Read Online A Fresh Start by Trisha Grace - Free Book Online

question.
    He sat down beside her and drank a squirt of water. “The people in this town, not all, but most of them avoided me like a plague.”
    “Why?” she asked, her brows drawing closer.
    She was bound to hear about it from someone sooner or later, might as well be him. “My mom was an alcoholic. She would do anything to get money for her alcohol, including sleeping with half the town.”
    Her eyes widened, pushing her brows up along with them. She quickly wiped off her surprise and her jaw dropped slightly as she seemed to consider what her next words should be. “I’m sorry, that must’ve been rough.”
    “I had the Seymours.”
    She nodded slowly. “Then why are they so eager to have dinner with you now?”
    “Money?”
    Since he started getting more money, he realized more women began throwing themselves at him. At first, they would be willing to do anything for him. Then, the demands would start coming in.
    A bag they really wanted to have. A dress so they could go out to dinner. The pair of diamond earrings they saw at the mall.
    “You’re rich?”
    “Why do you sound so skeptical?” He couldn’t help feeling frustrated at her reaction.
    “I’m sorry,” she quickly said. “I’m not looking down on you. But if you’re rich, why are you working with me on the house?”
    “I was actually in Cheyenne to look at some properties, thought I’d drop by to see the Seymours and Travis. I didn’t think I’ll end up helping you with the house.”
    “So it’s by chance that you ended up here.”
    He nodded.
    She reached over for her water bottle. “Do you think I’m pretentious? Was that why you didn’t want to tell me what you do?”
    “No. I just—”
    “It’s okay. It’s not like I told you everything about myself.”
    “I already know that you don’t have an alcoholic mom. Tell me something else.”
    Her eyes flickered to the side and she appeared to be thinking of something to tell him. “I’m adopted, but I don’t think I could’ve found a better family.”
    Justin broke into a smile. He wasn’t expecting Paige to tell him anything. “What do you do for a living?”
    “I used to teach accounting at a community college. I started teaching the night classes while I worked as an auditor during the day. I enjoyed teaching so much I quit my day job and taught full time.”
    Teacher. It suited her.
    “Do you have a job now?”
    “No. I’m hoping to get a job at Pine Bluffs High School.”
    “Don’t you need a license or something?”
    “Yeah, I’ve all the necessary credentials, and I passed the exam. They’re not looking for a teacher, though.”
    “You’re unwilling to drive further?”
    “I’d prefer to stay in town,” she answered. “And you? To do what you do, you probably move around a lot.”
    “Yeah.”
    “Don’t you miss home?”
    He had never felt at home anywhere. He loved the Seymours, he loved how they took care of him while his mother was only concerned with getting another drink. But he never felt he belonged anywhere. “Not really,’ he said. “Why Pine? I’m sure there are bigger towns with better opportunities. You’ve taught in a college, you were an auditor. I’m sure you can do better than teaching in high school.”
    “It’s a small town. Everyone knows everyone.”
    “And you like that?”
    “I can tell that you don’t.”
    “I prefer the city lifestyle. Everyone minding their own business. Nobody cares who you are and what you do as long as you don’t disturb them.”
    She shook her head with a grin. “Then what are you doing here?”
    “Using you as an excuse to skip dinner with people I don’t like?”
    She laughed and shrugged. Her genuine laughter made him grin.  
    “Well then, get to work mister, or I’m kicking you out to the pretentious ex-schoolmates.”

Chapter Five

    The sun streamed into the window, through the curtains, and onto Paige’s face. She turned her face into the pillow, hoping to get more sleep. She