Susan Mallery - The Best of Friends (Pocket Readers Guide)

Praise for SUSAN MALLERY
whose prose is luscious and provocative
(Publishers Weekly)
and her acclaimed womens fiction debut

SUNSET BAY

This heartwarming novel perfectly shows off Mallerys beautiful writing. It will evoke emotions from tears to laughter.

Romantic Times

Mallery skillfully conducts an intense emotional
journey in this richly textured, poignant tale.

Booklist

Spellbinding, perceptive, absorbing, and simply breathtaking.

Single Titles

Susan Mallery has unequivocally amazed and impressed me with the power, passion, and emotional writing in Sunset Bay a MUST-READ. (A Perfect 10)

Romance Reviews Today

An exceptional tale, and one you wont want to miss.

ReaderToReader

A book that simply refused to let me set it aside.

Fresh Fiction

Ms. Mallery has created an enchanting story. The humor and heart-piercing emotions throughout the tale make for a lively read.

Fallen Angel Reviews

Sunset Bayis also available as an eBook.

Also by Susan Mallery

From Pocket Books

Sunset Bay

The Marcelli Princess

The Marcelli Bride

The Sparkling One

The Seductive One

The Sassy One

Married for a Month

Sweet Success

The sale of this book without its cover is unauthorized. If you purchased this book without a cover, you should be aware that it was reported to the publisher as unsold and destroyed. Neither the author nor the publisher has received payment for the sale of this stripped book.

This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and
incidents either are products of the authors imagination or
are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events
or locales or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.

Copyright 2010 by Susan Macias Redmond

All rights reserved, including the right to reproduce this book or
portions thereof in any form whatsoever. For information address
Pocket Books Subsidiary Rights Department,
1230 Avenue of the Americas, New York, NY 10020

First Pocket Star Books paperback edition October 2010

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Designed by Jill Putorti
Cover design by Lisa Litwack. Illustration by Tom Hallman.

Manufactured in the United States of America

10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1

ISBN 978-1-4165-6718-9
ISBN 978-1-4165-6728-8 (ebook)

The
Best of Friends

No gold-digging for me I take diamonds! We may be off the gold standard someday.

Mae West

THERE WERE TWO TYPES of people, Jayne Scott told herself as she hurried from the waiting car toward the international terminal at the Los Angeles airport. Those who skated through life never spilling coffee on themselves, or tripping, or showing up at the wrong time for the wrong event. And the rest of the world. As she dabbed at the growing damp spot on her shirt, left by her grande nonfat latte, Jayne knew exactly into which camp she fell.

She scanned the crowded arrivals area, ignoring the dozens of different languages, the happy families reuniting, the couples in love. Instead, she looked for a tall, beautiful blonde with an excessive amount of luggage and a half dozen or so minions. Seconds later she spotted two porters with overflowing luggage carts, a burly guy with a briefcase chained to his wrist, and a head-turning woman wearing leather pants and a leopard duster. Rebecca always did like to make an entrance.

Jayne waited until her friend spotted her, then waved.

Im late, Rebecca called, then hurried forward and hugged her. I got stuck in customs. They thought I was a jewel thief. Dont you love that?

Anyone offer to do a strip search? Jayne asked, hugging her back and inhaling a custom-blended floral perfume.

Rebecca straightened and wrinkled her nose. No, and I didnt want anyone to.

No one cute enough?

Pretty much. Jayne, this is Hans, my bodyguard.

The burly guy barely made eye contact before returning to scanning the crowd.

Jayne glanced at the briefcase in his hand. You couldnt use a courier service like everyone else? she asked, leading the way to the waiting limo. You had to bring them yourself?

Thats what the customs people said. They lack imagination.

Or maybe they were overwhelmed by seeing a couple million in loose gemstones.

Im a jewelry designer. Its what I do.

If you were a ship builder, would you travel with a three-ton hull?

Of course not. Ships are so last year, Rebecca said, linking arms with Jayne. Thanks for coming to meet me. Ive missed you.

Ive missed you, too.

They walked out to the waiting limo that Jayne had arranged. Shed known better than to bring her own car. Not only did Rebecca prefer to travel in style, there was no way all the luggage would fit in Jaynes Jetta.

Rebecca stared at the vehicle with approval. Its a stretch limo.

I know you love them.

Wait until you see the place I rented in Santa Monica! It has a view of the ocean and everything. Ill have to get a car, of course. Everyone needs a car in L.A.

You could just hire the limo permanently. It could go with you everywhere.

Rebecca slid in the backseat, then looked up at her. Now youre mocking me.

I cant help myself. Jayne settled next to her. Do you want to talk about your mother now or later?

How about never?

Shes the reason youre back.

Ive returned to announce myself, Rebecca said, leaning back in the leather seat. To reintroduce myself to society after a ten-year absence.

Youre here to be a pain in her ass.

That, too.

Rearranging your life to annoy your mother is expected at thirteen. At twenty-nine its just kind of sad.

Rebecca turned to her. Tragedy keeps my art fresh.

I see youre still dramatic.

I see youre still dressing badly.

Jayne glanced down at the faded magenta scrub shirt she wore, now decorated by the latte stain. I came straight from work.

Maybe something more tailored?

Im a nurse, Rebecca. This is what I wear.

Rebecca gave a little sniff, then pulled a bottle of water out of her carry-on.

She was the only person Jayne knew who could fly from Italy to L.A. and look ready to step into a photo shoot. Carefully highlighted blond hair hung past her shoulders in layered curls. Her skin was flawless, her lips full, and gold-and-diamond earrings, her own design, glittered as she moved.

Hans finished supervising the luggage being loaded into the trunk, then walked to the front passenger seat and slid in next to the driver.

What about a workspace? Jayne asked. Youre not going to be making jewelry at the condo you rented, are you?