Free Hot Pink Heels (The Street Series) by Adrienne Dawn Page B

business instead of being married with a couple of kids by now?”
    “Ah, ah, ah,” Amanda said, waggling her finger at him. “Can’t talk about my job, remember? Don’t want to blow your cover, right?” She smiled at him to take the sting out of her words, tapping him on the chest with the same finger.
    Amanda felt a tap on her shoulder before Phil’s face lit up. Turning, her expression froze as she looked up into Jackson’s silvery eyes. Her eyes widened and her heart thumped, but she realized Jackson was looking at Phil.
    “Phil! How’re you doing, man?” Phil and Amanda broke apart as the two men shook hands and clapped each other on the shoulder. “How long has it been?”
    “Wow, Jack, it’s been quite awhile,” Phil said. “I’m sorry, I’m being rude. This is Mandy.” Phil’s arm came back around Amanda as he gestured toward Jackson. “Mandy, Jack and I go way back to our college days.”
    Amanda extended her hand, waiting for Jackson to take it , her eyes locked on his again. Once more she found herself hoping he would maintain her secret. Jackson’s hands covered hers, much as his mother’s had just last week. Home. There it was again, that feeling of coming home.
    Jack son’s eyes went first to her stomach, then her face, seeking the answer to his unasked question. Amanda’s eyes welled up and she looked away quickly, mumbling an excuse about the restroom.
    Freed from the conversation, she moved away, almost blindly searching for the restroom. Finding the proper door, Amanda stepped inside and closed it again, leaning against the wall for support.
    Baby killer, murderer . It’s almost as if she could audibly hear the words passing from Jackson to her. He knows , she thought. The pain came, washing over her in waves as agonizing as if she was lying on that table again. Amanda felt short of breath.
    A woman in a modest navy blue gown was standing near the full-length mirror, touching up her pale pink lipstick. Although she was trying to appear busy, she was carefully watching Amanda in the mirror.
    She was pretty, but obviously worlds apart from Amanda’s reality, as Amanda noticed her designer pumps and the expensive handbag sitting on the counter near her.
    Suddenly, Amanda felt trashy, despite her own attractive and conservative appearance. Wait a minute, I know who she is . She’s Clarissa Black, the founder of this event, and heiress to the Black’s millions . She’d seen a picture and a short bio of the woman on the evening’s dinner card. Rissa Black was known for her philanthropic ways as well as her work with children suffering from cancer.
    Amanda smiled at her, but she was very intimidated. “Hi ,” she said, attempting to pull herself together. This woman had no idea who she was. You want to be an actress; it’s time to try out your talents. “My name is—“
    “I know who you are,” Clarissa said coldly , surprising Amanda. “My boyfriend told me all about how he helped you out the other night.” She ignored Amanda’s outstretched hand.
    Amanda froze, her hand still held out. Clarissa Black , multi-millionaire, was Jackson’s girlfriend ?

Chapter 12
     
    “So, Phil, it’s been awhile,” Jackson said. “What have you been up to? Who’s the girl?” He hoped he wasn’t being too obvious, but he had to know what was going on. First he’d felt shock at seeing her in this setting, and then he’d felt utter relief at seeing her there. She was alive, and well. She’s more than well, Jack . She’s gorgeous. But she’s not yours .
    “Her name is Mandy,” Phil said. “She’s a looker, isn’t she? I just met her recently.”
    Jackson didn’t care for Phil’s tone or his comment, but he had to let it go. “Where did you meet Amanda?” He realized his error as soon as he said it, but fortunately, Phil didn’t think his use of Amanda’s full name was strange.
    “Mandy, she goes by Mandy,” Phil said. “I ah, met her through some friends,” he stated