Read Online Topaz Heat (Christian Romance) (The Jewel Series) by Hallee Bridgeman - Free Book Online Page B

bring the kids in, and we’ll go over there.”
    Derrick swallowed the lump in his throat as he stood. “I’ll leave you to it. Let me know if anyone needs anything.”
    Robin lifted her head. “You aren’t going to go?”
    He slipped his hand into the pocket of his pants and made a fist. “It’s a family thing.”
    Tony scowled. “You are family.”
    His smile was tight enough to crack his lips. “To you and Maxi, maybe, but not to Sarah. She doesn’t need me there to antagonize her.”
    “Derrick …”
    “Just …” He closed his eyes and rubbed them. “Just tell Sarah I’m sorry. That I’ll be praying. And call me if she needs anything.”
    He left before Robin could say anything that would make him stay. Since all he wanted to do was go to Sarah, to have her turn to him the way Robin turned to Tony, he knew it wouldn’t take much to convince him to go.
     

CHAPTER 6

    DERRICK sat at the head of the long conference table. Heads of the departments in the hotel sat in the seats around the table, from the head concierge to the head chef to the kitchen manager to the head of housekeeping, and everyone in between.
    He'd introduced himself to those who did not know him personally. Despite this being day three of this first week, he hadn't yet made it to every department, so there were still a few people he hadn't met. He’d taken reports from each person. He'd asked for specific areas of concern within the hotel and the emergency needs that had cropped up during the last few weeks during the decline of the previous manager’s job focus.
    And all the while, he thought about Sarah. Sarah whose heart had broken when her father died. His own heart ached for her, and he found it impossible to ignore her in this time of need. Regardless of anything, he needed to go see her.
    As if on a perfect, divine cue, his secretary, Andrea, opened the door at the end of the room and stuck her head in. Derrick caught her eye and she nodded, so he gestured forward with his hand. “Lunch has arrived, friends,” he said, standing as Andrea walked completely into the room and held the door wide for the waiters pushing the carts. “Let’s go ahead and take a break and eat, rejuvenate ourselves for the rest of the afternoon." He looked through the sea of faces and picked the facility manager. “Don, can you please bless this meal?”
    As soon as Don initiated a chorus of "amens" and the staff went to stand in the buffet line, Derrick looked at his watch and motioned Andrea aside. “I need to head out to Charles Thomas’ funeral. I just want to quickly pay my respects then I'll be right back.”
    She nodded. “I was surprised you called this meeting during the time of the funeral. I know the rest of your family is there.”
    “Well, the timing of Bill Matheson’s departure was out of my hands.” He pulled his suit jacket off the back of his chair and slipped his arms into it. "I doubt I'll be thirty minutes.”
     

    DERRICK watched the three boys as they watched the high school youth basketball team practice. He guessed their ages to be right around thirteen. They wore the typical baggy jeans that came down too low and showed off too much. They each had on baggy shirts that fell well below the low waistband of the jeans, tucked in to the jeans so that it made their torsos look extra long. Derrick noted the careful lack of any gang colors.
    Two of the boys were African American, and one was something Mediterranean. In this neighborhood, it was likely Italian.
    He discarded his jacket and picked up a basketball. He contemplated the best way to approach the boys as he crossed in front of the bleachers, spinning the ball on his finger, bouncing it up and down his arm, tossing it in the air. He reached them about the time they turned in unison to watch him.
    “Hey,” he said, pointing at the court. “You going to join?”
    One of the African American boys sneered and tried to look tough. “What’s it to you?”
    Derrick