Fistful of Roses (What a Woman Wants, Book 1) Read Online Free Page B

he wanted Sophie like hell on fire, and he was going to have her one way or the other. Danger be damned.

Chapter 3
    “So how was the conference call?” Gigi asked as they walked out into the Georgia sunshine. Nice lingering warmth in the fall air had her turning her head up to catch the sun on her face.
    “You know I can’t talk about it.” Sophie sighed as she stepped up to the lunch cart vendor and placed an order for a chicken salad sandwich. She absolutely did not want to talk about how she’d almost forced herself on her boss and then found out he had a date tonight. She groaned silently.
    “That’ll be eight dollars, ma’am,” the vendor said. She handed him a ten and told him to keep the change as she took her lunch and walked to a small seating area right outside their building.
    “And you know I’m not talking about that call either, girl. I want deets on your man.” Gigi was nothing if not persistent. Sophie looked at her best friend of almost eleven years and cringed at the bulldog stubbornness on her face.
    She sighed loudly and popped a fry into her mouth, washing it down with ice-cold Coke before she tented her hands and rested her chin on them. “There are no deets, and he’s not my man.”
    “Yet.” There was a taunt in the word that Sophie knew better than to latch onto.
    “You’re so bad. And I’m not discussing Mr. Locke with you. So, what’s the deal for this weekend?” Evade and counter. Sophie was a master at it, and she really hoped Gigi picked up on her reticence to discuss their boss.
    “You talking about Music Midtown? We’re still going right, ’cause you promised me last year you’d never miss again. And guess what? You ain’t missing this year. I paid for VIP passes—your ass is going.” Gigi snorted and bit into her hot dog.
    “I’m there. I have to run by the hospital after work and check on Mama, but tomorrow, I’m yours.”
    Gigi snorted. “I know whose you really want to be…”
    Sophie rolled her eyes. Evade and counter.
    “Where are we going to eat?”
    Gigi shook her head wearily but smiled. “So how’s your mom? How long are they going to keep her this time?”
    Mission accomplished.
    Sophie tossed her napkin down on the table and finished her Coke. “I don’t know. Did I tell you I looked into that place in Alabama for her? I can’t keep doing this. She’s just too unstable, and Gavin isn’t going to help me out at all. Damn. It’s going to about break me financially to afford it, but at least she’ll get the round-the-clock care she needs.” She hung her head, a sharp ache in the region of her heart. Her mother was beyond Sophie’s scope of care anymore.
    She was really beyond anyone but a trained professional’s care at this point. Too many years of abusing drugs and being abused by boyfriends had removed her mother’s ability to reason or function. Brain damage had taken her away from Sophie long ago, and now Sophie’s inability to provide care for her was taking her even farther away.
    “She needs to go, Phie. You can’t keep—”
    “Ms. Hanson! Ms. Hanson!” A shrill voice interrupted Gigi and brought Sophie’s head swiveling around to the front of the building.
    “Oh, great, what’s happened now?” Sophie muttered as she got up and trashed what remained of her lunch.
    “Ms. Hanson, an important call came in from the hospital. Your mother’s doctor needs you there immediately,” Emma, Mr. Locke’s secretary, told her in a rush.
    Sophie closed her eyes, dread moving through her in a tidal wave. Dear God, what else could go wrong in this day? She couldn’t afford to leave work for this.
    “Mr. Locke said for you to take the afternoon off and handle your business, so no worries about that.” Emma seemed to read her mind.
    Well, damn . It was a nice gesture to let her off for the family emergency, but … yeah, leaving work was going to cut into her pockets.
    “Tell him thank you, Emma. I’ll see you Monday.”
    A hand