All I Want for Christmas by Lynn Emery Read Free Book Online Page B

bridesmaids.” Jarae pressed her lips together to keep from
laughing, and cut another glance at Gaylynn and Nedra.
    “At least I have a decent
man with a job and who treats me with respect,” Darcie Lee replied and
raised an eyebrow at her.
    “Yeah, yeah,” Jarae muttered.
    Jarae’s last boyfriend had
turned out to be a true disaster. He called himself a music
producer. What he really did was sit around, pretending to be a big
shot and living off Jarae. After dating for six months, she had
allowed him to move in with her while his condo was being
“renovated”. The temporary arrangement turned permanent. Later,
Jarae learned that he’d been living with another woman who had
thrown him out. He was a habitual moocher, moving from one gravy
train to the next.
    Nedra nudged Gaylynn secretly. “Let’s change
the subject fast.”
    Her sister nodded. “Well,
at least Nedra has a hot prospect; a judge’s son.”
    “No, you didn’t,” said
Nedra through clenched teeth. She squinted at Gaylynn, who shrugged
an apology and mouthed, “Sorry”.
    “Say what?” Jarae stared at Nedra. Resentment
simmered in her light brown eyes. “Excuse us, Ms. Big Time
Connections.”
    Darcie Lee put aside the
bowl of popcorn. “What judge and what’s the man’s name?”
    “We’ve just been on a
couple of dates. It’s no big deal,” Nedra replied, jabbing her
elbow into Gaylynn’s side.
    “Ouch! You didn’t say it
was a secret.” Gaylynn inched to the other end of the loveseat and
out of her sister’s reach.
    “Nedra, why so hush hush?
Spill the details,” said Jarae, seeming to enjoy her
discomfort.
    “We just met. We might not
even see each other for long.” Nedra picked up the remote and
turned on the movie.
    “Stop,” Darcie Lee said and pointed a finger
at her. “I asked you a question Nedra Denise.”
    “His name is Carlos Jacobs
and…”
    “Yvonne Jacobs’ son? Humph, that’s going to
be interesting when you meet her. She can’t stand your boss,”
Darcie Lee said.
    “And she’s not known for
being warm and cuddly either,” Gaylynn added. “My friend, Shae,
worked in her law firm before she got elected. She said the woman
is mean as hell when she’s in a bad mood, and she’s in a bad mood
ninety percent of the time.” She laughed and slapped the loveseat
cushion.
    “I’ve already met her, but
only because we ran into each other at a meeting the other day. It
went just fine,” Nedra said. No need to mention that keeping the
time brief had helped. “But that doesn’t matter because, like I
said, we’ve only had a few dates.”
    “You just met when?” Darcie Lee probed.
    “Thanksgiving Day,” Nedra
replied and fidgeted with the remote.
    “At the Holiday Hospitality
dinner. He volunteered,” Gaylynn explained. She broke off when
Nedra glared at her again.
    “So you just met him a little over a week ago
and you’ve had ‘a few dates’ already? No wonder Gaylynn mentioned
him. Hmm.” Darcie Lee lapsed into thoughtful silence.
    “Okay, let me get something
straight right now.” Nedra stood to emphasize her point. “I hardly
know the guy, okay? No, I’m not bringing him here to meet everyone.
So don’t make this a big deal. Now let’s watch the movie.” She sat
down again.
    “I’ve got two daughters who
had kids too fast, and another one with a ticking biological clock
who can’t seem to make up her mind.”
    Nedra gazed at Darcie Lee
steadily. “Drop. It. Mama.”
    Her mother held up both
hands. “Okay, okay. I’m just saying, Nedra.”
    “I’m happy. I have an exciting job, great
friends and an apartment I love.” Nedra took in a deep breath and
then let it out. “Let’s try to have a fun evening watching this
murder mystery.”
    Darcie Lee picked up the
now half-empty bowl of popcorn. “Fine, I’ll get more popcorn and
soft drinks.”
    “I’ll go check on the kids,” Gaylynn said and
shot from her seat before anyone could object.
    Jarae smirked. “Another