Up to Date (Better Date than Never Book 8) Read Online Free PDF

mouth lifting. “Good night.”
    As soon as he was safely outside, I shut the door and flopped back against it. The faint sounds of him climbing the stairs up to his own unit echoed through the door. I sucked in a deep breath then stared at the whirlwind of emotions in my painting.
    Only now they reminded me of Greg.

Chapter Three
    The next day at work, I received an earful of complaints from my co-workers when they had to sign out on any and all office supplies they needed. I’d kept repeating “don’t kill the messenger” until I coiled ready to explode. This is why I squealed with glee when Jill called and invited me out for drinks after work with our friend Kristen.
    Sitting on a navy blue couch in the Geoffries hotel lounge, I lifted my margarita off the glass table and gripped the stem like it was the last drink on earth. “Everyone has to fill out a form each time they take so much as a lead pencil refill from the supply closet, which is ridiculous. Rich Woodward used to be the coolest boss ever. Now he’s putting us under the microscope when we haven’t even done anything wrong.”
    Kristen sat between Jill and me on the couch and raised a finger. “Ah, but something has changed or he wouldn’t have altered his behavior. You just don’t know what it is.”
    “You think?” I said, realizing she had to be right. “I never thought of that.”
    Kristen Moore ran her own successful marriage and family therapy business. She could cut to the heart of any matter whenever we had a problem. For a moment, I considered asking her about my continuing and problematic attraction to Greg. This morning I ran into him when I was leaving for the office and he was returning home from work. He showed me an abandoned kitten he’d found, which he decided to keep. How adorable was that?
    “Sorry you’ve had a hard day at work.” Jill sipped her Chardonnay, then her mouth stretched into a smile. “But I have some news I think will cheer you up.”
    “I’m all ears.” I put my lips against my salt-rimmed glass—the chilled, sweet and sour liquid bursting with flavor against my tongue. Yum.
    Jill twisted on the couch, so she faced us fully. “First, I’d like to thank you both again for your donations to the Founding Friendships fundraiser. We raised enough money that we’re signing a lease on a duplex, where each unit has two bedrooms. Bob and I have several candidates we’re going to approach this weekend once the homes are move-in ready.”
    Kristen toyed with the thin black straw in her glass of soda water with lime. “That’s amazing, Jill. Congratulations.”
    “To Founding Friendships .” I clinked my glass into theirs, then indulged in a large, refreshing swig. “You’re right. That did cheer me up.”
    The corner of Jill’s mouth turned upward. “That’s not the news I was talking about.”
    I stirred my frothy green drink. “Oh?”
    She shook her head. “Get this. Jenna McCoy from Sacramento Living magazine attended the fundraiser Friday night. She’s eager to write an article on Founding Friendships and the home you’ll be bringing up to date. Interviews. Photos. The works.”
    “No way.” Adrenaline pumped through me, even though I didn’t know whose house I’d be decorating yet. But I could transform any space. In fact, the more challenging the better! I wiggled in my seat. “This would be fabulous exposure for your charity, Jill.”
    Kristen squeezed my forearm, her expression making it clear she’d already known about the article. “This could also be the advertising you need to start your own decorating business.”
    My throat tightened and my eyes burned. “My own business?”
    “We all know you haven’t been happy at work.” Jill’s words came out in a rush as if she couldn’t wait to say them. “When I took that art class with you last month, your face lit up and I could see that was your passion. Then I saw for myself how you decorated your condo . . . you’ve got a