Free The Best of Friends by Susan Mallery

and the saleswoman patiently waiting.
    “Buying something for your lovely wife?” she asked. Male attention was fine, but married men annoyed her. They should either stick with what they have or leave. There shouldn’t be middle ground.
    “No. Liz and I are divorced. It’s been a couple of years now. I’m looking for something for my oldest daughter. Her twenty-first.”
    Better, she thought, finding the attention more interesting. “That’s a big birthday. What have you picked out so far?”
    He pointed to the diamond earrings, some with pearls. She leaned over the selection and studied them.
    “Not pearls,” she said. “They’re traditional and might be too old for a woman her age. These diamonds are nice enough.” She fingered a design of three twisted circles, then asked for a loupe from the clerk.
    After studying the small stones through the loupe, she put the earrings back. “Not really what you want,” she said, linking her arm through his and leading him away. “Why don’t you go to the Worden’s store in Beverly Hills?”
    “I should,” he said. “I was in Century City visiting my attorney and thought I’d stop by to see what they have here.”
    She pulled a piece of paper out of her purse and wrote down two numbers. “Go and ask to see these. They’re by a new designer they’re carrying. Her work is brilliant. These earrings are young and fresh, and the stones are excellent quality. Canadian, actually, so they are conflict-free. You’ll pay about the same, but she’ll love you a whole lot more.”
    “Wonderful. How can I thank you?”
    They walked out of the store, and she pointed to the coffee stand a few feet away. “You can buy me a latte.”
    “Is that all?”
    “I’m low maintenance.”
    Jonathan laughed. “I know that isn’t true. You’re a Worden.”
    “What does that have to do with anything? I’ve been on my own for a long time.”
    “Fair enough.”
    They stopped by the coffee cart and placed their orders. After Jonathan paid, they moved aside to wait for the lattes.
    “Where have you been all this time?” he asked.
    “Here and there. Australia. Asia. For the past few years, I’ve been living in Milan.”
    “Doing what?”
    His dark eyes flashed with interest. He leaned toward her as he spoke. All the signs were there. The question was, did she care?
    The only thing wrong with Jonathan Mooney was that he wasn’t Nigel. Other than that, he was successful, intelligent—and based on how much he was spending on his daughter’s birthday present, still wealthy. More important, he was a distraction when she needed one, and any contact with him would seriously annoy her mother. No, annoy wasn’t the right word. It would crash around her like a meteor and drive Elizabeth crazy.
    All the better, Rebecca thought.
    “Can you keep a secret?” she asked.
    “Certainly. Who are we keeping it from?”
    “Everyone, but most especially, my parents.”
    “Intriguing.” He took the finished lattes and handed her one. They started walking.
    “I design jewelry. The pieces I recommended are mine.”
    “That’s the family business,” he said. “Why don’t Blaine and Elizabeth know?”
    “For a lot of reasons that aren’t particularly interesting. You won’t say anything?”
    “Of course not.”
    “Thank you. I’m sorry to hear about your divorce.”
    He shrugged. “It happens. I was too busy with work; she was too busy with her garden and charity work. We grew apart.”
    “Did you remarry?”
    “No. I’ve dated some. That was interesting, after over twenty years with the same woman. The rules have changed.”
    “Not all that much.”
    He laughed. “They have for me. Women have changed as well. They’re much more powerful and interested in their careers.”
    She glanced at him. “Does that intimidate you?”
    “Actually, I like it. I dated the obligatory inappropriate young women for a while before realizing that I enjoy conversation with my eye