A Heart to Trust by A.L. Brooks (romantic books to read txt) 📗

“You okay?” Tamara handed Jenny a cup of sliced strawberries. “You seem…” She shrugged. “Kinda low.”

Jenny bit her lip. Tamara had always been her confidant, the one person who knew everything that had ever happened to her. She was Jenny’s rescuer, although Tamara balked at that label and had done so since that fateful night when Jenny ended up homeless and shivering in a bus shelter, thanks to her bigoted parents. Not that Tamara didn’t know how important her help had been that night. Tamara’s call, wondering why her new friend Jenny wasn’t at their queer quiz night as expected, at that precise moment offered Jenny a lifeline she’d grabbed at with both hands. Tamara always said Jenny would have done the same if the tables were turned, and Jenny was pretty sure she would have. Didn’t mean she wasn’t always going to be grateful. So, if I’m going to talk about this with anyone, it has to be her.

“Something happened at that party last night.” She licked her lips, a nervous habit she couldn’t quite shake. “And I’m pretty confused by it and…”

Tamara shuffled over on her knees and sat beside Jenny. She took the bag of chips from her hand and placed it on top of the cooler box. “These can wait. And those two will be ages yet with their dumb game, so you have plenty of time to tell me what’s got you looking so scrunchy.”

Jenny sighed. “So, remember the woman at work I was telling you guys about? Olivia?”

Tamara tapped her chin. “The icy woman? Who is also hot?”

“Yeah. That one.” She shifted to stretch her legs out. “So, she was at the party last night. Wait, no, I need to backtrack.” She told Tamara about what Chrissy said Olivia had done with the Excelsior photos and notes. Then she outlined how the party had played out, right up to what Olivia said in the elevator at her apartment building.

“Okay.” Tamara drew the word out, a frown creasing her forehead. “She misses being cared for by a woman?”

“Yeah, that’s what she said.”

“And then what did she say?”

Jenny swallowed. “She told me I was beautiful.”

“Woman’s got taste.” Tamara smirked. Then she held up a finger. “And in what context did she say those truthful words?”

Jenny’s face heated. “When she, uh, was standing on her doorstep and asking me to stay.”

“Oh my.” Tamara stared at Jenny. “And did you?”

“What? No! No way. She’s married.”

“Well, I can’t lie, I am very relieved to hear you say that.” She laid a gentle hand on Jenny’s leg. “You sound totally into her, and I thought you’d mentioned she was married, so I was worried for a moment that you’d completely lost your fucking mind.”

Jenny snorted, then rubbed her hands over her face. “I’m as confused as fuck,” she mumbled. “She is beautiful and sexy and super smart and—”

“And by all accounts a conniving bitch taking credit for your work and married at the same time as she’s flirting her ass off with you.” Tamara’s eyes narrowed. “I don’t think you have anything to be confused about.”

“Easy for you to say.” Jenny held up her hand when Tamara made to speak. “No, you’re right. I know you are. But trust me, stepping back last night was…difficult.”

“Yeah, but you did. And I’m proud of you. Now you just forget that all happened, like the woman said. And watch your back at work. She does not sound trustworthy, either privately or in the workplace.” Tamara picked up the bag of potato chips and opened them. “And neither, by the way, does this Chrissy person.”

“What?”

“She sounds too good to be true. And too quick to gossip about the others too.”

Okay, that part was true. Sometimes there were things about Chrissy she found uncomfortable. Jenny sighed. “She’s been the only person to make an effort with me.”

“That may be, but I don’t like some of the stuff you tell me about her.”

Jenny didn’t know what to say to that.

Tamara leaned in, making sure their gazes locked. “Be careful, okay? Watch your back,” she repeated, enunciating every word.

Jenny swallowed and nodded.

Olivia sat on the balcony, a glass of orange juice next to her on the table, and gazed out at the New York skyline. It was a gorgeous Saturday morning—not too hot, a few fluffy clouds in the sky, a light breeze skimming over her bare arms. But Olivia didn’t feel good. Not at all.

She sighed, then swept a hand through her damp hair. The shower had helped, as had the Advil and the large bowl of muesli she’d forced herself to eat half an hour ago. What hadn’t helped was her mind scheming to play on repeat, word by word, the last half hour of her evening with Jenny. Somehow, despite how drunk she’d felt as they rode home in the cab, she’d remembered every word. Every single, bloody one. Each made her cringe with a mix of embarrassment and fear.

Yes, she’d had some kind of epiphany last night; how gorgeous Jenny was had finally dawned on her. But no, she shouldn’t have told her and risked everything she and Broderick had worked for the last two years. Would Jenny keep her word and never mention it? Or would she blab to the simpering Chrissy? God help me if she does that—it’ll be all over C&V in a heartbeat.

She groaned. All because she forgot her golden rule of social engagements: don’t drink alcohol, and certainly don’t drink any of it on an empty stomach. Her capacity for alcohol had reduced significantly since she and Broderick worked out their agreement. She always loved to drink and party, like many people, but she’d known from the minute she agreed to be Broderick’s wife she’d have to curtail that behavior. What was that old saying? Oh yes, loose lips sink ships.

Well, this ship had taken a potentially fatal hit thanks to her blabbering mouth.

If only Jenny hadn’t looked so damn good in that suit. Jesus. Her