Free Victoria's Got a Secret by Helenkay Dimon Page B

colored paper to Neil. “Check this out.”
    “What is it?”
    “Scratch off lottery ticket.”
    Neil smoothed it out and stared at it. Then his eyes widened. “Sweet damn, you won.”
    “Ironic, isn’t it?”
    Neil’s smile froze. “What do you mean?”
    “She dumps me and I get ten thousand dollars.”
    “Maybe your luck is turning.”
    “Doubt it.”
    Neil threw the ticket on the table. “Then maybe it’s the universe’s way of giving you a consolation prize.”
    Paul had already come to that conclusion. “I’d rather have the girl.”

Ten

    Try new things, grab every opportunity but stay true to who you are.
    —Grandma Gladys, The Duchess
    T HEY HADN’T OFFICIALLY DATED FOR MONTHS . J ENNIFER symbolically cut the ties with Paul by moving out of her apartment and into a cozy cottage on a tree-lined street in Toronto. The small space was soothing and warm.
    Heather and Tracie joined in the start-over relocation. They’d packed up everything they owned, painted the walls in calming blue tones, and filled the rooms with a mix of flea market finds and family hand-me-downs.
    Tonight the usually quiet house was packed. Music thumped in the background, and cool air moved through the open front and back door.
    Tracie loved to celebrate her birthday big and this year was no exception. Men gathered on the back patio around the beer and argued about a play in some game that Jennifer didn’t care about. A few couples wandered in and out of the kitchen carrying small plates and whispering with their heads close together as couples tend to do.
    Tracie grabbed Jennifer’s arm before she could try a piece of cake. They moved into the small hallway that led to the bedrooms. Tracie’s sense of urgency had Jennifer worrying something awful had happened.
    “What’s wrong?” Jennifer asked.
    “I’m sorry.”
    “For what?”
    “Paul.”
    Just hearing his name sent a shot of longing spinning through her. He claimed that she was cold and distant, that she cut him off and didn’t care about his feelings. Maybe she deserved the emotional beating, but she never felt the detachment he accused her of.
    She’d spent hours pouring over photos and remembering the good times. More than once she had to put down the phone and walk out of the room to keep from calling him.
    But Tracie knew how much Jennifer missed him and wouldn’t mention his name with good reason. “What are you talking about?”
    “I think she’s apologizing for me showing up before she could warn you.” Paul’s deep voice broke into the intimate girl chat.
    Jennifer’s head shot up. She took in his jeans and black blazer, the hair ruffled by the breeze and shoulders broad enough to block out the room behind him. The color in his face made him look sun-kissed despite the chilly early spring days. Whatever he did with his time now, he did most of it outside. It suited him because he looked calmer than she’d seen him in a long time.
    She searched her mind for the right greeting, the perfect blend of welcome and cool. When that failed, she went with the standard. “Hi.”
    The sexy smile she knew so well crossed his lips. For a second, all of the fights faded into the background and she remembered the sweet boy who charmed everyone.
    He slipped his hands into the back pockets of his pants. “Guess I’m a surprise.”
    “I know this isn’t ideal, but he’s a friend and—” Tracie stepped between them with her hand on Paul’s chest.
    For some reason, the protective move ticked Jennifer off. Her dear friend was watching out for him. As if an explosion were imminent and he needed a guardian. Him and not her.
    “This is ridiculous. We’re not enemies.” Jennifer did a little subtle pushing of her own and slid to Paul’s side.
    His smile widened. “Never that.”
    At his calm reassurance, the muscles across her shoulders relaxed. She leaned over and kissed him on the check, ignoring the guy who pushed past them on the way to the bathroom.
    As