Praise for the work of USA TODAY bestselling author Jennifer Greene
A book by Jennifer Greene hums with an unbeatable combination of sexual chemistry and heartwarming emotion.
New York Times bestselling author Susan Elizabeth Phillips
Jennifer Greenes writing possesses a modern sensibility and frankness that is vivid, fresh, and often funny.
Publishers Weekly on The Woman Most Likely To
Combining expertly crafted characters with lovely prose flavored with sassy wit, Greene constructs a superb tale of love lost and found, dreams discarded and rediscovered, and the importance of family and friendship.
Booklist on Where is He Now?
A spellbinding storyteller of uncommon brilliance, the fabulous Jennifer Greene is one of the romance genres greatest gifts to the world of popular fiction.
Romantic Times BOOKclub
Ms. Greene lavishes her talents on every book she writes.
Rendezvous
Jennifer Greene
Jennifer Greene sold her fist novel when she had two babies in diapers. Since then, shes become the award-winning, bestselling author of more than seventy novels. Shes known for warm, natural characters and humor that comes from the heart. Reviewers call her love stories unforgettable.
You can write Jennifer through her Web site at www. jennifergreene.com.
Sparkle
Jennifer Greene
www.millsandboon.co.uk
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From the Author
Dear Reader,
When were kids, we dream of being all kinds of things when we grow upfrom president of the United States to the scientist who cures cancer, from being an Oscar-winning actress to being a major trendsetter.
Then we grow up. We dont stop dreaming, but we learn some realism, and give up the dreams that we know are just too impossible.
Im a believer that good people should get whats coming to them. Maybe the meek and gentle dont always inherit the earth, but darn it, there should be some payback for all the people who wake up every morning just trying to be good people, good lovers, good parents, good friends.
It ticks me off mightily when this doesnt happen.
So I created this storyabout two women whod put on their realistic grown-up lives and never gave their old dreams another thought. About two women who keep getting put down for having extraordinarily good hearts. About two women who deserve a lot more than jewels and gems.
But after I gave them the jewels, I tried to give them something else. Something that mattered a lot more.
I hope you like this story!
All my best,
Jennifer Greene
To Jennifer
I keep trying, but no heroine Ive ever created comes close to you. I want to be you when I grow up.
Love, Mom
Contents
PROLOGUE
CHAPTER 1
CHAPTER 2
CHAPTER 3
CHAPTER 4
CHAPTER 5
CHAPTER 6
CHAPTER 7
CHAPTER 8
CHAPTER 9
CHAPTER 10
CHAPTER 11
CHAPTER 12
CHAPTER 13
CHAPTER 14
EPILOGUE
PROLOGUE
Just as Maude Rose glanced at the kitchen clock, she felt a sudden fierce tightening in her chest. She ignored it. She wasnt a woman to cater to pain, never had been. More to the point, it was finally past eleven. The bars wouldnt serve liquor until noon, but by the time she got her old butt in gear, the timed be close enough.
She was already wearing her favorite caftanthe purple with the gold and green threads. The slippers were an elegant satin green, not exactly perfect for walking in a September drizzle, but hell, she couldnt fit any other shoes over her hammertoes anymore anyway.
She made up her face, patting a pretty circle of rouge on each cheek, then slathering on a bright, cheerful lavender lipstick. She just couldnt seem to manage coloring her hair anymorethese last couple months, her arthritis had been a blingerso her hair seemed to be two-tone these days. Half orange, half white. Truth to tell, she kind of liked it. She swept it up in an elegant style, give or take.
For a finishing touch, of course, she added jewelry. A good pound of gold and silver around her neck and then sparkles of all kinds on her wrists and fingers.
The only place to hide a secret, Maude thought, was in plain sight. Everybody knew that. The kicker in Righteous, Virginia, was that nobody realized that Maude Rose knew that, too.
On the other hand, there were only two women in this town worth sharing a secret with.
She grabbed her cane, let herself out the apartment front door and paused to light a cigar. That feeling of a sharp, tight fist in her chest came back to haunt her, but she determined to ignore it. The pain would go away. Or it wouldnt. Same with all the other aches and pains that a girl her age was stuck with.
She set out. Predictable as taxes, heads showed up in windows as she passed. Lots of people in Righteous took daily pleasure in sniffing their noses at her. Maude Rose didnt make friends, didnt have friends. Truth was that nobody had been in her corner since Bobby Ray died, and that was better than twenty years ago. Hed stood up for her, taken her out of The Life.
Once hed died, that was that. It was back to loneliness again. Just as well, since anybody shed ever needed had let her down anyway. There always seemed somebody dying to judge her. It had taken her years to figure out that the way of handling the judgers was to let them. Flaunt what they thought they knew right in their faces.
She passed by Righteous Elementary Schoolwhich was right next to Righteous Academy. Kids scrambled all over the playground in spite of the steady drizzle coming down. Both schools had turned her down when shed offered to volunteer. A teacher looked protectively at her clutch of kids when Maude passed. The little twit.
Past the schools, she eased her cane over the curb, flicked her cigar ash, took another long pull and then headed upstream. The newspaper, Our Way, was housed on the next block. She didnt glance at the newspaper office, hadnt ever since theyd refused to print any more of her letters to the editor. This wasnt exactly a town that was pro-choice or tolerant of gaysor, for that matter, appreciated hearing that the mayor needed the shit kicked out of him. Righteous was a place that wrapped its personality around its name.
A dozen times Maude Rose had considered leaving, but now it was too late. And anyhow, it was home. She passed by Marcellas Expert Hair Salonanother place she used to go all the time. Now she did her own. When she got around to it, anyway. She hadnt stepped foot in there again, not since Marcella told her she looked like a cheap tramp, wearing all that gaudy jewelry all the time.
Past Marcellas was another curb. She had to wait for a red light. Finally, though, she could see Mannys Barit was still a ways yet, several long blocks distance, but the trek was all downhill now. Not like she had anything better to do, even if it was a long hike, and she couldnt very well drive when she didnt have a car. Or a license, for that matter.
Halfway across the road, she felt that clenching pain in her chest againthis time sharp enough to steal her breath. In that instant when she couldnt seem to move, stood there frozen, she noticed the drizzle was letting up. A peek of sun was even showing through the clouds. A car horn beeped at her impatiently. Another scandalized face looked out a window and shook a prissy finger at her.
That sun seemed to gently beam down on her wrinkled face, though, and made her smile. The sun felt sokind.
Kindness was vastly underrated in this world, but not by Maude Rose. The way she saw it, she was tough. She hadnt let anyone hurt her in a long time. Since yesterday at least.
She just wanted to get to Mannys, get that first drink put in front of her. She didnt need or want revenge against all the people whod been mean to her. Once she got a few belts in her, she stopped feeling needy altogether. Lately, though, shed gotten a little obsessed with wanting to pay back the few people in this life whod been decent to her.
There were only three, and since Bobby Ray was long dead, that left a short list of two women Maude Rose felt she owed a thanks.
The really funny thing was that the two girls likely had no idea how much theyd meant to her.
But they would.
Oh, yes. They surely would.
CHAPTER 1
Now look, sweetheart. I totally understand why you dont want a stranger washing your balls. But were not strangers, now, are we? I love you. You love me.
Georgina Loretta ThompsonPoppytried to breathe, but it was difficult with a hundred and eighty pounds of dead weight lying on her chest. Something dripped on her nose. She was pretty sure it was drool. Drool was the most logical assumption, when the big black oaf sprawled on her in a snoozing heap was a Newfoundland.
I dont want to have to get tough about this, she crooned affectionately. I know youre tired and youve been good forever. More than any human has a right to expect. But honestly, love bug, youre wet and heavy and we have to finish up. Your owners going to be here in another hour.
Beast seemed to realize she was unhappy with him. He reached down with a tongue longer than Poppys whole face and, eyes closed, slathered a slow, wet kiss down her cheek.
I love you, too. Really. But remember how we talked about this? Im the alpha dog in the pack. That means youre supposed to obey me. In fact, youre supposed to cower in my presence. You dont just get to flop down on top of me whenever you want your own way.
Thats it, Poppy, you tell that dog whos boss.
Poppy winced. Naturally she recognized the gruff, humored voice in the doorway. She was too old to be humiliated this way. Or so shed been telling herself ever since shed taken the job with Webster OBrien four years ago.
I suppose you think I cant get this dog off me, she said darkly.
It wouldnt be the first dog who had you buffaloed.
Beast does not have me buffaloed. Im letting him take a little break. Hes been good as an angel for hours. You saw him when he came in. He was a mess. Naturally he got tired of being groomed and cut and shampooed and fussed with all day.
Uh-huh. So he lay on top of you to take a nap. And to drool on your face. But thats totally your choice, right?
There was a reason I permanently gave up men and took up dogs, she told Beast. And then to her boss she said, Did you come in here just to pour grief on my head or did you have another purpose?
I did. A serious purpose, actually. And I promise Ill tell you in a minute, but honest to Pete, I have to do this first. Her vision was blocked by Beasts big, heavy head, but she heard the click-click-click of a camera. There now. That should be blackmail power for at least three months
Did I mention recently that I think youre low-down pond scum?
I dont think it came upsince yesterday anyway. He snapped his fingers. Now I remember why I first came in. You had a phone call.
Poppy normally had more patience than Job, but Beasts heavy, damp weight was starting to get a wee bit claustrophobic. She tried a tactful shove. It had the same effect as dust moving a mountain. Since when would you interrupt your day to tell me I had a phone call?
Well, Tommy had homework, so I told him he could go home, and Lola Mae left a half hour ago. And King Tuts owner finally came in to pick him up, so I was getting ready to leave myself when the phone rang. I knew you were tied up with Beast here, but your caller didnt want to leave a voice mail. He was real urgent about wanting you to call him back, still today or tonight if you can.
Thats weird.
Yeah, thats how it sounded. And it was a lawyer, besides.
The only lawyer I know has a pit bull, she started to say, and Web obviously couldnt let that go.
The only lawyer I know is a pit bull. He laughed at his own joke and then peered over her head with that big, shaggy St. Bernard head of his. Would you like some help?
Have you ever seen me need help with an animal? Im completely in control of the situation. Damn it. She was forty-two years old. Her clothes were soaked. Her hair and skin were damp and smelled like dog. Her back hurt. Her knees hurt. Shed never given a hoot about her appearancewhat was the point when she was homelier than a coyote? But right now shed be downright embarrassed to be seen in publiceven if the only public around was Web.
I could get him off you, the vet said mildly.
Ill get him off when Im good and ready. Exactly what did this lawyer say he wanted?
Just for you to call him back. It was Cal Asher. You know, next to the newspaper office?
Sure. Everyone knew Cal. He looked like a reincarnated version of Mark Twain because of the white hair and moustache. And because Cal was an institution in Righteous, people tolerated his little problem with alcohol. He was a bright man. A good guy. People just knew to make an appointment with him before noonand to get off the road if they saw his car. That was the whole message? For me to call him? I cant imagine what hed want from me.
Beats me, Web said peaceably. Anyone suing you?
Not that I know of.
You suing anyone?
Not that I know of.
You smack any men around lately?
No one who didnt deserve it.
Web threw up his hands. Guess youll have to call him back yourself to figure it out, then. Im going home. So this is your last chance to beg for help.
I dont need help. She added quickly, Youre coming in early tomorrow to check on Lucky and Devils Spawn, arent you?