Principles And Pleasures. Margaret Allison

      “What? How?”

      “Hire him to give you skiing lessons. Ask him to take you to Bear Mountain. That’s at least a solid day. By the time you get back, Mark should be home. I’ll be safe.”

      “You better be ‘safe,’” Viera said, making quotation marks in the air with her fingers. “We’ve got five hundred people with invitations and gifts expecting a wedding.”

      Meredith raised her eyebrow. “A minute ago there were four hundred.”

      “Replies are coming in as we speak,” Viera said defensively. “It’s the event of the season.”

      Meredith shook her head. “I don’t know.” She sighed. “If Carly is having so many second thoughts then maybe…” Maybe she shouldn’t get married. As much as she hated the idea of losing the contract with Durasnow, she couldn’t stand the thought of her sister being in a loveless marriage. “Maybe…” Meredith began. Just say it. She glanced at her sister. “Maybe your marriage to Mark is not meant to be…”

      “It is meant to be,” Carly said.

      “Excuse me?”

      “I just need a little help avoiding the curse.”

      Meredith shook her head, not convinced. “What if you get married and start feeling this way about someone else…”

      “I won’t. It’s just Josh. I think he could tempt any woman to misbehave.”

      Meredith sighed. She couldn’t argue with that.

      “Sometimes matters of the heart don’t make sense, Meredith,” her mother added, glancing at Carly.

      The doorbell rang, its chime echoing through the empty house. Carly stood and moved to the window to peek out. She ran back to Meredith and clutched her arm. “It’s Josh,” she said. “Ask him to take you to Bear Mountain or something. Please.”

      But Meredith couldn’t bear the thought of seeing Josh again, not to mention asking him on a trip. “I have to work. I’m supposed to go to New York today.”

      Viera stood and said, “If your sister is seen with Josh, you may not have a job to worry about.”

      “Just for a day or so. Until Mark gets back.”

      “Carly—” Meredith began.

      Carly interrupted. “If you won’t do it for me, do it for your…”

      “Country?” Viera suggested.

      “I was going to say company,” Carly said, “but whatever works.”

      Meredith hesitated.

      “A day, Meredith,” Carly said. “Please?”

      “All right,” she said, standing. “One day.” She walked away, certain she had just made a deal with the devil. No good would come of this. No good at all.

      Josh stood with his back to the Cartwright door, admiring the view of the mountains. At times he missed those long days with nothing better to do than ski. He had gone from one extreme to the other. From ski bum to corporate entrepreneur. There has to be, he thought, a happy alternative.

      Hearing the door open, he turned, expecting to see one of the Cartwright servants. Instead, Meredith stood in front of him, her thick, dark hair loose around her shoulders. She was dressed casually, in a tight-fitting turtleneck and jeans. He couldn’t help but notice the outfit clung to her like a second skin.

      He felt a warmth stir inside him. The once uncertain girl had become a captivating swan who was not only aware of, but also relished the change.

      She looked at him and nodded.

      Josh had long prided himself on his ability to recognize his opponent’s strengths and weaknesses. He had an innate sense of people. So far, at least, his instincts had not led him astray.

      And his instincts told him one thing. Whatever was about to come out of her mouth would be interesting.

      Meredith focused her bewitching brown eyes on him and smiled. “Please come in. Carly is waiting for you.”

      He heard Carly gasp from the other room. “I’m sick, Meredith!”

      “Don’t be ridiculous. It’s just Josh. He just wants to say hello.” Meredith turned back toward him. “I’m sure she’s well enough to welcome an old friend…”

      Carly burst past them, covering her mouth. Viera followed close behind.

      “I’m afraid Carly is sick with the stomach flu,” Mrs. Cartwright said, hurrying after Carly but pausing at the base of the stairs to flash Josh her famous, white-toothed smile. “Josh,” she said, as if she suddenly had all the time in the world. “Carly’s obviously not in any shape to entertain an old friend. You’ll have to settle for Meredith.”

      Viera nodded toward her daughter. “Why don’t you invite Josh in? There’s coffee in the dining room,” she added as she made her way up the stairs.

      “What was that?” he asked.

      Meredith shrugged her delicate shoulders. He thought he could see the hint of a smile. “I guess Carly’s not as well as I thought.” She paused and focused her oval eyes on him. He had the feeling she was summing him up, deciding what to do with him. “I’m afraid this flu is a nasty one.”

      “Perhaps I should come back later.” He caught her eyes and held them. Was this a ploy to keep him from speaking to Carly about her fiancé’s company?

      No. He had seen Carly with his own eyes. She may not have the flu but she was obviously ill. Still, he couldn’t help but tease Meredith. If she thought so little of him that she believed he had returned to seduce her sister, especially after what he and Meredith had shared, then so be it. “As you know,” he continued, “I’m very anxious to see her.”

      “Of course,” she said.

      If he was annoying her, she didn’t show it. He shrugged. “Perhaps tomorrow. I’m free all day so—”

      “You’re free all day?” she interrupted.

      “All day.”

      She hesitated, and glanced once more at the top of the stairs, as if waiting for Carly to appear. Finally she said, “Good.”

      “Good?”

      “I was hoping you’d be free.”