Free Vanessa's Match by Judy Christenberry

sheepish.
    “No, not really.” Because now wasn’t the time for the conversation, she shrugged it off. “Go on home to Mom. I’ll stay and talk to Carrie for a little while.”
    “Good. I don’t really want to leave her alone, and Jim and Alex aren’t due back for a while.” He gave Vanessa a hug and hurried out of the office.
    Vanessa returned to the outer office.
    Carrie immediately asked, “What’s wrong?”
    “It’s just men. They can be so—so difficult!”
    “Are you talking about Will? I thought he was pretty far developed,” Carrie said with a grin. When Vanessa didn’t laugh, Carrie studied her friend. “Is anything else bothering you?”
    “Why does everyone ask me that?” Vanessa said. She was beginning to think she had Rick Austin’s name pasted on her forehead!
    “You just seem a little off key, I guess.”
    “I had a difficult time with Rick Austin. He is so stupid!”
    “Really? Will was quite impressed with him.”
    “Do you remember Sharon Cresswell from college?”
    “The slinky redhead who was constantly on the hunt?”
    “That’s her. That’s who Rick is dating. And she’s trying to get to him through Lindy.”
    “Oh no! And you’re right. If Sharon has fooled him, he must be really dumb. She’s got dollar signs in her eyes.”
    “Exactly. And I won’t have her using Lindy to get to Rick. As soon as she marries him, she’ll ignore Lindy, just like her mother did.”
    “Poor Lindy. A double blow might just be too much.”
    “Yes. So I told him Lindy would have nothing to do with Sharon.”
    “Good for you. What did he say about that?”
    “I don’t know. I hung up and left the house.”
    “He’ll be furious when he catches up with you.”
    Vanessa sighed again. “I know. That’s why I’m not anxious to go home. Have you had lunch?”
     
    R ICK KNOCKED ON THE FRONT DOOR , determined to have it out with Vanessa. She had no business interfering with his private life, and he intended to tell her that in person.
    Peter answered the door. “Hello, Mr. Austin. Please come in.”
    “Thank you, Peter. I need to speak with Vanessa.”
    “She isn’t here right now. Mr. Will is home. Would you like to talk to him? He’s in the library.”
    He entered and followed Peter. “When do you expect Vanessa?”
    “I don’t know, sir. She just said she was going out.”
    “I see.”
    When they reached the library, Peter asked, “Would you like some coffee? I’ll bring in a tray at once.”
    “That would be nice, thanks.” Peter returned to the kitchen while Rick stopped at the threshold. “Will? Am I disturbing you?”
    Will looked up from where he sat on the sofa. “No, not at all. Come on in. What are you doing here in the middle of the day?”
    “I had hoped to find Vanessa here.” He walked in and stood by the fireplace.
    “I think she’s at the office with Carrie. I don’t like to leave Carrie alone right now.”
    Since Rick looked confused, Will added, “She’s pregnant and due in about two weeks, but babies are unpredictable.”
    “Oh. She’s your secretary?”
    “She was, but now she’s an investigator, like her husband, Jim, and Alex, David’s wife. I don’t think you’ve met either of them, but Jim and David are Vanessa’s brothers.”
    “I see.” He was seeing that the family was very close. “Do you think Vanessa will be back soon?”
    “Probably not for an hour or two. Be glad. She tore into me a little while ago, so it’ll be better if she has time to cool off.”
    “I think that must’ve been after she chewed on me. She actually had the nerve to hang up on me.”
    “What did you do?”
    “A friend called and wanted to take Lindy shopping, trying to be nice. Vanessa dismissed her rudely. I want to know why.”
    “Is this friend someone you can trust?”
    Rick’s head snapped up. “What do you mean?”
    “I mean that sometimes a woman will lie, especially about another woman’s treatment of her. Can you trust her