A Chance at Love (A Ferry Creek Novel): (a billionaire romance novel) by Karolyn James Read Free Book Online Page A

there... so he could punch him in the face.
     
    Leslie Fread ’ s first job was working at The Pot Diner. She
washed dishes and helped on the line on the weekends. She remembered Bob
commanding the entire place as though he were the only one there. He somehow
did everything. He cooked. He cleaned. He poured refills. He talked to every
customer and always made everyone feel like they were at home. Bob was
marvelous. Maybe it was because Leslie had no father figure or men in her life.
It was just her and her mother, struggling to survive. Even then, no matter how
bad things got, there were plenty of times when Leslie found a couple extra
bucks in her paycheck envelope to help pay the bills at home and there was
always a hot meal waiting for Leslie when her shift ended. That ’ s just how Bob was.
    When Leslie was accepted into
nursing school, Bob made sure Leslie had keys to The Pot Diner. He told her it
was her personal office and studying place. She could go there anytime she
wanted and could make anything she wanted. Halfway through school, Leslie ’ s mother met a man and moved to
Florida, leaving her hanging to survive. If it wasn ’ t for Bob and The Pot Diner, Leslie wouldn ’ t have made it through nursing
school. When she graduated nursing school she wanted to stay local. She had
offers to go to Raleigh or any bigger city or hospital, but she couldn ’ t do it. She couldn ’ t leave Ferry Creek.
    And this was why.
    She couldn ’ t imagine not being there for him. Staring at Bob
in the bed, watching his stomach raise and lower. Machines beeping, fluids
seeping into him, all this medicine and technology helping to keep him alive.
With nobody else in the room, Leslie slid her slender hand under Bob ’ s right hand and she squeezed.
There was no response from Bob and there wouldn ’ t
be for a while. Doctors stabilized him and then, for a lack of a better phrase,
knocked him out. Sleep was best for the moment to let his body rest a little.
There wasn ’ t much time for
Bob and it shocked Leslie that the man had made it this long. It seemed every
couple days there was something else happening to him. A long time ago Leslie
learned not to bring faith into her job because it was soul crushing. She ’ d seen everything from car
accidents to a heart attack at a little league baseball game to know that when
it came to life, death, and illness, none of it made sense. And none of it ever
would. All she could do was be there when needed.
    Leslie thought about her last day
working at The Pot Diner. She stayed there even after receiving her first
nursing job. She just couldn ’ t
get away from it. She loved the people. She loved Peggie. She loved Bob.
    It was a Saturday afternoon right
after closing. Bob had the place clear out and he took Leslie into the back to
his office. He sat her down and looked at her.
    Leslie remembered it because she
laughed and asked if she was being fired.
    “ That ’ s exactly what I ’ m doing, ” Bob had said.
    He reached into the drawer and took
out what would be Leslie ’ s
last paycheck and handed it to her. It shocked Leslie and she started to cry
right on the spot. Bob hugged her and held her. Leslie knew it was time to move
on and focus on her career.
    “ Thank
you, for everything, ” she
had whispered to Bob that day.
    Bob wiped the tears off Leslie ’ s cheeks and smiled. “ You make sure to take care of
everyone when they need you, Leslie. That ’ s
what this town was built on. Everyone working together, helping. ”
    The advice stuck with Leslie and
those words kept her in Ferry Creek. A lot of her classmates from nursing school
were in bigger hospitals with more responsibility and a much bigger paycheck,
but they didn ’ t have Ferry
Creek. Leslie wouldn ’ t
trade it for anything in the world.
    The hospital room door opened and
Bobby came walking in. He had his cell phone in his hand and his eyes were
intense. He stared right at his father.
    “ He ’ s okay, ”