Mandy Makes Her Mark Read Online Free PDF

squeezed in next to her, trapping her.
    â€œYou’re drunk ,” she hissed. “On the eve of a shoot .”
    â€œIt’s just bridesmaid gowns,” Sylvie said frostily. She had made her feelings known during the planning meeting—that any dress that came in a dozen jewel tones and was constructed from synthetic materials was hardly worth her time. Mandy had pointed out that it paid the bills, which had been enough to shut her up at the time, but apparently not enough to keep her in line once they arrived.
    â€œIt’s Lark Bridal, the second largest grossing bridal wear manufacturer in North America,” Mandy spat. “And you had damn well better—”
    She paused to push the candle out of the way of Jayde, who was leaning precariously forward, her long hair in danger of being set on fire. “Jayde, what about you? You know better!”
    â€œJonas broke up with me!” Jayde wailed. “Last night, when I told him I had to work this weekend! He’s opening for the Smithereens and he said if I wasn’t at the show, we were finished!”
    Tears spilled over her cheeks, more evidence that alcohol was clouding her judgment. Eyes puffed and red from crying were absolutely disastrous.
    â€œJayde!” Mandy snapped her fingers in front of the girl, who made an effort to sit up and stopped crying with a few snuffling breaths. “Please, get yourself under control. I’m happy to talk to you about Jonas, but first we’ve got to get you through the shoot tomorrow. What are your priorities right now?”
    â€œRest. Hydrate. Protect.” To her credit, Jayde got the company mantra out without any more hiccupping. It might be simplistic, but Mandy had found that the models hung onto the three-pronged mantra like the tenets of their own very small religion, one that worshipped the body rather than a deity.
    â€œSo let’s think,” Mandy said, speaking slowly and clearly to make sure the girls were focusing on her words. “You could rest in your own rooms. Maybe you should go there right now. You could hydrate by having a couple of nice refreshing glasses of cold water” – thereby diluting their blood alcohol level, which would in turn improve the condition of their circulatory systems – “and you could be very, very careful not to bump into furniture.” Mandy didn’t relish the thought of trying to explain fresh bruises or cuts to Lark’s team in the morning.
    â€œOkay, Mandy,” Jayde said sweetly, yawning.
    â€œI’m not kidding around here, Sylvie,” Mandy growled, but for once the girl appeared to be ready to comply without arguing. Mandy got up and allowed Sylvie to slide out of the booth, and the two girls tottered to their feet and put their arms around each other’s shoulders. “And what time will I see you at the shoot?”
    â€œSeven o’clock,” Jayde mumbled.
    â€œSeven,” Sylvie echoed.
    Tad had come over to their table, the mess now cleaned up and the floor good as new. As the models lurched out of the room, weaving and stumbling but at least headed in the right direction, he slung a companionable arm around Mandy’s shoulders.
    The buddy arm. Which was exactly as it should be.
    Mandy could have sworn they had been on the verge of a “moment” back at the bar, before Sylvie and Jayde’s arrival, but maybe she’d imagined it. Of course she had. He was her sister’s ex, and therefore off limits forever. After a quick squeeze, Tad released her and chuckled.
    â€œYou handled that well.”
    â€œWhy do I feel as though you’re not being sincere?”
    â€œNo, it’s just—well, maybe you should have sent a chaperone.”
    â€œTad, I picked out the location of their bungalows myself. They’re located right next to the delivery drive. There’s no way those two will be able to get lost, or sleep in for that matter. Amelia