Read Online On 4/19 (On 4/19 and Beyond 4/20) by Lisa Heaton - Free Book Online Page A
Authors: Lisa Heaton
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jealous, he abruptly stood and blurted out that he needed a few minutes. The dozen or so men just stared at him as he left the room. It was good strategy in hindsight. Leave them waiting long enough, make them believe you are not quite as interested as they thought, and you can easily develop the upper-hand. Negotiations to purchase the hotel were at a crucial point and didn’t seem to be going his way. Walking away would likely change the course of upcoming discussions.
Watching him walk away, Mr. GQ in his suit, sure of himself and so unaffected, her heart was fluttering in an unusual way. Without question, he was the most amazing man she had ever encountered. That was the precise moment she first realized she may be in real trouble.
John returned right after Chelsea had finished her shower. It was late afternoon, and since she’d skipped lunch, she was starving. Wearing the most snuggly robe over her pajamas, she was settled in on the sofa eating a chocolate bar from the complimentary basket when he walked in.
Dropping onto the seat beside her, he patted her leg. “How was your time at the pool?”
“I tried to study, but that wasn’t very productive. So really, it was kind of boring.” Hopeful, she suggested, “Maybe tomorrow you can join me.”
“Sounds good to me.”
Breaking off a piece of chocolate, she offered it to him and he accepted. She asked, “What will we do about dinner?”
“It’s still early. Are you hungry?”
“Starving.”
“What did you do for lunch?”
“I’m eating chocolate.”
Turning to face her, he asked, “Really, that’s your lunch? No wonder you’re already asking about dinner. Why didn’t you eat lunch?”
Shrugging, she said, “It’s no big deal.”
“You could’ve ordered room service or gotten something downstairs.” Considering her expression, he wondered what she wasn’t telling him. Clearly, there was something. “Chelsea?”
“If you’re going to pick on me, I’m taking my chocolate back.” Reaching for it, she took it out of his hand. Already it was kind of melty and gross.
He took it back, popped the chocolate into his mouth, and licked the melted goo from his fingers. “Is it the money?”
“It’s not a big deal. I told you.” Chelsea felt awkward for the first time with John. The last thing she wanted was for him to feel responsible for every single detail of her life. He was doing enough.
“Go get me your wallet.” He realized he had no right to ask such a thing, but for whatever reason, she complied. Taking the wallet, he unsnapped it and looked inside. There were two ones, a quarter, and two nickels. His heart sank into his stomach. She was all but flat broke. “How long have you been this broke?”
She didn’t want to answer. For the past week, she’d been running on twenty dollars. That was all that was left.
John stood and reached into his pocket to pull out a wad of bills. Without counting them, he tucked them into her wallet and sat back down. When he handed her the wallet back, he said, “As long as you are with me, you never have to go without money. Please, if you need something, you have to tell me.”
Having had money for so long, it was easy to forget what it felt like to be a broke college student. All those years ago, he lived on instant noodle soup and potato chips. He didn’t want that for Chelsea, not while she was his. As a car might do, his mind came to a screeching halt. Did he just think, while she was his ? That wasn’t at all what he meant. He simply meant while she was with him.
“When we get back to L.A., I’ll make sure you get your first check. I’m sorry. I should’ve thought of it long before now.” Realizing what a mistake he’d made, he promised himself it would never happen again. Why hadn’t she asked for it? How could he have overlooked something so crucial? That wasn’t at all like him.
She sighed softly. To hear John say he’d get her a check only served as a reminder that
Watching him walk away, Mr. GQ in his suit, sure of himself and so unaffected, her heart was fluttering in an unusual way. Without question, he was the most amazing man she had ever encountered. That was the precise moment she first realized she may be in real trouble.
John returned right after Chelsea had finished her shower. It was late afternoon, and since she’d skipped lunch, she was starving. Wearing the most snuggly robe over her pajamas, she was settled in on the sofa eating a chocolate bar from the complimentary basket when he walked in.
Dropping onto the seat beside her, he patted her leg. “How was your time at the pool?”
“I tried to study, but that wasn’t very productive. So really, it was kind of boring.” Hopeful, she suggested, “Maybe tomorrow you can join me.”
“Sounds good to me.”
Breaking off a piece of chocolate, she offered it to him and he accepted. She asked, “What will we do about dinner?”
“It’s still early. Are you hungry?”
“Starving.”
“What did you do for lunch?”
“I’m eating chocolate.”
Turning to face her, he asked, “Really, that’s your lunch? No wonder you’re already asking about dinner. Why didn’t you eat lunch?”
Shrugging, she said, “It’s no big deal.”
“You could’ve ordered room service or gotten something downstairs.” Considering her expression, he wondered what she wasn’t telling him. Clearly, there was something. “Chelsea?”
“If you’re going to pick on me, I’m taking my chocolate back.” Reaching for it, she took it out of his hand. Already it was kind of melty and gross.
He took it back, popped the chocolate into his mouth, and licked the melted goo from his fingers. “Is it the money?”
“It’s not a big deal. I told you.” Chelsea felt awkward for the first time with John. The last thing she wanted was for him to feel responsible for every single detail of her life. He was doing enough.
“Go get me your wallet.” He realized he had no right to ask such a thing, but for whatever reason, she complied. Taking the wallet, he unsnapped it and looked inside. There were two ones, a quarter, and two nickels. His heart sank into his stomach. She was all but flat broke. “How long have you been this broke?”
She didn’t want to answer. For the past week, she’d been running on twenty dollars. That was all that was left.
John stood and reached into his pocket to pull out a wad of bills. Without counting them, he tucked them into her wallet and sat back down. When he handed her the wallet back, he said, “As long as you are with me, you never have to go without money. Please, if you need something, you have to tell me.”
Having had money for so long, it was easy to forget what it felt like to be a broke college student. All those years ago, he lived on instant noodle soup and potato chips. He didn’t want that for Chelsea, not while she was his. As a car might do, his mind came to a screeching halt. Did he just think, while she was his ? That wasn’t at all what he meant. He simply meant while she was with him.
“When we get back to L.A., I’ll make sure you get your first check. I’m sorry. I should’ve thought of it long before now.” Realizing what a mistake he’d made, he promised himself it would never happen again. Why hadn’t she asked for it? How could he have overlooked something so crucial? That wasn’t at all like him.
She sighed softly. To hear John say he’d get her a check only served as a reminder that
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