Best Laid Plans by Elizabeth Palmer Page B

guest medicine cabinet to thong panties between the cushions on the leather couch.
    “Pleased to meet you.” It was easy to smile as he imagined her making a similar archeological find.
    “You and Jamie have the same beautiful smile.”
    Her handshake was surprisingly firm, and he remembered she was a successful businesswoman, the decorator who had earned a substantial payday turning Jamie’s penthouse into a masculine sanctuary. He wondered how soon the feminine touches would start showing up, or if his brother would be paying for a complete decorating makeover.
    “C’mon, we were just going to throw some lunch together.” Jamie reached for Pamela’s hand and pulled her behind him toward the kitchen. Jake trailed after them, already feeling extraneous. Soon, maybe before she left today, she’d be evaluating him the same way she’d examine the sofa cushions and drapes. Stay, or go? Sorry, the brother has to go, he doesn’t match the decor.
    The lunch they were “throwing together” had obviously been purchased at an expensive deli. Pamela pulled trays of rich delicacies from the refrigerator, including smoked salmon, pâté, and caviar. He avoided the meat and seafood and filled a plate with marinated baby vegetables, hummus, and over-processed bread with all its nutrition removed. Was this the sort of food Violet would feed Daisy after she weaned her from the breast? He shuddered, and he wasn’t sure which thought had caused it — Daisy eating a bad Western diet or Violet’s breast.
    “Your brother told me you’re a vegetarian, but you’ll eat some salmon and caviar, right?” Pamela reached past him for the bread and gave him a good view of her own cleavage, suspiciously cavernous for such a slight woman.
    Why did Americans have to tweak everything? From the food they ate and the places they lived to their very flesh, nothing was left natural. He pictured Violet opening her door to him the other day in her milk-stained cotton robe, her glossy dark hair pulled back and her face free of make-up. He’d never seen anything as beautiful, despite his anger at her, and he’d seen a lot of amazing sights.
    “Maybe later,” he told Pamela. He’d learned it was best not to challenge the natives about their eating habits.
    “Join me in a beer?” Jamie poured the glass before Jake could answer, so he accepted it without comment. “So, what’s your big news?”
    “News?” He was eyeing the beer, which was the same dark amber as Daisy’s eyes, and thinking it would be refreshing to take a nice, long swallow. Not to mention a good delaying tactic. So he did. When he set the glass back down on the table, with the rich, bitter taste lingering on his tongue, he saw Jamie and Pamela were both waiting for him to speak. He finally had his brother’s full attention, but something made him hold back from making his announcement in Pamela’s presence.
    “Oh, no big deal. My publisher called to tell me they ordered another printing of the last book, and he expects the next one to outsell all the others.”
    Jamie shot him a questioning look, perfect eyebrows raised, probably because Jake rarely discussed his finances or his career successes. He reached across the table to slap him a high-five when Jake didn’t say anything more. “Mom and Dad would have been really proud of you, bro!”
    “It sounds like you’ll be able to get your own penthouse.” Pamela’s smile was all innocence. “I can recommend a great decorator.”
    Nice touch. Get rid of the brother, and make a big commission at the same time.
    “I’m not interested in owning any property.” Because he wasn’t used to alcohol, the beer was already starting to spread warmth to his extremities and soften the hard edges of things, but he could see more would be needed to get through this lunch. He tipped the glass up while Jamie explained him to Pamela.
    “Jake’s the kind of guy who keeps his boots by the door and his carry-on packed, and he