Read Online Give Up On Me by Tressie Lockwood - Free Book Online

“I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to come off all superior. You know your stuff, Dad. It just burns me up that he tried to take advantage of you. We should sue.”
    “You of all people know we can’t even afford that much.”
    “He’d have to pay our court fees and for our lawyer when we win.”
    His handkerchief appeared to mop his head.
    “Dad, I know you don’t like going to these lengths, and seriously neither do I. We can’t let clients walk all over us. How about this? We get the contract with Bennett. With the advance he pays, we use most of it to catch up with bills. The rest can go to whatever we might need to retain a lawyer. Then when we win, that money can be used to give George some overtime.”
    “Hm, it could work, given that securing Bennett might get us more contracts even before we complete the job. I think we can pull it off.”
    “Me, too.” Janae started to feel a little more hope about their situation. Her cell phone rang again, and she sighed seeing that it was the same person. “Dad, I might have to get this.”
    “Let it go to voicemail,” he ordered. “We’re having a father-daughter luncheon, and I’m not sharing you right now.”
    She chuckled. “Fine, but if Ed McMahan was calling, and you caused us to miss it, don’t blame me.”
    “I’ll try my best.”
    They both laughed, and went back to eating. Janae’s phone beeped, indicating she had a message, but she ignored it and enjoyed the rest of the afternoon with her dad.

Chapter Eight
    M att tugged Janae into his arms and kissed her lips. She moaned, leaning into his chest. An ache in her heart wouldn’t let her go. She wondered how long she and Matt would be together before it didn’t hurt to be separated from him. Maybe she felt this way because they weren’t married yet. With a little mental discipline, she might be able to get a grip. At least she hoped so, because he traveled all the time.
    “This stupid trip comes up after I promised you I would stick around for a while.” He rested his forehead against hers. “Damn it, I’m sorry, honey.”
    “Don’t be. It’s not your fault. This is your job.” She tried to shrug it off. “Plus, absence makes it all the sweeter when you come back.”
    “That’s no comfort. I want you in my arms now.”
    She chuckled. “I am in your arms.”
    “Permanently.”
    “How would we pee?”
    He laughed. “All right. I get it. You won’t miss me.”
    “Oh I’ll miss you, baby. I miss you already, and I wish you didn’t have to go or I could come with you.”
    “You could.” He looked hopeful.
    “Not this time. We’ve got a lot going on at the job. Dad needs me.”
    He nodded. “Then wait for me, okay? I’ll finish what I have to do and get back here. I’ll call as often as I can.”
    “I know you will.”
    Final boarding call came over the loudspeaker for Matt’s plane. He could have been seated long ago, but they had wanted extra time. Janae clung to him a little longer, and he kissed her until her lips grew numb.
    When he pushed her gently away, she saw the reluctance in his eyes and his movements. She could make him feel better about the trip if she told him about her decision to marry him. Knowing him, he’d be on cloud nine for the entire time he was away. Still, she hesitated to say it out loud. She was sure she would do it now, just nervous about speaking it into the ether.
    “I love you,” he said, backing away.
    She opened her mouth to tell him she loved him too when a small crowd of late travelers separated them. The next time Janae got a clear view of her baby, it was the back of his head as he passed through the gate’s doors.
    “I love you, too, Matt,” she whispered to him, although he couldn’t hear her.
    On her way back to her car, Janae checked her messages. She frowned, realizing she had forgotten to listen to the one from the unknown number. The person had called three times but left one message. Sighing, she ticked the play button and