First Lady Read Online Free PDF Page A

would kill me. Besides, then I’d technically be sleeping with myself and doing things to myself that would make me go blind or grow hair on my palms. And I’m just not up for that. I’ll keep my job, thanks.”
    Dev hastily swallowed her mouthful of coffee so she wouldn’t lose it laughing. “Chicken.”
    Lauren waved her fork at Dev. “Where do you think these eggs came from?”
    Dev smiled just as she heard a single knock on her inner office door, and David entered. His gaze stopped on Lauren and his feet ground to a halt. “Oh, I’m sorry, Lauren. I didn’t know you’d be here. I thought you were out of town.”
    “Got back early.” She gestured to the couch across from where she and Dev were sitting. “Come have some coffee with us. How’s Beth?”
    He made a face and loosened his tie. “Mad at me for something, and I can’t figure out what.” He handed Devlyn a stack of papers before pouring a cup of steaming coffee and sitting down with a groan. “Did you know I’m as dumb as a bag of dirt?”
    “I’ve always suspected,” Dev answered as she looked at the papers. “What’s this?”
    “Your speech for the Steel Workers of America. You’re going to Detroit today.”
    She looked at Lauren and shrugged. “I am?”
    “You are.”
    “And when was this decided?”
    “Last week.”
    “Shit.” She tossed the papers onto the coffee table. “I tell ya, if Liza doesn’t get off vacation soon I’m going to lose my mind. That temp who is taking her place is worthless.”
    David frowned. “Why didn’t you say anything? Do you want me to get you another one?”
    Lauren gave Dev a knowing look as she spoke to David. “Don’t bother. If it’s not Liza she still won’t be happy.”
    “Gotcha.” David nodded. “Sorry, Chief, but Detroit it is. You leave at
11:30
, but should be home before your munchkins are in bed.”
    “Great.” Dev looked at Lauren with round, innocent eyes. “I guess you get to call Mom by yourself.”
    Lauren’s jaw dropped. “Devlyn!”
    Dev lifted her hand. “Honey, what can I do? She’s insisting on this call and I’m going to be in Detroit . I asked the temp to clear my schedule for the call, but clearly she missed it somehow.” Dark eyebrows drew together in consternation. “You know, I don’t think my mom likes talking about the wedding with Michael Oaks.” More than once Devlyn had considered firing her personal aide, turned social secretary, because of his poor people skills. But he was good at what he did and had proven himself time and again, earning her trust, if not her friendship.
    “Can you blame her?” Lauren glared at David. “You did this just to get her out of this phone call, didn’t you?”
    David blinked slowly. “Would I do something like that?”
    Lauren tapped her coffee mug with her fingernail impatiently. “Yes.”
    “Okay, I would. But this time, I didn’t. It’s been on her tentative schedule for a couple of weeks.”
    Lauren shot them both looks that sent shivers down their spines. “I hate you both.”
    “Then solve the problem by telling Mom we’re eloping.” Dev chuckled as she buttered her toast.
    “I’d elope with you in a heartbeat, Devlyn,” Lauren shot back. “But there is no way on God’s green earth that I am telling Janet Marlowe that. You’ve heard the Princess Diana speech, haven’t you?”
    Dev rolled her eyes. Had she?
    “How she watched it on television in the wee hours of the morning, entranced. The dress, the pageantry… blah… blah… blah.”
    David grunted in a gesture that Devlyn figured was as close to sympathy as she was going to get from her dear friend. Beth’s mother had talked Beth into powder blue tuxedos for his wedding. The memory of those ruffled sleeves still made him slightly ill. “Thanks for the coffee.” He stood up. “I’ll see you later.”
    “Thanks so much, buddy.” Dev threw a wadded-up napkin at her friend as he fled her office. Then she took Lauren’s hand.