Free The Widow and the Wastrel by Janet Dailey

lightly tanned skin, then it returned to the jade greenness of her eyes. Leaning forward, Allan pressed a warm, lingering kiss against the roundness of her lips. "I'll see you at the dinner if not before."
    When he straightened away from her, Elizabeth reached for the door handle, then paused with the door partially ajar. "Thank you, Allan, for—for everything," she offered in gratitude for his understanding.
    "Maybe another time the three of us can make it a more enjoyable day," he suggested.
    "Yes, another time," she agreed uncertainly, and stepped from the car.
    Waving once as he reversed out of the drive, Elizabeth walked toward the house. Amy's behavior should not be allowed to go by without comment, but she was reluctant to lecture her about it. Sighing heavily, she opened the front door.
    The sound of Amy's laughter halted her on the threshold. The entire afternoon she had barely smiled at all, now she was laughing. Elizabeth's chin lifted at the sight of her daughter standing in front of the bending form of Jed. His tawny gaze saw her first, a watchfulness in his expression despite the wide grin on his face. Then Amy glanced over her shoulder and the smile faded from her mouth. Apology flickered in her dark eyes before she dashed toward the stairs.
    Jed stood upright as Elizabeth shut the door behind her. A flashfire of irritation raced through her veins, angered that he had prompted Amy's laughter when Allan had tried so hard and failed.
    "I didn't expect you back so soon," Jed commented.
    "That makes two of us, because neither did I," she retorted coldly.
    "What happened?"
    There was a chilling arch to her brow. "Didn't Amy tell you? Her little sulk succeeded in making the picnic totally miserable for everyone."
    "No, she didn't mention it," he returned evenly.
    "Really? I was certain that's what the two of you were laughing about," she said in a faintly accusing tone. It completely slipped her mind that she still had not apologized for doubting his word the other night. She had not had the opportunity to speak to him alone and she had no intention of apologizing to him in front of Rebecca or Amy.
    "I wouldn't worry." Jed tipped his head to the side as he mockingly inspected her. "I doubt if your boyfriend will be put off by one less than satisfying afternoon."
    "He's not—" Elizabeth checked the denial that Allan was her boyfriend. It would only earn her another taunt. "As a matter of fact," she said coolly, "I'll be seeing Allan at the charity dinner next Saturday night."
    "I hope you didn't agree to let him escort you there," he observed dryly.
    "What business of yours would it be if I did?" she challenged.
    "It would be Mother's business, not mine," Jed corrected. There was an indication of some secret knowledge in the wryly amused curl of his mouth.
    "Rebecca doesn't dictate my social life," Elizabeth stated firmly.
    "That's one you can argue out with her." Uninterest moved across his face as he turned away.
    "What makes you think that I would need to argue with her?" she demanded, drawing an over-the-shoulder glance from Jed.
    In the fleeting instant, there was the look of a rogue about him, youthful and daring. His eyes glittered with mischievous satisfaction, totally erasing the cynicism that was nearly always present in one form or another. But more, the hard look was gone, the look of a man who had seen much that was unpleasant.
    "Mother has decided that I'm to make my public debut at your dinner next week," Jed replied. "She intends the Carrel family to attend this social function as a unit."
    "And you're going?" she murmured doubtfully.
    "You've forgotten, Liza." His gaze narrowed slightly. "I came back to make some sort of peace. That requires compromise. So yes, I am attending your black tie banquet."
     

 
    Chapter Five
     
    "JED has arrived with the sitter, Elizabeth. Are you ready yet?" Rebecca called.
    Halting the tube of coral lipstick inches from her mouth, Elizabeth answered, "In a