The Best Is Yet to Come: Novella Bonus for Her Best Match (The Best Girls Book 0) by Tamie Dearen Read Free Book Online Page A

of a studio,” he reasoned.
    Katie gave him a half-smile. “She doesn’t have a spouse. She’s a widow.”
    “Good,” said Gherring. Then he realized what he’d said. “I mean... good that a studio will be big enough for her, not good that her husband is dead.” Katie cocked an eyebrow, but said nothing. He blundered on. “When did he die? Do we know?”
    “No.” Katie grinned. “We don’t know when her husband died. Do you want me to call and ask her?”
    “No,” he spat. “Of course not. I just wondered if... if she might need counseling or something, you know, if it hasn’t been long. We have insurance that covers that sort of thing, don’t we?”
    “I really don’t know,” said Katie, shaking her head, her expression baffled.
    He waved his hand, with irritation. “Anyway, I’ve been wanting to remodel that studio. It really needs updating. I think I’ll put her at the West Fifty-Seventh location for now.”
    “You want her in your apartment building? But, it’s a lot farther away from Gherring Inc.”
    “Just until we get the other studio remodeled. Bring in the architect we used on the East End project and have him put together a proposal.”
    “Okay,” she said her voice full of confusion. “Do you want him to do the guest apartments as well?”
    “Yes, sure.” His mind was already spinning. He hadn’t really intended to remodel the studio, although it was probably a good idea. But he felt Anne needed someone to watch over her when she moved to New York City. She was obviously innocent and unsophisticated. New York could be a dangerous place to live. No, she wouldn’t be safe living all alone in the other building. At the West Fifty-Seventh location, he could keep an eye on her and make sure she didn’t get into trouble. And she’d be none the wiser. It really had nothing to do with wanting to be close to her. After all, he barely knew her. And she really wasn’t his type.
    Another thought occurred to him. “Do you think Ms. Best can handle this job?”
    Katie laughed. “It’s kind of late to ask me that question. But, yes. I think she can handle it. It’s not brain surgery. The most important thing is to be able to put up with your moods.”
    “I don’t have moods, Ms. Carson.” He realized Katie was getting more and more outspoken as the time came for her to leave her position at Gherring Inc. She sounded almost as feisty as Anne Best. He liked feisty, but he’d need to be careful to nip that attitude in the bud. He couldn’t have his personal executive assistant being too rebellious.
    “Sorry,” she said with a sweet voice. “Wrong word choice. You don’t have moods. You have varying amounts of tolerance for whatever doesn’t go exactly as you planned.”
    He grunted in response. It was obviously too late to fix Katie, but he’d do better with Ms. Best. “Let me see that reservation list...”
*****
    The cameras flashed as Gherring exited the limousine. He held out his hand to Alicia. She placed her manicured fingers in his palm and rose gracefully from the seat, smiling at the press and waving her unfettered hand. Her dark hair glistened in the streetlights, falling down over a low-backed evening dress with a high side-slit. The black dress, accented with beads and sequins, fell in smooth waves from a ruching on the side opposite the slit. She was striking and sophisticated, and garnered attention seemingly without effort. But effort was involved. Every move and every look was calculated for greatest effect. Her rise in the polls was impressive, due in some part to her recent association with Steven Gherring.
    As she took his elbow to saunter into the fundraiser, he felt her soft warmth against his arm. He watched her scan the room as they entered and couldn’t help but admire her ability to make an impression. They chatted with the mayor and his wife and other city officials who were seated at their table. While the speaker was discussing federal funding of city