Read Online Wife for a Day by Patti Berg - Free Book Online Page A

leaned close to Sam, and she could smell the whiskey on his breath—“from the gossip I’ve heard tonight, number three might die at the hands of Jack Remington, even before the wedding takes place. Lauren’s hell on husbands.”
    He was drunk. His words were slurred, his eyes red, and the face Sam had once thought was semihandsome now looked tired and old.
    Chip continued to stare at her, and then his eyes widened. “I’ve got it. You look like the woman who altered a suit for me this week. Odd coincidence, isn’t it? Of course, you couldn’t be her, could you?”
    â€œI could,” Sam said with a confident smile, “if I was a good enough actress.” She felt Jack’s fingers tighten around her arm, and she quickly gave him a wink.
    Chip took a drink of whiskey. “You’d have to be one hell of an actress, because those people from West Palm Beach just don’t fit in here.”
    â€œ Those people?” she asked. “Who exactly are those people?”
    â€œI assume you have them in Denver, too.Poor people, illiterate people, ones without much education.”
    â€œOh, you mean the ones who cook your food, clean your house, wash your clothes and tailor them, too, because you’ve never learned the simple, basic skills of taking care of yourself?”
    Chip laughed. “Sounds like you have an affinity for those people.”
    â€œI’ve known a few of those people in my life. Strip away the money you were fortunate enough to be born with and your pompous arrogance, and you could fit in quite nicely. No, I take that back. You’d still be a wimp unable to take care of himself, which means you wouldn’t last more than a week or two on the other side of the bridge. You’d be pulp, Mr. Chasen. Dog meat. Now, if you don’t mind,” she said, clutching the skirt of her gown so she could make a hasty retreat, “I need some fresh air, and I’m not going to find it here.”
    She rushed down the marble steps and across the lawn toward the beach. Tears spilled from her eyes, and for once she didn’t try to hold them back. She was one of those people, and she always would be. Going to the ball for one night didn’t change anything. She could scratch and claw her way out of the hole her life had been since the time of her birth,but she’d always be one of those people. Tonight, after getting an up-close glimpse of how crude and obnoxious some rich people could be, she finally realized that being one of those people was okay.
    â€œWait.” Jack’s voice hit her from behind, but she didn’t stop until his hand wrapped around her arm.
    â€œWhere are you going?”
    â€œHome. Back where I belong.”
    â€œYou belong here. With me.”
    She jerked around. “Why, because you paid me to be here? If that’s the reason, you can keep your money.”
    He shook his head, and smiled when he took hold of her hands. “No, because I don’t know what you’re going to say or do next. Because you’re not a stereotype or a hanger-on. And, to be quite honest, because you make me feel good.”
    â€œWell, maybe I make you feel good, but you don’t make me feel anything but anger. You didn’t even stick up for me back there.”
    â€œYou were doing fine on your own. It’s not every day someone puts Chip Chasen in his place.” He wiped away one of her tears with his thumb. “You know what, Whiskey?”
    â€œWhat?”
    â€œIt was a sheer pleasure watching you atwork. Seems to me those Hollywood people underestimated your talent.”
    â€œI wasn’t acting. That was me, the real me, impulsive and quick-tempered. I’d say I’m sorry, but I’m not.”
    â€œI’d be disappointed if you were.” He touched her cheek, and for the first time she noticed his fingers weren’t soft and smooth, but callused, used to hard work.