Read Online A Promise to Cherish by Lavyrle Spencer - Free Book Online Page A

occupying earlier. He turned sideways, lifting a knee partially onto the cushioned seat and resting his arm along its back. He scrutinized her with a half smile.
    “Why? You look great, Cherokee.”
    “And don’t call me Cherokee.” She looked around furtively to see if anyone had heard, but they were alone in the lounge.
    “If Ms. Walker and Cherokee are both out, what should I call you?”
    She didn’t know. “Try Lee,” she finally suggested.
    “All right, Lee, you had some trouble finding the place?”
    “Trouble! I drove right past it two times and never even gave it a glance. What is it, anyway?”
    “It’s the Carriage Club.”
    “And you’re a member, I take it.”
    “Aha.” He reached for his cocktail from an oval table in front of the sofa. The entire grouping, including the pair of wing chairs, faced the fireplace, ensconcing them in a private circle of their own.
    She turned her eyes to the coffee table. In addition to a bouquet of freshly cut spider mums and carnations, it held a silver bowl of macadamia nuts. Her gaze moved over richly papered walls to the polished andirons and screen in the fireplace. Slowly Lee’s eyes traveled back to Sam Brown to find him studying her.
    “Is this supposed to change my opinion of . . . the decadent rich?” she asked.
    He shrugged, but his grin remained.
    Just then Walter returned with her Smith and Kurn, set it on the table, and inquired, “And will there be anything else for you, Mr. Brown?”
    “Another of the same.”
    As soon as Walter had faded away, Lee couldn’t resist querying, “What? Aren’t you going to ask for pickled mushrooms?”
    “The decadent rich don’t need to ask. Walter knows exactly how I prefer my drinks.”
    “So . . . you’re a member of good standing?”
    His only answer was the continued amiable expression on his face, and against her will, Lee Walker was thoroughly impressed.
    “I came here to talk business, Mr. Brown,” she said.
    “Of course.” He leaned forward slightly. “Unlike most of the contracting firms in this city, mine has had a good year. The plumbing half of the firm has sustained the sewer and water half until it can get on its feet. All I need is one good estimator.”
    “And what makes you think I’m good?”
    “You damn near beat me out of that Denver job, and you did beat out an impressive lineup of competition. I want anybody who can do that working for me, not against me.”
    “I did beat you out, and you know it,” she accused in a soft voice.
    “Are we going to beat that old dead horse again?”
    “I couldn’t resist.”
    His brown eyes crinkled. Distracted, she reached for some nuts.
    “Are you interested in the job offer?”
    She didn’t want to be, but—damn his dark eyes!—she was. Walter intruded momentarily to lean low with a silver tray, and even over his back Lee could feel Sam Brown’s eyes following her hand as she lifted the nuts to her mouth, then licked away the salt that caught on her glossy lipstick.
    She raised her eyes to confront him head on. “I want you to know right off the bat—I don’t do anybody’s dirty work. I bid ’em straight and fair.”
    “I’ll pay you forty thousand a year, plus a company car and all the usual fringe benefits—profit sharing, insurance, use of a company credit card.”
    While shock waves catapulted through Lee, she watched Sam lazily stir his drink, then lift a red plastic saber upon which four pickled mushrooms were skewered. His sparkling teeth slipped the first mushroom into his mouth, and his jaws began moving while hers went slack.
    “Forty thousand a year?” The words scarcely peeped from her throat.
    “Mmm-hmm.” His eyes lingered indolently on hers as he clamped those perfect teeth around the second mushroom. Mesmerized, still not quite able to absorb his offer, she watched as he ate all four mushrooms.
    Forty thousand dollars!
    “You must be joking.”
    “Not at all. You’ll work damn hard for it. If I say