by Lee Hollis
Although Sabrina’s memory of her astonishingly bad behavior back then was fuzzy at best, Hayley had a far more clear-eyed picture of Sabrina’s past cruelty. But after seeing a self-help segment on the Today show about how letting go of grudges helped you live longer, Hayley tried her best to forgive and forget.
Or at least forgive.
Forget? Never.
When Sabrina called Hayley earlier in the day to suggest they meet for a drink and catch up after she got off work, Hayley just didn’t have the energy to come up with an excuse not to go. She just said yes. One drink.
After all, she’d be lying if she said she wasn’t at least curious to know what Sabrina had been up to all these months. She had heard rumors. One person said Sabrina took a trip to see the “Seven Wonders of the World,” but got waylaid at the Pyramids in Egypt with a stomach virus before giving up and coming home, having seen only one wonder. Another said she was launching her own medical practice again in Bangor, which was one hour north of the island. There was also the “Debbie Downer” who insisted Sabrina had never fully recovered from her divorce and was holed up in her house, crying over her leftover frozen wedding cake, like some demented, haggard, jilted bride from the Charles Dickens novel.
Hayley knew that last one was an outright lie, because the Sabrina who was beaming from ear to ear as she sat down across from her was a far cry from the emotional car wreck some of her detractors were making her out to be.
“Hayley, you must have a sip of this peanut butter cup martini. It is so decadently delicious, you will just die!” Sabrina cooed as she pushed the glass by its stem over in front of Hayley.
“Let’s hope not,” Hayley said, lifting the glass and taking a tiny sip.
There was no arguing her point. The drink was orgasmic.
“Kudos to your brother for another to-die-for cocktail recipe,” Sabrina said, retrieving the glass back from Hayley and downing another gulp as she closed her eyes and savored the taste.
Hayley noticed a half-empty bottle of Sam Adams on the table. “Is someone else joining us?”
Sabrina popped her eyes back open and nodded, excited. “Yes. A friend. He’s in the men’s room.”
“I see. And he’s just a friend?”
A spurt of giggles escaped from Sabrina’s lips. She turned her face slightly away like an embarrassed schoolgirl. Hayley didn’t remember Sabrina being so coquettish and demure. Suddenly she had gone from Dickens to a full-fledged Brontë heroine.
“Well, now you’ve certainly gotten my attention,” Hayley said, smiling as she signaled to her brother behind the bar to bring over her usual Jack and Coke.
Randy gave her a wave and then grabbed a bottle of whiskey off the shelf.
“Is he local? Is it someone I know?” Hayley asked Sabrina, who was now dragging her fingertip across the rim of her martini glass, gathering up the chocolate that lined it, and then sliding her finger into her mouth and licking it off.
“No. I met him when I was visiting my sister in San Diego a few months ago. We were having dinner in the Gas Lamp district and he jogged by. Our eyes met, but he kept going. It was a fleeting fantasy on my part. How could this strapping hunk of a man ever be interested in me? But then, without warning, he double-backed and introduced himself. My sister asked him to join us, and he did! We’ve been inseparable ever since!”
Hayley glanced up to see a young man, not far past the legal drinking age, walking from the restrooms back toward their table.
This couldn’t be him. He was striking: dark-skinned, black hair, probably half Latino. Plus he was covered in tattoos from what Hayley could see. His arms, the back of his hands, and what Hayley could see of his smooth bronzed chest through his open silk white shirt were inked.
He wore thick black glasses and had two perfectly round holes in his earlobe. He was a sight to behold. Hayley normally wasn’t a big fan of body art and piercings. But this kid, this lean yet muscled Adonis, wore it so well.
When he smiled, it was as if the whole bar was suddenly bathed in a heavenly light.
Hayley’s heart fluttered. Not because she was attracted to him. This was male beauty in its finest form and she was just appreciating it.
Oh, who am I kidding? Of course I’m attracted to him!
However, he was almost young enough to be her son.
He stopped at the table and massaged Sabrina’s shoulders. She melted at his touch. Her face turned crimson and out came another girlish giggle.
“You must be Hayley. I’ve been anxious to meet you. Mason Cassidy,” the Adonis said in a deep baritone voice.
Hayley stood up and held out her hand, but Mason brushed it away and enveloped her in a tight hug. She could feel his rock-hard chest as he squeezed her body into his.
After releasing her from his iron grip, Mason gave her a playful wink. “Sorry. I’m a big hugger.”
Oh, this kid is good.
Hayley suddenly found herself giggling. It was contagious.
He took a seat at the table. His bright smile still blinded both of them.
Randy nearly walked into an adjacent table as he delivered Hayley’s cocktail, his eyes glued to the handsome stranger. Somehow he managed to set it down in front of her without spilling too much of it.
“Thank you, Randy,” Hayley said.
Randy never once looked at her. He was staring at the painted god with a laser-like focus. “Can I get you another beer?”
Mason picked up the bottle and examined it. “I’m not even halfway through yet. Are you trying to get me drunk?” He winked at Randy, whose knees nearly buckled.
“Why? What would happen if I got you drunk?”
“Thank you, Randy. I think we’re fine for now,” Hayley said, placing a hand on his hip and giving him a subtle yet forceful send-off.
“Just yell if you need anything, and I do mean anything!” he called out as he walked back behind the bar.
“For heaven’s sake, Randy, you have a husband!” Hayley called after him.
“I know! I’m happily married, but that doesn’t mean I’m dead! There’s no harm in window-shopping, even if I’m not going to buy anything!”
“So you two met in San Diego?” Hayley asked.
“Yes, she swept me off my feet,” Mason said, cupping the back of Sabrina’s neck and pulling her close so he could plant a sweet kiss on her cheek.
“Mason works as a high diver at SeaWorld. He swims with porpoises. How sexy is that?” Sabrina said, squealing so high that Hayley was surprised their glasses didn’t shatter.
“Wow, that’s very impressive,” Hayley said.
Truly impressed.
“Yes, he trained as an acrobat and even worked in a couple of those Cirque du Soleil shows in Las Vegas. So you can just imagine how limber he is when it comes to you know what!” Sabrina said, now lowering her voice to the point where it was almost Kathleen Turner husky in order to make her point.
“Yes, I can. So there’s no need to explain—”
“Neither of my fuddy-duddy former husbands had the tactile grace that Mason brings to the bedroom. Hell, Jerry sprained his back just coming from the toilet to the dresser, where he kept his condoms. We hadn’t even started yet!”
Mason nuzzled Sabrina’s neck with the tip of his nose. “You are so cute.”
“You know, Hayley, I never would have met Mason if I hadn’t quit my job as county coroner. That was the best decision I have ever made.”
“I’m so happy for you, Sabrina. Really, I am.”
In fact, there was a slight pang of jealousy deep inside Hayley.
Not that she wasn’t blissfully happy dating the handsome town vet, Dr. Aaron Palmer. Not at all. Aaron was certainly a keeper. Her relationship with him was an unexpected gift that she treasured.
But like her brother said, she wasn’t dead.
Mason Cassidy, with his caramel complexion, suave manner, and lovely features, was certainly fun to look at and admire.
Good for Sabrina. She
deserved a little happiness after two ugly divorces.
Sabrina clasped Mason’s hand and turned to Hayley. “You know, I seriously considered skipping out on our high-school reunion this year, even though I’ve been on the planning committee. I just couldn’t bear the thought of my former classmates judging me and whispering behind my back about my two failed marriages and collapsed career. But now, with Mason by my side, I think I’m ready to face anyone. Even those mean bitches who were so rotten to us during high school, right, Hayley?”
Hayley was speechless. Rotten to us?
Sabrina was the kind of ultimate mean girl who literally had inspired Rosalind Wiseman’s Queen Bees and Wannabes, the best-selling guide to adolescent torture!
Hayley nodded, deciding it was best not to poke a hole in Sabrina’s happy mood.
“I am ready to introduce the new Sabrina Merryweather to the world in all her glory! I can just feel it! This reunion is going to be history-making!”
Sabrina had no idea just how on the mark she was with her comment. Their twentieth high-school reunion was certainly going to make history.
Only not in the way she imagined.
Showing off her hot, new, young boyfriend was soon going to take a backseat to a dead body turning up even before the class president’s welcome speech was over.
KENSINGTON BOOKS are published by
Kensington Publishing Corp.
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Copyright © 2014 by Rick Copp and Holly Simason
All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any means without the prior written consent of the Publisher, excepting brief quotes used in reviews.
If you purchased this book without a cover, you should be aware that this book is stolen property. It was reported as “unsold and destroyed” to the Publisher and neither the Author nor the Publisher has received any payment for this “stripped book.”
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ISBN: 978-0-7582-9451-7
ISBN-10: 0-7582-9451-4
First Kensington Mass Market Edition: October 2014
eISBN-13: 978-0-7582-9452-4
eISBN-10: 0-7582-9452-2
First Kensington Electronic Edition: October 2014