Hot on Her Heels by Susan Mallery Read Free Book Online Page B

he returned to his desk. Dana made things interesting and he liked that in a woman.
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    D ANA PACED IN L EXI’S office. The fountain and the spa music in the background were supposed to be soothing. Instead it made her want to climb the walls. Or shoot something.
    After she was done here, she would go work out for a couple of hours. Maybe take out her frustrations on a punching bag.
    Lexi glanced up from the folders. Her normally pale skin had gone white, her eyes were wide.
    â€œDid you read this?” she asked.
    Dana nodded. “Scary stuff.”
    â€œI can’t believe it, but even as I say that, there’s a part of me that isn’t surprised. Jed’s ruthless. He’s always been that way. He pretties it up when he has to, but it’s there. Still, he could have killed his own daughter. Did he even care that Izzy was on the oil rig? What about the other lives? But hey, winning is all that matters, right?” Her voice rose as she spoke, her tone got more shrill.
    Dana moved to the desk and looked at her. “Deep breaths. Baby on board and all that. Try to stay calm.”
    Lexi nodded and exhaled slowly. “I know. I’ll be okay. I’m just in shock. Jed doing all this. Treason.” She sighed. “I need to think about this. We need a plan. The next step. I’m going to need a little time.”
    Dana settled across from her desk. “Take all the time you need. You have a lot going on.”
    Lexi leaned back in her chair. “I’m having a baby. Women do it every day.”
    â€œI don’t care about them, I care about you. You’re my friend.”
    â€œThank you. I’m doing okay. This is a stunner, but I’ll get through it. We’re working together and that makes me feel better.”
    Dana eyed Lexi’s growing belly. “Just remember what’s important. We can go after Jed anytime.”
    â€œWe’re not stopping because I’m pregnant. I’m taking excellent care of myself and Cruz practically hovers.”
    â€œSkye mentioned something about a baby shower.” Dana managed to get the sentence out without shuddering. She wasn’t really a baby-wedding shower kind of person. What was up with the strange games? And why did the food have to be cute?
    Lexi grinned. “You’ll be there, honey, if we have to drag you. Don’t think you’re getting out of it.”
    â€œOh, joy.”
    â€œIt could be worse.”
    â€œHow?”
    â€œThere could be balloon animals.”
    â€œI happen to like balloon animals.”
    Lexi laughed. “It won’t be too horrible, I promise. No color-coordinated mints.”
    â€œIs Skye planning the shower?” Skye might run a nonprofit foundation but she was also an expert partyplanner. Her system of organization rivaled any battle plan the Pentagon put out.
    â€œYes. Okay. You’re right. The mints might match. But it will still be fun.”
    â€œIf you define the word very loosely.”
    â€œPoor Dana,” Lexi teased. “My baby shower is only the start. Skye’s talking about getting married.”
    â€œWe all knew that was going to happen,” Dana grumbled. Skye was madly in love. No one would be surprised when she and Mitch set the date. “You’ll be next.”
    â€œAfter the baby is born,” Lexi said. “I never planned to be unconventional, but here I am, having a baby and then getting married. I’m sure my mother is horrified. Cruz and I are talking about late spring. So you’ll have time to recover.”
    Which she would need, Dana thought. “At least Izzy is more the type to simply run off some weekend and show up Monday with a wedding ring and a new last name. She was always my favorite.”
    Lexi laughed again. “How you suffer for us all.”
    â€œI know. That’s me. The suffering friend.”
    â€œMaybe you’ll meet someone you want to marry.”
    â€œNo,