Wish 01 - A Secret Wish Read Online Free PDF

She couldn’t make a scene. That wasn’t who she was, or who she wanted to be. So she said, “I see. And you were just thanking her.”
    “Exactly.”
    She saw the relief in his eyes, the acknowledgement that they would both handle this with dignity and poise. Her hands clenched into fists. She had the tremendous urge to give him a hard, stinging slap across that handsome face, to shake him up, to make him realize that she wasn’t doing this for him, she was doing it for herself. The last role she wanted to play was the pitiful, betrayed wife at her own party.
    “It’s nice to meet you, Mrs. Prescott,” Krystal said in a voice that almost purred. “I hope you don't mind me borrowing your husband for a few moments. I find his thoughts on politics so intriguing.”
    Carole wanted to slap her, too. Ignoring Krystal, she said, “ I’ll see you inside, Blake.” She turned and walked quickly back the way she’d come, her heart beating in double time, fury boiling her blood. She wasn’t sure if Blake was having an affair or just participating in a dangerous flirtation. Either way, he was stepping over the line. She’d never believed he would risk damaging his reputation with a sexual fling. Maybe she was wrong.
    She suddenly had doubts about him and everything else in her life. It was this damn birthday making her want to re-evaluate her choices. And she was terribly afraid that if she looked too closely, she’d see nothing – no substance, no meaning, just pretty things, pretty people, and pretty lies.
    Making a decision that was probably reckless and foolish, she bypassed the ballroom and headed for the escalator. She had a desperate urge to get the hell away from the party.
    Her walk turned into a jog, then a dead run as she ran down the escalator, through the lobby, and toward the front door of the hotel.
    Was that her husband calling her name?
    She pushed through the revolving door and stepped onto the sidewalk. The valet gave her a curious look. She ignored him, spotting her limousine across the street.
    She was so intent on getting away from the party that she didn’t realize there was any traffic. The shocking glare of headlights made her freeze in the middle of the street. She saw a car bearing down her… just a second too late.
    * * *
     
    Angela slammed on the brakes and held onto the wheel as her car skidded down the road, finally coming to a crashing stop just inches away from a beautiful blonde woman in an evening dress. For a moment all she could do was try to catch her breath. Her hands were shaking as she took them off the steering wheel. Then she unfastened her seat belt and stepped onto the street. “Are you all right?”
    The woman didn’t reply. She looked as if she were in shock and frozen in place. Her blue eyes were wide and glassy.
    “You’re not hurt. I didn’t hit you,” Angela said, trying to reassure herself as much as anyone.
    The valet from the hotel joined them, asking if anyone needed help.
    The woman finally woke up. She muttered, “No, I’m fine.” Then she ran across the street and jumped into the back of a white limousine.
    “Carole,” a man called, running out of the hotel. “Come back. Damn,” he swore as the limousine pulled away.
    Angela glanced at the man in the tuxedo, wondering if he was the reason the woman had run into the street without looking. A honking horn reminded her that her car was blocking traffic. With her heart still racing, she returned to the car, started the engine, and pulled away.
    She could have hit that woman – maybe even killed her – and all in the matter of a few seconds. Thank goodness it hadn’t gone that way. She supposed she should offer up a prayer of gratitude, but she doubted anyone would be listening. The last eight years had certainly tried her once unshakeable faith.
    Her cell phone rang for the third time since she’d left the apartment. She couldn’t ignore it again. Pulling over to the curb so she wouldn’t almost