After Hours by Rochelle Alers Read Free Book Online Page B

wanted. She wanted out and she’d do anything he asked to be rid of him.
    â€œYou owe me.”
    â€œHow much?” she asked.
    â€œTwenty.”
    Dina knew he hadn’t meant twenty dollars. He wanted her to give him twenty thousand dollars. She would’ve had it if she hadn’t given Karla King ten thousand dollars. “I don’t have it.”
    â€œThat’s your problem.” Payne knew men gave Adina money—lots of money.
    â€œI need time.”
    â€œHow much?”
    Dina saw Lance coming in their direction holding a plastic cup in each hand. “Give me until the Labor Day weekend. After that, we’re through. I’m out, Payne.”
    Payne noticed the man heading toward them. He let go of Adina’s neck. “Okay. Three and a half months, bitch. Call me when you have it.” He shifted, facing Adina while pointing at her with his thumb and forefinger.
    A momentary panic seized her when she recalled what she’d agreed to. How was she going to come up with twenty thousand dollars in three and a half months, short of robbing a bank? Even if she secured legitimate employment, there was no way she was going to earn that much money given her dearth of work experience.
    â€œAre you all right?”
    Lance’s voice reached into her troubled thoughts as she turned to find him staring down at her. “No.”
    A frown of concern creased his smooth forehead. “What’s the matter, Dina?”
    She took a step, took off her sunglasses, rested her forehead on his chest and dissolved into a paroxysm of tears. Her weeping tugged at something inside Lance. He couldn’t comfort her because his hands were full. Confused by emotions he didn’t want to feel, he lowered his head and pressed a kiss to Dina’s fragrant hair.
    â€œTalk to me, Dina.”
    She eased back and lifted her chin, seeing an expression of shock replace the concern in Lance’s eyes. “Just get me out of here.”
    Bending slightly, he set the cups on the ground, reached for her hand and led her to the parking lot.

CHAPTER 12
    L ance handed Dina his handkerchief after they were seated in his car. He felt as if he’d been punched in the gut when he saw her tear-filled eyes, eyes that reminded him of a lush rain forest, with shadowy hues of browns and greens. She was hurting, in pain, and where he was able to cope with most things, he failed when it came to a woman’s tears.
    Dina blotted the corners of her eyes with the square of cotton, taking care not to smudge her carefully applied liner and mascara. She wanted to look her best because she needed Lance Haynes—not for someone she could hustle but as a friend.
    â€œThank you, Lance” she said, delicately blowing her nose into his handkerchief. Placing a hand on the door handle, she gripped it. “I…I have to go now.” A deep sob choked her entreaty.
    Lance panicked. Reaching over, he placed his hand over hers and stopped her from getting out of the car. “Where are you going?”
    Dina affected a tortured expression when she turned to look at Lance. “I’m going home. Thanks for your help.”
    He faltered in the silence that filled the car. He didn’t want Dina to leave. There was something about her that was different from the other women he’d known. She wasn’t a child, but there was something childlike in her he couldn’t resist. The fact that he knew nothing about her was of no importance, because he wanted to get to know her.
    Lance forced a smile. “I did nothing, Dina.”
    Her moist lashes fluttered. “You helped me more than you know. Please let me go.”
    It was with great reluctance that he nodded. “Where did you park your car?”
    â€œI don’t have a car.”
    â€œHow did you get here?”
    â€œI took public transportation.”
    Vertical lines appeared between Lance’s eyes. “Where do you