Return to Sender by Fern Michaels Page A

the flow, then grabbed a Diet Coke from the minibar. Lin kept her cell phone with her. She looked at the clock. Eleven. Sally would still be up. She piled her hair on top of her head, securing it with a barrette. After immersing herself in the warm, scented water, Lin dialed her best friend’s cell number.
    Sally picked up on the first ring. “I had a feeling it was you. What’s up?”
    “You can thank caller ID for that feeling, and you’re never going to believe what I’m about to tell you. Are you sitting down?”
    “Actually, I was just about to leave the restaurant. I stayed late to make sure the crew cleaned up after themselves. You should’ve seen the piles of garbage they left yesterday. I wanted to fire the entire lot of them, but this late in the game we’d be lucky to find replacements.”
    At that moment Lin couldn’t have cared less about the diner. “So do whatever you think needs to be done. You’re the manager.”
    “ Lin! ” Sally cried. “This is your baby, remember?”
    “Yes, but that’s not why I called.” Lin paused, suddenly unsure if she wanted to tell Sally about the evening. Yes. No. Hell, yes! I have to tell someone.
    “You sound excited. You’re not hurt, are you?” Sally asked, her voice rising a notch.
    “No, no. I’m fine. Physically at least.” Lin rubbed her foot across the pulsing jet of water at the end of the huge tub. “And before you ask, Will is fine, too.”
    “You know me well. So, tell me what it is you’re just dying to tell me. I can hear it in your voice. It’s something big, isn’t it? Did you meet someone?”
    Here goes, Lin thought. “Yes and yes.”
    “Shit-house mouse! Lin, don’t give me that crap! Either spit it out, or I’m hanging up. I hate it when you drag things out. You know that!” the voice on the other end of the line screeched.
    Lin wasn’t purposely trying to drag out the conversation. She just wasn’t sure where to start. The beginning would probably be best. “Tonight, when I first arrived at the banquet for the incoming students, I was searching the crowd for Will when I saw this man looking at me. There was something about him that was familiar. Then he took a flute of champagne from a waiter, lifted it in my direction, as though he wanted to know if it was okay for him to bring it to me.”
    “Don’t tell me you screwed this up, Lin. Please. You know what a short supply of sophisticated men we have in Dalton. And the ones that are remotely half-assed smart are married or gay.”
    “If you’ll stop interrupting me, I’ll finish.”
    “Sorry. Go on.”
    “The closer this guy came to me, the more familiar he became. I had to do a double take just to make sure I wasn’t seeing things. I’m still in shock, Sally, because it was the one and only Mr. Nicholas Pemberton.” Lin waited, allowing Sally a minute to soak up the info.
    After more than a minute Sally spoke. “Are you sure?” she hissed.
    “Of course I’m sure. If I was even the least bit unsure when I first saw him, I was convinced one hundred percent when the dean introduced him as the closing speaker. He hasn’t changed at all. He’s as handsome as ever, maybe even more so.”
    “Go on,” Sally encouraged.
    “When he stood at the podium, making his speech, I swear I thought I would faint. My hands were shaking so bad, it’s a miracle my jewelry didn’t fly off. I didn’t know what to do, so I told Will I had to go. Said I’d ordered a taxi. When he offered to walk me out, I all but shouted ‘No,’ so the entire crowd heard me. Nick stopped talking. Luckily, I found a taxi, and as we were about to leave, Nicholas raced over to the car. I just knew he was going to say my name. I…Then he placed my wrap on the seat, telling me I’d left it at the coat-check counter. He must have seen me check it when I arrived.”
    “That’s it?” Sally stated.
    “I think it’s more than enough! What if he recognized me?” Lin took a drink of her Diet Coke.