Free Breaking News by Fern Michaels Page B

trying unsuccessfully to suppress a girlish giggle.
    â€œWhatever I sound like, I hope to hell I don’t look like her. All that stretched skin. Reminds me of a Halloween mask gone bad.”
    â€œOh now, that’s mean, Chris. Even from you. If we’re lucky, she’ll stop us tonight. She’s known for picking on the unexpected guests. The Informer isn’t at the top of the guest list, I can tell you that much.”
    â€œI won’t argue with that.” Chris glanced at his watch. “Are you all set? Anything special we need to do for Chester? He’s in the backyard, admiring the squirrels.”
    â€œMy new neighbors are going to check on him tonight. Since I had that new doggy door installed, he can pretty much come and go when he wants.”
    â€œYou didn’t tell me you had new neighbors,” Chris stated.
    â€œYou didn’t ask,” she replied. “And before you do, they’re a retired couple. They bought that ranch two houses down. Their granddaughter urged them to move here. They said she’s going to be a big star someday, and they wanted to do whatever they could to support her,” Abby explained.
    â€œWell, good luck. Only her and a zillion others,” Chris commented. “But if Chester likes them, then I’ll take that as a sign.”
    â€œHe does, and thanks. I thought the same thing,” Abby agreed. “You know, we’re both starting to think and act like Sophie.”
    Chris cackled. “Please don’t put me in that category! I love the old gal, but she could use a bit of sprucing up in the mouth department. At sixty-five or sixty-six, she’s still attractive, I’ll give her that, but she needs to tone down the cussing. Takes away from her good looks.”
    Abby looked at him as though he had two heads. “You’re . . . shitting me, right?” She couldn’t help herself.
    He shook his head, his eyes as bright as fire. He put both hands out in front of him, as though he were reluctantly surrendering. “No, I am not shitting you, Abby Simpson. Now”—he glanced at his watch for the second time—“if we don’t get out of here soon, we’ll miss the walk down the red carpet. And I, for one, do not want to miss an opportunity to be interviewed by Ms. Rivers.”
    Abby laughed. “Let me get my purse.”
    Unbeknownst to Abby, Chris had arranged for a limousine service to take them to the movie premiere. He wanted this entire night to be magical, like something out of a fairy tale, an experience Abby would remember for the rest of her life. A story she would tell their children and grandchildren. He smiled at the thought. Life was good, and if he was right about Abby and her feelings for him, it was about to get a whole lot better.
    Abby emerged from the bedroom with a tiny matching purse. He couldn’t imagine what it could hold.
    â€œIt’s for my cell and lipstick, okay?” Abby informed him. “I know what you’re thinking.”
    â€œMore and more like Sophie.”
    She rolled her eyes. “I cuss, but I am not psychic. Now, let’s get out of here. I had the MINI detailed just for tonight. No dog hairs on this dress.” Abby grabbed her keys from the hook on the wall by the front door. Chris reached up and took them from her.
    â€œJust what in the heck do you think you’re doing? Don’t you dare go and get all macho—me man, you woman—on me. I can drive just fine, thank you very much.”
    â€œAbby.” His lips found hers. He explored their soft, velvety fullness, the taste that he’d learned to love.
    Gently, Abby pushed him away from her, a smile igniting the fire he saw in her eyes.
    â€œThat’s . . . nice, but—” She stopped. She wasn’t required to attend this premiere.
    â€œBut what?” he asked.
    â€œWe don’t have to go, really. We can stay here and . . .” Abby wanted