Read Online Stand of Redemption by Cathryn Williams - Free Book Online

finish her degree.
    “Well, let’s get you ready for this test, then maybe you’ll think about starting back in the fall,” Lacey declared.
    A door opening drew their attention. Her mother came into the room, stopping when she saw Lacey. “I… I’m sorry. I didn’t know you had company.”
    “It’s all right, Mom. Remember I told you Lacey was coming over?”
    Her mother’s trembling fingers went to her temple. “I must have forgotten. I was just going to get a drink.”
    “Hello , Mrs. Sloan,” Lacey said gently. Her sharp gaze studying her mother.
    Ria got up from the table, going to the small kitchen to pour her a glass of tea and then handing it to he r. Her mother almost dropped it.
    “Thank you, sweetheart. I’ll leave you two alone so you can study.” Her mother left the room, closing the door behind her.
    “She’s not doing any better is she?” Lacey asked.
    “She has her good days and bad days . She needed a few more weeks in rehab, but her insurance wouldn’t pay for it.” It hadn’t been the best place for her, either. Her mother had told her that a couple of the other patients had even offered to sell her what she was trying to get off.
    “As soon as I pass the test and get a job that pays more money, I’m going to send her to a better one. Suncoast has an excellent reputation.”
    “Ria, she’s been on drugs so long her chances of success—”
    “Don’t say it,” Ria snapped. “My mother has been beating the odds since she was fourteen years old. I’m going to fix her.”
    “Ria—”
    “Let’s get back to studying.”
    Lacey closed her mouth and asked her another question she thought might be on her test.
    Over the next few hours of studying, Ria felt herself becoming more and more prepared, and Lacey seemed to agree she was almost ready. For the first time in a long time, hope blossomed that she was going to live a normal life.
    *  *  *
    Ria met Nick at a popular pub not far from his gym at eight the next night. She wasn’t about to let him see where she lived.
    She had pulled her hair up on her head, letting a few curly tendrils escape. Her black dress came to mid-thigh and seemed ultra-conservative among the other women there until she took off her sweater and the cutout on the back showed her bare flesh.
    When Nick stood as she approached, Ria felt her stomach flutter at the appreciation she saw in his eyes.
    “Hi.”
    “Hi.” Nicholas smiled down at her as he pulled out one of the chairs for her to sit down. “You look beautiful tonight.”
    Ria blushed at his compliment. “Thank you.” She picked up the menu the hostess had handed her.
    Nick waited until after they had placed their order to give her his attention.
    “How’s the studying going?”
    “Well, I think I’m almost ready.”
    “Nervous?”
    “A little,” she admitted. “I really want to pass.”
    “I’m sure you will.”
    As the waitress brought them their drinks and appetizers, Ria couldn’t help noticing her eyeing Nick. To give him credit, he ignored the woman, giving Ria his complete attention as they ate and talked. Several times through dinner, someone would come to the table and talk to Nick about his fights.
    “Does that happen all the time?” Ria asked after one young man had left.
    “Yes. Does it bother you?”
    “No, but doesn’t it bother you?”
    Nick grinned at her. “No, I’m a glory hound. I want to enjoy it while I can. In a few years, no one will even remember my name.”
    “I’m sure that’s not true.”
    “It is. I’m in my prime right now, but I could get injured at any time and my career would be over.”
    “How’s your arm healing?” Ria probed.
    “Very well. I was lucky Zane took it easy on me.”
    She arched a brow. “Breaking your arm was taking it easy on you?”
    “Yes, he gave me a clean break. Believe me; he could have done far worse damage.”
    Ria’s eyes softened on him. He might be wealthy, but his world wasn’t much different than hers.