Read Online On the Way to Heaven (BWWM Romance) by Stacy-Deanne - Free Book Online Page A

and not much else.”
         “Lay off.” He glared at her. “I mean it.”
         “I’m just kidding.” She walked over to him.
“Why are your panties so tight? I made smothered turkey necks.” She smiled.
“That should cheer you up.”
         “Nothing will cheer me up.” He sat at the
table. “I had the day from hell. Everything went wrong on the job, so the
customer is pissed at me. I didn’t get my latest order of materials, and the
guy I ordered them from thinks they got lost in the mail.”
         Trina sat beside him.
         “But I could deal with all that.” He
squeezed the beer can. “I can’t deal with Louis Barr, though.”
         “Who’s Louis Barr?”
         “The biggest asshole in Allocco.” He
slurped beer. “I was banking on starting my next job next month. It’s a huge
job, and it would’ve really helped me out. You know I need the money.”
         She nodded.
         “Then Louis Barr…” He groaned. “That son of
a bitch snatched the job right from under me.”
         “What?”
         “Yeah, I’m supposed to build a deck for one
of my longtime customers. Everything was set, and Louis goes and strikes a deal
with the man for less money.”
         “Whoa.” Trina crossed her legs.
         “Can you believe that? The bastard didn’t
want the job; he just did it to get back at me. Louis has hated me since high
school.” He balled a fist. “He dated Charlotte before I did, and he always
thought I stole her from him. She was gonna quit him even before she got with
me.” He slammed the can on the table. “He’s been making my life hell ever
since.”
         “I’m sorry, but I’m sure you’ll get another
job in no time.”
         “Not one like that. This is a small town,
Trina. The big, high-paying jobs don’t come every day. Shit.” He kicked the
table. “I’m sick of Louis sticking his nose in my business. If I wouldn’t be
arrested for assault, I’d beat the shit out of him.”
         “I know this might not help, but things
happen for a reason.”
         “Right.” He laid his baseball cap on the
table.
         “You should be mad at the guy who gave
Louis the job after he had a deal with you. If this guy is a regular, then he
really screwed you.”
         “I can’t blame him.” He tapped the table
with his index finger. “Times are hard, and he wanted to get the labor as cheap
as he could.” He rocked. “I swear, Louis has gotten in my way for the last
time.”
         “Just let all this go. We’re gonna have fun
at the carnival tomorrow.” She jiggled. “I’ve never been to a carnival. I’m so
excited.”
         “You’ve never been to a carnival?”
         She shook her head. “No one took me
anywhere as a kid, except school.”
         “You and the girls have fun, then.” He
sipped beer. “I don’t think I’ll be in the mood.”
         “You’ve gotta go. The girls have been
looking forward to this all week.”
         “You can take them.”
         “That’s not the damn point. They wanna go
with you .”
         He stood and pitched the can in the trash.
“I don’t feel like it, all right?”
         “Typical,” she whispered.
         “What?”
         “Once again, it’s all about you.” She
stood. “I’m sorry Louis took your job, but you made a promise to your
daughters, and you can’t break another one.”
         “Trina—”
         “Shut up.” She marched to him and stuck her
finger in his face. “You’re going to that carnival tomorrow, and you’re gonna
have fun.” She grabbed his shirt. “If not, then you’re gonna have to answer to
me, and believe me, Neil, you don’t want this sista to get angry. Do you understand me?”
         His eyes widened. “Yes, ma’am.”
         She let his shirt go. “Good.”

 
    * * **

 
         As soon as the girls’ feet hit the pavement
the next day,