Her Convenient Millionaire Read Online Free Page A

was small by Palm Beach standards. He rang it again, and again. He could keep it up until somebody answered the door. If there was anyone to answer.
    â€œIs anybody home?” he asked.
    Sherry shrugged, nothing more. He turned to ring again when the door was opened by a petite Hispanic woman clutching a robe closed at the neck. She stood guard in the narrow opening.
    Mike identified himself. “I’ve brought Miss Nyland home.” He tipped his head toward Sherry.
    â€œShe doesn’t live here no more,” the woman said, refusing to look anywhere but at Mike.
    â€œThen why does she have this address on her license?” Mike wanted to shove past the woman, push Sherry inside and get away from there, before he did something really dumb; but he stayed on his side of the door. With Sherry. Maybe her family had moved out. “Where are the owners? I want to speak to them.”
    â€œThey not here.” The housekeeper’s voice trembled. She looked terrified.
    â€œIt’s okay, Leora.” Sherry finally spoke. “I don’t want to get you in trouble. Go on back to bed.”
    The woman finally looked at Sherry, tears filling hereyes. “I am sorry, Miss Sherry. It is not right, what they—”
    â€œDon’t worry about it, Leora. I’m going now.” Sherry backed up a step while Mike stared from the tiny dark woman to the tall blonde, trying to figure out what was going on.
    â€œWait. I get your things.” Leora rushed back into the house, leaving the door ajar.
    Sherry slumped against one of the porch columns. Mike stared at her, eyes narrowed. What the hell was this?
    â€œMy father threw me out, okay?” she said, all defiance and despair.
    â€œWhy? Drugs? Drinking?”
    Her laugh was bitter. “That wouldn’t be a problem. I could spend my life in a stupor and he wouldn’t care. Not that I expect you to believe me, but I don’t do drugs or drink much. I’ve had two glasses of wine in the past fourteen hours.”
    â€œI know. So…why?” Mike knew the answer wouldn’t make any sense to him. These people—the ones born rich—had their own skewed logic.
    â€œI wouldn’t marry Vernon P. Geekly, III.”
    â€œWho?”
    â€œThat’s just what I call him. Vernon Greeley. Money up to here.” She indicated a spot two feet above her head. “It’s what makes the world go round, you know. Money. Tug’s world, anyway.”
    Sherry sounded like Mike did himself sometimes when he got to talking about people and their relationship to money. Bitter.
    â€œLet me get this straight. Your dad kicked you out of your house, changed the locks, told the help not to let you in, all because you wouldn’t marry some guy he picked out?” He wouldn’t have believed such a Victorian melodrama if she’d merely told him, but he’d seen it—part of it—himself.
    â€œThat’s about the sum of it.”
    Leora reappeared, carrying a small gym bag. “I was afraid to get much. A few things, he won’t notice them missing.”
    Sherry hugged the older woman. “Thanks, Leora. You’re the best.”
    â€œYour sister, she will be worried for you,” Leora said.
    â€œI’ll call her when I can. She doesn’t need to be in the middle of this. I’ll be fine.” Sherry smiled with an assurance Mike was pretty sure she didn’t feel.
    â€œI only wish I could do more.” Leora apologized once more with a look and vanished inside, locking the door again.
    Sherry picked up the bag and walked off the porch.
    Mike trailed after her. “What are you going to do now?”
    â€œGet a job. Find a place to live.”
    â€œNo, I mean now. Right now. Tonight.”
    â€œIt’s morning.”
    â€œDon’t be difficult. Where are you going?”
    She shrugged. “I’ll figure something out.”
    Mike took a deep breath. It was