Dean's List Read online

  Lydia went back into Dean's office and picked up the papers from the floor. She made sure they were all in the right order before returning them to the cabinet. As she slid the drawer closed, she thought she heard something from another part of the house.

  She froze, listening.

  The front door closed. She knew that sound because it stuck a bit, making a different noise than any of the other doors. Her eyes widened as she slid the drawer closed the rest of the way.

  If Dean had come back home, she wouldn't be able to leave his office unseen. And it would be the first place he came—but why would he return home?

  Footsteps sounded on the hardwood floors. He was heading right for her.

  Pulse on fire, she stood and pretended to look in the file.

  "Lydia. What are you doing here?"

  She looked up at him, careful to keep her voice steady. "I didn't hear you come in. I was looking for a statement."

  He raised an eyebrow and looked around. "Why didn't you call me?"

  Lydia thought quickly. "I heard about a great deal that could save us a lot of money. I wanted to see if I was right."

  Dean narrowed his eyes. "I told you not to worry about the bills. It's my thing."

  "But it could save us money."

  "I don't care. How many times do I have to tell you I don't want you in my office?"

  "Sorry. Aren't you going to be late for your flight?" she asked.

  "No. It's been delayed, and I forgot something."

  Lydia closed the cabinet drawer. "I'll get out of your way." She moved out of his way, and then a paper underneath his desk caught her attention. It looked like one of the papers she'd dropped.

  She looked back at him. It didn't appear that he could see it from his angle.

  "What did you forget?" she asked, trying to distract him.

  He turned to her, furrowing his eyebrows. "What's been going on with you?"

  "Wh…what do you mean?" she asked.

  "You've been nice ever since I got home. You even made me dinner. What's going on?"

  "I just thought…maybe we could try again, you know."

  "Try what?" he demanded.

  Lydia swallowed. "You know. Our marriage. Neither one of us is happy."

  "You should be. There isn't a thing you lack. If you want something, it's yours. You don't even have to work."

  "I couldn't even if I wanted to." She studied his expression, trying to see if he flinched. He didn't.

  She had a secret part-time job working for a magazine under a pen name. It was fun and gave her a way to send some extra money to her sick mother who she almost never got to see. As far as she knew, Dean knew nothing about the magazine column or any of the money associated with it.

  He stepped forward, glaring at her. "Why would you want a job? You get to play with your pampered friends all day without a worry in the world."

  "What if I did want to?" she asked. "You wouldn't let me, would you?"

  "Of course not! My wife isn't going to work. You want a job? Fire your housekeeper and clean everything yourself."

  Lydia shook her head, tears threatening. She had to keep herself together. "You know that's not what I want to do."

  "And that's exactly why I allow the maid. So you don't have to do menial work."

  "That's not the kind of work I want—"

  "Enough." Dean's nostrils flared. "This discussion is over. I came home to grab a paper, not be lambasted by you."

  "I'm not trying to—"

  "I said enough, Lydia." He walked by her and opened one of the drawers in his desk.

  She watched him, internally begging him not to see the paper she'd dropped.

  He turned around. "What are you still doing in here? Get out of my office. I don't want to have to lock it, but I will if it comes to that."

  Nodding, Lydia backed up until she was out into the hall.

  Dean stepped out of the office, closing the door. "Do I have your word that you'll stay out?"

  She nodded.

  "I need to hear you say it."

  "I'll stay out."

  "What were you doing in there, really?" He stepped closer to her.

  "Looking for our cell phone payment."

  Dean moved closer. Lydia could smell his aftershave.

  He raised an eyebrow. "I don't think so."

  Lydia backed up, but bumped into a wall. "I was."

  "I saw the paper on the floor, Lyds." He took another step. Their noses nearly touched.

  "Like I told you," she said. "Cell phone records. Those were just phone calls, so I put them away. I needed to know how much we're paying."

  "Again, I'll remind you to let me handle the bills. If you want to look into a new carrier or plan, just ask me."

  "Okay."

  "Basically, I don't want you so much as thinking about anything that involves the both of us without asking me first. If I don't approve it, you don't think it."

  "Sorry, Dean." She didn't mean it, but usually, apologizing would get him to back off.

  He stepped back, running hands through his hair. "I don't have time to worry about you. I have more important things to focus on."

  Lydia looked him in the eyes. "You can trust me."

  "I'd better be able to. Or you'll regret it."

  She jumped.

  "Good. I finally got your attention."

  Lydia just stared at him, unable to find her voice.

  "Look. I have to get going, or I really will miss my plane. If you have any questions, just call. Leave a message. You know how busy I get. Text me if you want. Just don't go through my stuff. I have it organized the way I do for a reason, and I don't want it messed with—and I can always tell when it has been."

  Lydia nodded, fully understanding the threat.

  "Good. Now stay out of my office."

  "I will."

  He backed up, and Lydia finally took a normal breath.

  Beach

  Bri Stevens rolled over on the beach blanket, looking at the bright blue, cloudless, Pacific Northwest sky. She flipped her long blonde hair behind her so it wouldn't mess up her tan. "Where's Lydia? She should've been here by now."

  "Oh, you know her," Savannah Jackman said, pulling her dark, curly hair behind her. "Late and great." She spread out her own blanket and sat down, grabbing sunscreen from her bag.

  "Why do you bother with that stuff?" Bri asked. "You're not going to burn. You've got that dark, gorgeous skin."

  Savannah wrinkled her nose. "I still burn. I just don't look like a lobster like you when I do. Don't we go over this every summer?"

  "I still wouldn't bother." Bri grabbed the bottle from Savannah and squeezed some onto her hand.

  "Seriously," Savannah said, her dark eyes glaring at Bri. "You're husband's darker than me and he uses sunblock."

  Bri shrugged, rolling her big, blue eyes playfully. "Doesn't mean I would."

  Cara Ross moved her blanket closer to the shade. "I should've brought an umbrella." She looked at Bri. "Did you remind Lydia to bring me something nonalcoholic?"

  Bri reached over and rubbed Cara's belly. "I'm sure she remembered. You never let us forget you can't drink. You know what? You're lucky, Cara. You're at the cute stage in the summer. With both of my girls, I was enormous during the summer."

  "Where are the kids now?" Cara asked, scooting out of Bri's reach.

  "Summer camp again this year. It's a win-win. They have fun, and I get to have a life, too." Bri showed off her big, beautiful smile that she knew made every woman jealous and every man melt.

  "Oh, there's Lyds," Savannah said, pointing toward the parking lot. "And it looks like she has a lot of bottles sticking out of her basket. I'm sure one is just for you, Cara."

  "I hope so. All I brought was water." Cara pulled her long, straight, naturally red hair into a ponytail.

  "Do you have sunblock?" Bri asked. "You're the one who really needs it between those freckles and being pregnant."

  "I lathered up before I left.
" Cara moved closer to the shade again.

  Bri shook her head. The poor thing was going to have a hard day at the beach. She wouldn't have been surprised if Cara ended up leaving early. Bri turned and saw Lydia had almost reached their little spot. Bri waved, not getting up. The sun was too comfortable, relaxing her.

  Lydia dumped her picnic basket on the ground, sending sand flying.

  "Watch out," Savannah said, brushing it off her blanket. "You're going to make it stick to our sunblock."

  "Sorry." Lydia looked distracted as she shook out her blanket.

  "Are you okay, Lyds?" asked Bri.

  Lydia smiled. "Of course. Why?"

  Bri shrugged. "You just don't look yourself today."

  "Dean was home last night, right?" Cara asked.

  "Oh," Savannah said. "That explains it. Was he being a jerk?"

  Lydia pulled the wine glasses out of her basket. "No more than usual. Should we start with white?"

  "I was hoping for red," Savannah said, "but whatever."

  "Do you have anything without spirits?" asked Cara, looking annoyed.

  Lydia pulled out a smaller bottle. "You think I'd forget about Cara Ross and her sweet little baby? Pomegranate apple cider just for you." Lydia handed Cara the bottle, smiling.

  "I told you she wouldn't forget," Bri said. She turned to Lydia. "White wine sounds good to me. Want me to open it?"

  Soon they were all sipping from their glasses, discussing celebrity drama. Bri kept looking back at Lydia. She wasn't into the conversation as much as usual. She usually knew more gossip than anyone else, but today she didn't even seem interested. Between that and missing yesterday's outing with the girls, Bri knew something was up. "You sure you're okay, sweetie?"

  "I'm just tired," Lydia said. "Dean kept me up with his snoring."

  "It's horrible," Cara agreed. Then she added quickly, "Men's snoring, that is. I hate it when Ethan snores all night. Sounds like a hog in heat."

  Bri raised an eyebrow at Cara. Now she thought about it, Cara wasn't acting like herself. What was going on with their little group?

  "I'm just saying," Cara said. "So, do you guys wanna see the new Donatello Williams movie? He's super hot in the previews."

  Savannah fanned herself. "You're not kidding. Let's see it this week. Did you see those cutoffs he wore in the chase scene on the train?"

  "Don't remind me," Cara said. "I nearly drooled all over myself during the commercial."

  They made plans, but Bri couldn't get her mind off either Lydia or Cara. What was going on with them?

  "Right, Bri?" asked Savannah.

  Bri turned to her. "What?"

  "I said all men snore."

  "Back to that? Not Corey," Bri said. "He's perfect."

  "You two make me sick," Cara said. "Together all those years and still in love. It's just not right."

  "Like you and Ethan aren't still crazy about each other."

  Cara rolled her eyes and shook her head.

  "No?" Bri asked. "When did this happen?"

  "No marriage is perfect," Cara snapped. "Except for Bri and Corey. But then again, if I was married to Corey Stevens, I'd do whatever he wanted. That man is the walking, talking definition of hot. Has he aged since you two married?"

  "Yes, but he's like a fine wine," Bri said, taking a sip of freshly poured wine. "He just gets better with time."

  "That he does," Savannah agreed. "He and Tom, both. My Tom ages, he just does it well. I love how the lines around his eyes crinkle when he laughs. Makes my heart stop."

  "Can we stop talking about how perfect your husbands are?" Cara asked. "We get it. Tom and Corey are not only perfect, but hot, too. You can stop bragging already."

  Bri sat up. "You have nothing to complain about. Ethan is—"

  "What's eating you?" Savannah asked, glaring at Cara.

  "Probably hormones," Bri said. "Or is Ethan turned off by the pregnancy?"

  Cara's mouth formed a straight line and her face turned red.

  "Bri," Savannah exclaimed. She elbowed Bri.

  "It happens. It's nothing personal—don't feel bad if that's the case. Some guys are just built that way. Just how they're wired."

  "Is Corey?" snapped Cara.

  "No. He thought it was beautiful that I was growing a new life." Bri smiled, remembering the way he would caress her stomach. "He adored me."

  Savannah sighed. "He would. If I didn't have Tom, I'd be so jealous."

  Cara got up and moved her blanket over. "The shade keeps moving. We should've picked a different spot."

  Lydia stood. "I've got an umbrella in my trunk. I'll get it."

  "I am the only one who thinks something's wrong with her?" Bri asked.

  "Cara?" Savannah asked, looking at a strand of dark hair.

  "No." Cara shoved Savannah. "She meant Lydia."

  Savannah looked at another strand of hair. "My hairdresser isn't getting a tip next time. She totally didn't get the highlights bright enough." She pulled her hair back into a bun. "Anyway, yeah, Lydia's being way too quiet. Do you know what's up?"

  "No," Bri said, "but I'm going to find out."

  "You want to know what I think?" Savannah asked, leaning back.

  "What?" Cara asked, not looking amused.

  Savannah slid off her shades. "The girl needs to get laid."

  "Wow, Savannah. Why don't you tell us what you really think?" Bri asked, shaking her head.

  "Grow up," Cara said.

  "You can't tell me you weren't thinking it too," Savannah said. "Dean hasn't gone near her in, what, years? Maybe she should try to rekindle what they used to have. They were cute before things went south."

  "Are you for real?" Cara asked, glaring at Savannah.

  "Why wouldn't I be? They're married."

  Cara rolled her eyes. "You call that a marriage?"

  "What about the guy she was seeing?" Bri asked. "Maybe she can work things out with him again."

  Savannah shook her head. "I think she would if she could. She's still stuck on him."

  Bri looked toward the parking to see if Lydia was getting close. "You really think so?"

  "Yeah," Savannah said. "She was head over heels for him. I can't believe she never told any of us who he was. Or did she tell one of you?"

  "Not me," Cara said, inching over into the shade again.

  "Me neither," Bri said. "And believe me, it wasn't for a lack of trying. All I got was that he was married, too, and she didn't want to say his name. She didn't want to ruin his reputation."

  "She thought he was going to leave his wife, right?" Savannah asked.

  Bri nodded. "Too bad he didn't. I really wanted to meet him. He sounded almost as wonderful as Corey."

  "Oh, here she comes," Cara said. "I'm so glad she has an umbrella."

  Lydia joined them and set up the umbrella for Cara.

  "So, what did you do yesterday?" Savannah asked Lydia. "We missed you."

  "I missed you girls, too." Lydia gave a weak smile. "Something came up at the house and I had to fix it. It's no big deal."

  "Are you sure?" Bri asked.

  "What is this, twenty questions?" Lydia frowned.

  "Sorry." Bri tried to read Lydia's expression, but came up empty.

  Cara poured herself more cider. "So, how about the Mariners? I heard they won again last night."

  Savannah rolled her eyes at Cara.

  Someone's cell phone rang.

  "That's me." Savannah sat up and dug into her bag. "It's Tom." She slid her finger across the screen. "Hi, babe. What's up? … You did? … Yeah, I'll join you. Just give me a few minutes. Love you." She slid her finger across the screen and threw it back in her bag. "He got off early and the shop is done with his Harley. We're going to go riding. Sorry to bail on you girls, but I can't pass that up."

  "And you shouldn't." Bri tossed some sand at her. "Have fun."

  Lydia stood. "I'm going to get going, too. I just remembered something I need to do." She looked at Cara. "You can hang onto t
he umbrella. Just bring it next time or whatever."

  Bri looked into Lydia's beautiful, dark eyes. "Girlfriend, if you need to talk, give me a call."

  "Sure."

  They said their goodbyes as Savannah and Lydia took off.

  Cara and Bri both got comfortable on their blankets, watching the light waves splash on the shore.

  "I don't know how you can stay in the sun so long," Cara said. "Even when I'm not pregnant, I can't be in the sun as much as you."

  "It's a gift." Bri flipped herself over. "Do you have any ideas what's bugging Lydia?"

  Cara looked away. "Nope. I'm sure she'll get over it." She twisted a strand of her red hair.

  "Why are you so angry today? Seems like every time we mention Lydia you act like you swallowed a spider." Bri ran a finger through the sand next to her blanket.

  "She just annoys me. Don't you get tired of her whiny voice? Or how she thinks the world revolves around her? Ugh."

  "She's not whiny," Bri said, staring into Cara's green eyes. "And she brought cider and an umbrella for you. What did you bring for her?"

  Cara sighed. "She's trying to cover up the fact that she hates me."

  "Lydia hates you?" Bri asked. "As if. We've all been tight for years. If she had something against you, she would have told one of us, and she hasn't said a word."

  "Did you stop to think that her acting weird is because of me?" Cara asked.

  "No." Bri picked some lint off her blanket. "She's always adored you. Remember when you guys almost lost your house and she dropped everything and helped you set up a garage sale to pay your mortgage that month? She even donated some of her jewelry."

  Cara's face turned pale. "I nearly forgot about that. All the more reason for her to hate me."

  "What would she have against you? I've never heard her utter a negative thing about you."

  "Well…." Cara took a deep breath. She swallowed and then played with a nail, still looking pale.

  "What?" Bri's eyes widened. "What are you keeping from me?"

  Cara picked at a nail, but wouldn't look at Bri. "I might have done something that would piss her off. Big time. Like, enough to make her hate me forever."

  "What? She wasn't angry. We'd all know if she was. Lydia was…I don't know. Sad? What did you do?"