Free She Left Me Breathless by Trin Denise Page A

hear,” Sydney said, laughingly as the two of them clinked their glasses together. “Oh great,” Sydney sighed.
    “What?” Karen asked, turning to see what Sydney was talking about.
    Meredith walked in with a hot little petite blonde by her side. She ignored Sydney and crossed the room.
    “I’m not even going to ask,” Karen said with a shake of her head.
    This is a really nice party, Syd,” Jackie said and then took a sip of her champagne.
    “So this is where we’re congregating,” Maureen smiled as she walked up to the group of women.
    “I was beginning to think you weren’t going to make it,” Sydney teased.
    Maureen shook her head. “I told you I wouldn’t miss it for the world.”
    Sydney looked at Jackie and then at Maureen. “I don’t think you two have met.”
    The two women looked at each other and shook their heads.
    “Well then, Jackie Christopher, I’d like you to meet Maureen Olsen. Maureen I’d like you to meet Jackie.”
    “It’s nice to meet you, Maureen,” Jackie said. “Have you worked at Welsh for long?” she asked, taking Maureen’s hand in hers. Damn this woman is hot , Jackie thought as her eyes unabashedly took in the luscious curves of Maureen’s body.
    “It’s nice to meet you, too and it will be ten years next month,” Maureen grinned.
    “If you’ll excuse me, I see someone I’d like to say hello, too,” Sydney said, turning toward the foyer. She felt instant butterflies as she watched Caitlyn step into the foyer, followed by her stepfather and Rachel.
    Caitlyn’s eyes lit up when she saw Sydney.
    “Hi, Caitlyn, I’m glad you could make it, Merry Christmas,” Sydney said.   
    “Merry Christmas to you also,” Caitlyn said as she took her parents jackets and gave them to the young woman doing coat checks. “Thank you,” she said to the woman before turning back to Sydney. “I would like you to meet my mom and stepdad.”
    Sydney looked first at Edward Ashburn and then at Rachel. Her heart thumped wildly in her chest, the sound echoing so loud in her ears that she was convinced the others could hear it. She swallowed a lump that had suddenly formed in her throat.
    Rachel was far more beautiful than she remembered. The photos didn’t do her justice at all. She wore a midnight blue ankle length gown that fit snuggly against the curve of her hips. On each side of the gown, a three-inch wide, thigh high slit ran down to her ankles, exposing long, and tan, shapely legs. Sydney’s eyes continued to travel up the length of Rachel’s body. Her eyes stopped at the plunging neckline and ample cleavage. The figure-hugging gown left little to the imagination. When her eyes locked with Rachel’s, she saw a cloud of confusion behind the long blonde lashes.
    She forced herself to look at Edward. He looked exactly like she had pictured. Dressed in a black tuxedo, he stood approximately six-foot-tall and was ruggedly handsome with dark chestnut colored hair and blue eyes. Sydney thought she could describe him in two words—conceited bastard.   
    “Mom, I would like for you to meet my boss, Sydney Welsh,” Caitlyn said, pulling Sydney from her thoughts.
    Sydney held out her hand. “I’m pleased to meet you,” she said, looking Rachel in the eye.
    To say Rachel was shocked would be the understatement of the year. Rachel’s eyes were full of questions as she held out her hand. “It’s nice to meet you, Ms. Welsh,” she said, taking Sydney’s outstretched hand. “Caitlyn talks about you non-stop.”
    Sydney smiled. “It’s all good I hope and please call me Sydney.”
    “Of course it’s all good,” Caitlyn beamed and then said, “This is my stepdad, Edward.”
    “I’m pleased to meet you as well,” Sydney said, taking the man’s hand in hers.
    “Caitlyn never said a word about how beautiful you are. You’re quite the looker and I swear to God if I didn’t have a wife—”
    “But you do,” Sydney said, cutting him off before he could finish the