A Precious Gift by Karen Rose Smith

Author:Karen Rose Smith
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
Publisher: Silhouette
Published: 2004-03-26T16:00:00+00:00

Eight

Checking her makeup in the downstairs bathroom, Carrie tried to still the butterflies fluttering in her stomach on Tuesday evening. The blush on her cheeks was rosier than she normally used, but it would look good under the lights.

Lights, cameras, microphones. It had been a long time since she’d been a spokeswoman for anything. She had to win over an audience tonight for the sake of the donor registry. At least thoughts of that challenge had helped her overcome her sadness and worry over her argument with Brian Sunday night.

When Carrie heard the garage door open, she gave a start. Brian. He’d left this morning before she was up. There had been a note for her on the refrigerator.

Carrie—I’ll be home in time to take you to the studio. B.

When Brian came into the kitchen, he was carrying his briefcase and a newspaper under his arm. He looked at her as if he didn’t know what to say for a moment and then obviously decided saying nothing about the two of them was best.

He held out the paper to her. “Have you seen this?”

Opening the Portland Weekly, a local tabloid, Carrie studied the section Brian mentioned. Her eyes opened in surprise. It was a picture of Peter Logan kissing a woman in what looked like a garden. The headline read, Peter Logan Romances Mystery Woman. The woman was in shadow, but Carrie recognized the hemline of the emerald dress she wore with its scalloped hem and intricate embroidery.

“I recognized that dress,” Brian said. “No wonder Katie seemed distracted.”

“I can’t believe this! Not Katie and Peter Logan. Their families don’t talk—they’re still enemies.”

Brian shrugged. “I know pictures don’t always tell the whole story, but Peter and Katie look pretty friendly there.”

“I wonder why they didn’t publish the photo right after the bachelor auction.”

“Whoever took it probably didn’t realize what they had until they got the pictures developed.”

“And then they sold one to the tabloid,” Carrie agreed, concerned for her friend. “Do you think the Weekly will find out the woman is Katie?”

“I’ll bet they’ve got someone on it now.”

When Carrie heard footsteps, she turned to see Lisa coming through the doorway. She almost didn’t know the girl. “Lisa, don’t you look pretty!”

Lisa’s hair was no longer two-toned, but all blond now. In place of the garish makeup, she wore lipstick in a natural shade she must have purchased on their excursion to the mall. She was wearing the outfit Carrie had suggested would look nice, and the long-sleeved navy-and-red top covered her tattoos.

“The red was only wash-in hair color,” she said, a defiant sparkle back in her eyes.

Brian studied Lisa until he broke into a smile. “You look incredible.”

At that, the teenager blushed. “I figured the cameras might pan across the phones. They do that sometimes, don’t they?”

“They sure do,” Carrie answered with a smile of her own.

“Yeah, well, I didn’t want to stand out. Are we leaving soon?”

Brian cast a questioning glance at Carrie.

“I’m ready. I want to call Katie but I’ll do that later.

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