Jealous in July (Spring River Valley Book 7) Read Online Free PDF Page A

in cold caffeinated beverages and avoid any meaningful interaction with her co-workers.
    The first person she ran into was Dani Lennox, also wearing a big hat and even bigger sunglasses. The other woman grinned knowingly at Brenda and handed her a glass of what appeared to be tomato juice but was probably a Bloody Mary sans the celery stick. “You look like you could use one of these.”
    “Not if it has alcohol in it. Thank God the company provides rides home on the Fourth. My head feels like an overinflated balloon, and I swear I only had two…or maybe three drinks.”
    “This is torture. I don’t know why the partners insist on this Fourth of July/ company picnic combo. We’re all zombies after a night on the roof.”
    “At least they stopped those ridiculous games. If I had to run a three-legged race today, somebody would get hurt.”
    “You can thank Chase for that. He gave Esterhause some mumbo jumbo about liability because Reggie twisted his ankle last year, so they opted for a trivia challenge instead. We all get to sit down and put our feet up.”
    “Are you going to play with the band this year and sing? You were fantastic last year.” Brenda sniffed her drink and sipped. Yep, there was vodka, but just a splash. She’d manage as long as this was the only one she had.
    “I dunno. Maybe later. Right now, I just want to find a quiet place to sit where no one will notice my eyes are closed behind my glasses.”
    “Oh, me , too. Save me a seat?”
    “You bet.” Danielle wandered off , and Brenda made the rounds of the snack table to pick up a small bowl of fruit. She eyed the gorgeous trays of muffins and pastries on the next display and thought of all the rich food she’d eaten the night before. “Down girl. No carbs until after lunch.”
    “I’m sorry, were you talking to yourself?” Riley appeared to Brenda’s right. He held a bottled water and a blueberry muffin. “The problem with all this food is, after last night, everyone is afraid to eat.”
    She laughed and held up her “not quite a virgin” Bloody Mary. “But we’re not afraid to drink. Imagine that.”
    He laughed , too, but she noticed the circles under his eyes. For someone who’d left the party early, he certainly didn’t look like he’d gotten any more sleep than she had.
    “How did the studying go?”
    “I don’t know. Is it good or bad when you wake up drooling into a textbook?”
    She cringed. “I’d say bad. I haven’t done that since college.”
    “I should have left the party earlier, but I was actually having a good time.”
    “ Then it was a good thing you stayed. A little fun is good for you.”
    “I suppose you’re right. I guess it’s better to regret the stuff you’ve done than regret the stuff you haven’t.”
    Brenda tilted her head. Was that the universe trying to tell her something? What better chance would she have than right now? He’d already set up her intro. All she had to do was take the cue. “That’s a great philosophy. On that note, what would you say to—”
    “You’re welcome. Really, you’re all very welcome.” Chase appeared like magic and put an arm around each of them. “Don’t thank me. Seriously…it’s too much. I can’t accept all this adulation.”
    Riley and Brenda exchanged a look. Her heart fluttered just a bit.
    “Chase?” Riley squinted at the interloper.
    “I know , if it wasn’t for me, the two of you would be tied together at the ankle and hobbling down the lawn while balancing a hardboiled egg on a plastic spoon. I’ve been thanked by half a dozen people already. Figured I’d save you guys the trouble. I didn’t do it for fame or recognition. I did it because…I care.”
    Brenda would have rolled her eyes dramatically at him, but one, he wouldn’t have seen the gesture behind her glasses , and two, it hurt to strain her eye muscles. She offered a derisive snort instead. “Can we expect a statue in your honor?”
    “I’m flattered , of course, but