That Touch of Pink Read Online Free

for.” She held her hands out, palms up. A helpless gesture, and she hated feeling helpless—maybe even more than she hated relying on a man. “What am I going to do?”
    â€œTalk to him again.” Jamie shrugged as if it were that easy.
    â€œAre you saying you won’t sue him?”
    â€œNo. I’m saying people are too sue-happy these days when a simple conversation could save time, aggravation and money. He’s ex-military. Surely he’s a rational, logical man.”
    Abby sighed. “Listen to yourself. Any self-respecting legal eagle would take this case and run with it for all the billable hours they could get. You, my friend, are going to starve.”
    â€œI can afford to take off a few pounds.”
    â€œYou are so lying. And you’re too thin. You’re sure there’s nothing you want to talk about?”
    â€œNo. Except I know you don’t really want to sue Riley Dixon. You just needed to let off steam.”
    â€œBusted,” Abby said.
    â€œAnd I suspect the name-calling did wonders for your anger abatement level.”
    â€œYou think slacker, welsher, jerk and flake helped?”
    â€œI do, indeed.”
    Abby sighed. “You’d be right. But don’t let on to Kimmie. I always tell her to use people’s given names and I’m fairly certain none of the above are on Fred’s birth certificate. Or Dixon’s, either, for that matter.”
    â€œShe’ll never hear it from me. But in that spirit, I’d be happy to role-play with you for your next conversation with Riley Dixon.”
    The thought of seeing him again sent quivers through Abby and she remembered the mayor’s comment on auction night about thrills and chills. His words were turning out to be annoyingly prophetic. She wondered if she might be better off if she waved the white flag and retreated.
    Â 
    Riley Dixon watched the elevator doors close, then turned to his sister. “We got the contract.”
    Nora smiled. “To put security systems in all the district’s high schools?”
    â€œYup. Starting with Charity City High.”
    â€œCongratulations.”
    â€œYeah.”
    â€œSo you’re excited?” Nora asked, toying with the pen on her desk.
    â€œOf course.”
    â€œThen why do you look like someone let your favorite pistol rust in the rain?”
    â€œI don’t know.” He ran his fingers through his hair. “I guess it’s because we shouldn’t need metal detectors and surveillance systems in high schools.”
    â€œIt doesn’t mean that all kids have gone over to the dark side,” she pointed out.
    â€œI know.”
    â€œYou can’t take responsibility for what’s wrong with the world today.”
    â€œI know that, too. But it seems wrong to profit from it.”
    She lifted her shoulders. “The Board of Education budgeted for the security measures. And frankly, if they’ve decided it’s necessary, I’ll sleep better at night knowing they’ve hired the best company for the job. So will a lot of high school parents. Mostly the kids are good, normal kids. You’ve been hired to make sure they’re safe from the occasional bad apple. The school district feels it’s money well spent. Why don’t you?”
    â€œThanks for trying to make me feel better.”
    â€œYou’re welcome. In exchange, I’d like to know why you practically threw Abby Walsh out of your office.” She tucked a strand of auburn hair behind her ear and met his gaze.
    Riley knew his sister well, meaning she wasn’t going to back off. “She was here to make arrangementsfor the survival weekend I donated to the Charity City auction.”
    â€œWow. That clears up any confusion,” she said sarcastically. “And here I thought she’d done something really bad. Like having the audacity to look a lot like Barb Kelly.”
    Riley winced. Abby Walsh was