Read Online When She's Bad by Leanne Banks - Free Book Online Page A

Bradford’s estate.”
    Delilah’s heart sank. “Oh, shit.” She glanced at Willy and felt a slice of guilt. She probably shouldn’t swear in front of the baby. “Spit,” she amended. “Oh, spit.”
    “Miss Montague?”
    “I’ll be there as soon as I can.”
    By the time Delilah heated up Willy’s bottle, he was at full volume. She set him on the floor while she pulled the playpen out of the box. Thank goodness he could sit and hold his own bottle. The playpen required very little assembly. As soon as it appeared stable, she plopped him into the pen and ran to take a three-minute shower. She wasn’t sure she got all the soap out of her hair and decided to gel it. Maybe on the way in the car.
    Deodorant, yes. Teeth brushed, yes. Black suit. She always wore black when dealing with accountants. Any other color seemed to make them suspicious.
    She found Willy in the pen wearing a happy, nearly inebriated expression. The bottle had been tossed out of the pen the same way a beer can was tossed out the window of a car.
    Bracing herself, she changed his diaper, but it was just wet. “I need you to stay happy and quiet for about an hour. Work with me, Willy. You can do it.”
    After grabbing the diaper bag and driving her infant-mobile to the office, she parked further away from the building than usual. She didn’t want to call attention to the swing still poking out of her window.
    She hauled Willy and the diaper bag into the office.
    Sara gaped at her.
    “This is highly unusual, and I don’t have time to explain, but could you please watch Willy while I meet with the accountants?”
    Sara blinked and slowly rose from her desk. “Well, of course.”
    Willy chose that moment to let out a loud, wet burp.
    On the shoulder of her black suit.
    Delilah looked down at the beige formula smeared on her black suit and panicked. “Oh, sh—” She stopped herself.
    “Wipe it off in the bathroom,” Sara said, removing the scarf she wore around her neck. “Then put this on, but be quick. They’re waiting for you in the conference room.”
    Oh, goody . She met Sara’s kind gaze. “Thank you.”
    Sara nodded and took Willy from her arms. Delilah dashed to the ladies’ room and was appalled to see a stress rash climbing her neck. She looked at Sara’s ladylike scarf and rolled her eyes. She needed a blanket or a sheet to cover the splotchy red of her neck. She looked in the mirror. “You’ve got to get hold of yourself,” she whispered sternly as she wiped off the formula. “What can they do to you besides take away the best opportunity of your life?”
    Delilah choked back a moan and stiffened her spine. “Hey, your dad beat you and you’ve lived in a homeless shelter. You can survive anything.”
    Taking a deep breath, she jerked a knot in the scarf, lifted her chin and marched toward the conference room fighting the thought that the flames of hell were about to consume her.
    She opened the door to the conference room and lifted her lips in a determined smile to the three men attired in black suits. “Good morning. I appreciate your visit,” she lied through her teeth.
    All three men rose and cleared their throats, before they returned her greeting.
    “How can I help you?” she asked.
    “Let’s take a seat,” Jerry Reubens, the senior accountant said.
    Delilah had a strong sense that this was going to be bad news. If possible, the men’s faces were more sober than usual. As she perched on the edge of her seat, she balled her fists together so tightly her fingernails bit into her palms.
    Jerry nodded toward one of the executors of Howard’s estate. “Bill, why don’t you start?”
    Bill cleared his throat. “Miss Montague, as you know, a silent partner by the name of Lone Star Corporation owns nearly half interest in the spa. Since Mr. Bradford’s death, the members of this corporation have elected to sell their shares to one member. This member would like to take a more active role in the business