    Lolita Lopez
    was late at night.” She squared her shoulders and held his gaze. “Does Sergeant Dillon approve?”
    Eddie flashed a devastatingly sexy grin. “He does. Well done.”
    She preened. “Thank you.”
    “So did you meet anyone?” Mick focused on his egg-drop soup, but Whit could tell he was anything but disinterested.
    “I met lots of great people, but if you’re asking whether or not I met a man”—she paused to gauge Mick’s response—“the answer is no. I wasn’t actually on the lookout for a hookup. I was a bit more career-minded on this one.”
    Mick’s brow furrowed. “Are you thinking of switching jobs?”
    “Sort of,” Whitney said, twirling noodles around her chopsticks.
    “I feel like I’ve gone as far as I possibly can at the style house. I want something different. I’ve worked my ass off since high school. I interned at fashion magazines and with some of the best designers around. I’ve done public relations and marketing. I’m not getting to use any of those skills right now. I’m just styling clothes for shoots and shows.”
    “But you love styling,” Mick pointed out in between sips of soup.
    “I do,” she agreed, “but I want to do something more.”
    “Do you have a plan?” Eddie seemed concerned. “The job market is rough, Whit. I’d hate to see you leave a fairly well-paying and stable job for something that may not pan out immediately.”
    “I do have a plan.” Her stomach fluttered with anxiety. She’d made her decision, but it didn’t make it any less scary. “An old mentor of mine is opening a public relations, marketing, and branding firm. It’s a big deal. She has lots of awesome, first-rate clients lined up already.