A Bookie's Odds by Ursula Renee Read Free Book Online Page A

the once-over, starting from her one-inch heels and slowly working his way up. He finally reached her eyes, and she saw the appreciation in his.
    His gaze reminded her of the glint in Nicholas’s eyes when they were dancing the previous evening. Her cheeks burned from the memory.
    “I haven’t seen you since my graduation party,” William said. “You’ve definitely grown up.”
    “I hope so. That was…how long ago? Fourteen years? I was only eight.”
    “Back then, you were a skinny ’ninny.” He gave her the once-over again before shaking his head. “Who knew you’d grow up to look like this.”
    “Why don’t you two sit, and I’ll get you a drink,” her father said, before stepping behind the bar. He had sent his bartender home to eat while business was still calm.
    William stepped over to the table vacated by the previous couple and pulled a chair out for her. With a smile, Georgia moved toward the offered chair.
    “You used to hang out with a little white girl. She had a mark on her face.”
    Her smile faded as she glanced over her shoulder. “Her name’s Celeste, and she’s my best friend.” She tensed, ready to order him out of the bar. It didn’t matter what he looked like; one word against her friend and he was out of there.
    “It’s a rarity for people to keep in touch after they grow up. Except for my family and your father, I didn’t stay in touch with anyone from the neighborhood after I left for college.”
    Georgia exhaled the breath she had been holding and sat down. Once she was settled, he took the seat across from her.
    “You work in the bar with your pops?”
    “She looks after the books.” Georgia turned toward her father and raised an eyebrow. He showed no shame from the lie he told. “She’s good with numbers.”
    “I occasionally tend bar.” She figured she needed to toss in the truth before a bolt of lightning struck the building and flames consumed everyone inside.
    “Now that you’ve graduated from college, I bet you’re ready to settle down,” William commented.
    “Not yet. I figured I’d work a little. I mean, what’s the use of getting a degree if I’m not going to use it.”
    “I’m sure she’ll go out, now that she doesn’t have to worry about studying,” her father added. “When she was in school, her nose was always in a book.”
    It wasn’t like she had much choice. Afraid she would abandon her studies and settle for someone who did not have a promising future, her father scared off anyone who showed the slightest interest in her when she was in high school. In college, she was so busy with her studies she barely had time to hang out with Celeste, much less nurture a relationship with the opposite sex.
    William chuckled. “I was the complete opposite when I was in school. Your father practically had to glue my pants to a chair to get me to study. By the time I graduated from high school, I was so sick of school I enrolled in the service.”
    “But Daddy told me you were a lawyer.”
    “While I was in the service, I heard quite a few stories about men discriminated against for being the wrong color. My desire to change things was stronger than my distaste for studying. When I was discharged, I went on to study law. I passed the bar two years ago.”
    “See, I told you he’d a good head on his shoulders.” Her father approached the table and winked at her.
    Georgia shook her head. The man had no shame. She wouldn’t be surprised if he already had the church reserved and the preacher on call for the wedding.
    She glanced at the bottles he set in front of her. “Cola?”
    “No man likes a tight skirt.”
    “One drink won’t make me a lush.” She pushed the bottle away from her.
    “You’ll live.” Her father pushed the bottle back toward her and held up a bottle of beer. “To young people going places.”
    William held up his bottle and tapped her father’s. Both men glanced at Georgia. After a second, she picked up her cola bottle