Rome for Always (The BAD BOY BILLIONAIRES Collection) by Judy Angelo Read Free Book Online Page A

guess you’re right,” she said.
“Give him space and give him time.” Then she gave her longtime friend a rueful
smile. “I was never too strong in the patience department.”
    Lena squeezed her shoulder. “You’ll be okay.” When she
let go she was smiling. “In fact, you’ll be more than okay. We’ll knock off
early this afternoon and go shopping.”
    Arie gave Lena a look of puzzlement. Leaving early in
the middle of the work week? That was so not Lena. “Shopping?” she asked, her
tone skeptical. “On a Wednesday afternoon? What about our clients?”
    Lena shrugged. “Wednesday is always the slowest day of
the week for us. I don’t have any appointments. Do you?”
    Arie didn’t even have to check. She shook her head. “No,
not a one.”
    “Well, then.” It wasn’t a question but a declaration. Apparently
they were going shopping. “I’ll tell Marilyn we’re leaving at three. Make sure
you’re ready.”
    It must have been that Lena-imposed deadline that did
the trick. Just like that, Arie snapped out of her morose mood and before she
knew it she was absorbed in the day’s task of planning the next eight events
which would take place over the next couple of weeks. One of them included a Bar
Mitzvah celebratory meal, the first one she’d been asked to cater in her four
years of running the business. She wasn’t too familiar with Jewish cuisine so
she had a lot of preparation to do for this one.
    She was so absorbed in her task that when she heard a
knock at her door she jumped. She glanced at the clock on her computer screen. Three
o’clock already? Where had the time flown?
    Lena peeped in. “Still at it? I haven’t seen you all day.
Don’t tell me you worked through lunch.”
    Arie swiveled around in her chair and gave her partner a
guilty smile. “You did say I should make sure to finish by three.”
    “Yeah, but I didn’t say you should starve yourself to do
it.” She stepped inside then jerked her chin at Arie. “Come on. I’ll buy you
lunch at the mall.”
    Arie grinned. “Sounds good to me. I’m starving.”
    “Says the woman who would have gone on until five
o’clock if I hadn’t walked in.” Lena chuckled as she turned to go. “Be ready in
five or I’ll drag you out of this office and lock the door.”
    And she would do it, too. Arie knew Lena so well. They’d
been roommates at Duke and had gone on to become partners in Talk Of The Town
Catering. Ever since she'd known Lena her friend had been bold and direct, a
real go-getter and a woman who knew how to take charge. Even better than that
she had a solid business head on her shoulders and, utilizing Arie’s cooking
skills and event planning expertise, they'd built their business until it was
known and respected throughout all of Louisiana.
    Every day Arie gave thanks for Lena’s presence in her
life, not just as a business partner but also as a friend and mentor. If there
was anyone who she could turn to for advice it was Lena. Always levelheaded and
firm, she knew how to put things in perspective. And when you’d grown up in
foster care and had no family to turn to, a friend like that was more precious
than gold.
    Half an hour later Arie and Lena were strolling along,
browsing the shops at Lakeside Mall.
    “I know a special little miss who’ll be joining you
soon,” Lena said. “You’ve got tons of shopping to do.”
    Arie laughed. “She’s the best excuse I ever had for
playing truant. Let’s go see what the kids’ stores have to offer.”
    They picked up a few pieces of baby gear in Gymboree and
Mimi’s Kids Boutique but it was when Lena suggested they leave the mall and
check Zuka Baby in the Lower Garden District that Arie really got her shopping
groove on. There were so many cute little baby girl outfits that she didn’t
know which to choose. In her excitement she ended up grabbing far more outfits
than Maya would ever wear. Once again it was Lena, the voice of reason, who
rescued her from