By Appointment Only Read Online Free PDF Page A

sure?”
    She nodded.
    “And maybe a change of clothes?”
    A bubble of laughter escaped her. “It’s never enough with you, is it, Webber?”
    He disengaged their bodies and rolled suddenly, settling her on top of him with a talented maneuver. She looked down at him, seeing the naughty twinkle in his eyes. His big hands cupped her bare ass. “It will never be enough, my love. Never.”
    He got up to leave soon after, and she couldn’t decide if she was sad or relieved. It was getting harder and harder to put on the brakes. She wanted to throw caution to the wind and give him everything he wanted.
    He paused at the door and reached into the paper grocery sack that had held the bottle of wine he’d brought. Slowly he pulled out a thick, plastic-wrapped rectangle and handed it to her.
    She stared at it blankly, feeling the weight of his expectations. It was one of those impossibly heavy, glossy-paged bridal magazines. She held it by the edges, aghast that such a subversive piece of literature had found its way into her home.
    He kissed her cheek and ruffled her hair, grinning widely. “Give it a chance, Hannah. You might learn something.”
    The following morning, Hannah was ready to be back on the job. She needed her comfortable routines to make up for the completely out-of-control feelings she had experienced the night before. A bridal magazine? Good Lord . . . what was he thinking? She’d sooner read a treatise on Middle Eastern foreign policy. And at least the latter would have some redeeming value. The magazine was nothing more than an overpriced homage to the unrealistic dreams of girls and their mommies.
    She ripped away the shrink wrap and thumbed through the shiny, fragrant pages. Sleek, stylish wedding dresses stared at her from every page. And all the women wearing them looked smug and perfect.
    Hannah wrinkled her nose. Articles about invitations and the perfect reception merited no more than a glance. But suddenly, she quit flipping and stared at the heading on a page near the center of the magazine. EXPLORE YOUR SEXUAL IQ—AS A COUPLE.
    Despite herself, she started to read. A team of family therapists in California had come up with a novel approach to premarital counseling. Instead of focusing on the traditional topics like finances and communication, this new setup was designed to make sure couples understood their relationship in the bedroom. Role-playing was set up in the doctor’s office. Unobserved, but later evaluated. Intense, unscripted, sexual encounters.
    Hannah dropped the heavy magazine and ran a hand across the back of her neck. Wow. Imagining Morgan and her doing something like that made her heart race.
    But she laughed nervously and reminded herself she didn’t believe in marriage or some goofy periodical celebrating the official, though not-likely-to-last, union of unsuspecting men and women.
    Which didn’t explain why she took the tome with her as she left the house. Perhaps she would give it to Elda. Elda and Arnie might be headed for orange blossoms and gold rings. They could put it to good use.
    After a busy morning of errands that included all three of the properties where she found her clients, Hannah was hot and sweaty and more than ready to stop off for a late lunch at Elda’s. The two women had a standing meal date at least twice a week. Elda was more than a client. She was the only person Hannah considered family . . . maybe not by blood, but in every way that counted.
    Hannah let herself in and found Elda in the kitchen putting together chicken salad sandwiches. A pitcher of iced tea sat on the counter.
    Hannah frowned. “You didn’t put any sugar in that, did you?”
    Elda shook her head in disgust. “Geez, you’re as bad as my crabby-assed, dried-up old doctor. No sugar. I swear. Eat your lunch and try not to nag for a change.”
    Hannah laughed and bit into the soft wheat slice. Elda had a bread maker and liked to keep herself and her friends supplied with homemade