Sweetest Desires (A Sweetest Day Romance) Read Online Free PDF

she was the boss at Berkley and had the privilege of creating her own schedule. She reported to a board of investors that met with her quarterly.
    “USA Weekly. How may I direct your call?” the receptionist offered. The switchboard operator picks up all direct calls prior to nine a.m. and after five p.m.
    “Carson O’Connor’s office,” Katharine responded.
    “Certainly, I’ll connect you. One moment, please.”
    The old buzzard is there! I’ll give him a piece of my mind! I’l l 
    Katharine’s thoughts were interrupted by the same voice saying, “I’m sorry, ma’am. He’s not in yet.”
    “Um, is Hank Polanski there?” Hank was senior associate sports writer and Carson’s colleague.
    “I’ll check for you. One moment, please.”
    After a third ring, she heard, “Hank Polanski.”
    “Hank, good morning. This is Katharine O’Connor.”
    “Kat!” His voice sounded much more friendly. “Good morning! How are you?”
    “I’m doing great, Hank. And you?”
    “Couldn’t be better, couldn’t be better,” he said. “How ’bout that husband of yours, huh?”
    “Yeah, what a wonderful recognition,” Katharine answered, trying to sound cheerful.
    “The best man won it this year. Maybe next year will be my turn. After being nominated three straight years and not winning, I’m starting to feel like Susan Lucci at the Emmy.”
    Katharine’s brows shot up. “You know Erica Kane of All My Children?”
    “My wife loves that soap. She’s always telling me about the bizarre happenings on the show.”
    “How is Allison, by the way?”
    “Doing great. She’s now serving on four committees, including her new appointment on the board of directors for MARTA.”
    “Good for her. How does she handle it with the triplets and all? How old are they now?”
    “Three going on thirty. They’re very bossy.”
    “How was your Christmas holiday?”
    “Great, and yours?”
    “Just wonderful.” And it was. The O’Connors spent their Christmas at home this time with family and friends, enjoying it all.
    Enough of the small talk. “So . . . did you join the rest of the office gang in the celebration festivities yesterday evening in Carson’s honor?”
    “Huh?” Hank sounded puzzled. “We haven’t had a celebration yet. We’re planning something for Fr iday—a little lunch-thing, but the actual black-tie affair will be in four months, in May.” He paused before adding, “Is something wrong, Kat?”
    “Oh, I just thought maybe you guys might’ve taken him out for a quick toast, that’s all. I was act ually very tired yesterday and, uh, went to bed early.”
    Katharine heard Hank snap his fingers. “As a matter of fact, come to think of it, a few of the other guys might’ve, might’ve, uh, stopped off after, uh, work yesterday for a quick t-t-toast. I just c-couldn’t join them because I—I— had to, uh, pick up the kids from daycare.”
    Hank’s stuttering was a dead giveaway he was lying.
    “Oh, I see.” She didn’t sound convinced. “Well, it was nice talking with you, Hank. Give my love to your family.”
    “Same here, Kat. Bye.” He hung up quickly.
    Katharine held the phone earpiece to her cheek, staring into space as she imagined Carson and that Jezebel-woman spending the night together. The sound of a trash compactor outside snapped her out of a waking nightmare.
    She glanced at her wristwatch and felt a stab of panic. Ohmygosh! It’s almost nine o’clock. She dialed her assistant to say she wouldn’t be in that day and asked her to have the associate director check the calendar and address any urgent matters.
    She had to find her husband.

Chapter 4
     
     
     
    Something terrible must have happened to Carson. No matter how stale their marriage had become, Carson loved CJ and Bethany too much to stay out an entire night.
    Before she moved another inch, she fell to her knees and spoke to God as though He was sitting right beside her.
    The scripture came to her thoughts, Fear