After Hours by Dara Girard Read Free Book Online

‘social’ manners and graces were emphasized. Knowing which fork or spoon to use, and when, was paramount to good manners, and Amera had been one of her favorite students.
    “A bird?” he said when the fourth course came.
    “I’m sorry?”
    “That’s how you got the bruise.”
    “Why do you keep coming back to that?”
    “Because I find it amusing that my perfect Em has a few failings.”
    “I got caught in a hold up and the criminal exchanged gunfire with the police and I got cut by the shattering glass.”
    He looked at her for a long moment then shook his head and returned his gaze to his meal. “No, I bet you just tripped and fell.”
    She rested her napkin on the table and stood. “I’ll go now.”
    “Not yet.”
    “You need something else?”
    “I want you to choose a ring.”
    Amera fell back into her seat. Maybe he hadn’t understood her before. “Crystal isn’t coming. She--she doesn't want to see you again.”
    “I know that.”
    “Then why do you want to give her a ring?”
    “The ring is for you.”
    Amera placed a hand on her chest, her heart picking up pace in growing anger. “Are you trying to mock me?”
    “No, I just find it amusing that we somehow ended up with matching scars.”
    “What?”
    He tapped the side of his cheek. “I tripped too, figuratively speaking.”
    Amera stared at him. She didn’t understand what he was talking about. She turned up the lights and looked at him again, this time seeing the tiny scar on the side of his face. She hadn’t noticed it before and he’d cleverly covered most of it with some makeup, but there was a slight swelling that gave it away.
    “Well it was bound to happen,” Amera said with an air of nonchalance.
    “What?”
    “One of the workers punching you.”
    To her surprise the corner of his mouth kicked up in a quick grin and he nodded. “Now choose a ring.” Curtis called to the jeweler to join them. “He came all this way, let’s make it worth his while.” He lifted a glass of wine. “Don’t worry, I won’t ask you to marry me.” A malicious grin crossed his face. “Though that would annoy the old man, wouldn’t it? I could just imagine his face if I showed up with you as my fiancée.”
    “That’s something you’d only have the pleasure of imagining because I’d never marry you.”
    Curtis sipped his wine, unfazed by her words then set the glass down. “Go on. I said choose one.”
    “But--”
    “I thought women liked large sparkly things. Especially when they’re expensive.”
    “Sir.”
    Curtis picked one up. “I think this one looks nice. No, wait,” he said putting it down and picking up another. “This one is better.” He shoved it on her ring finger then held up her hand. “Mrs. Curtis Bishop,” he said to himself in a low, grim tone.
    Amera pulled her hand away, a shadow of unease coursing through her. “Sir?”
    “Okay,” he said with a dismissive wave of his hand. “You’re free to go now.”
    “But, sir--”
    “Good night, Em.”
    Amera bit back a sigh of frustration. “Good night,” she said, getting her coat. She briefly wondered who’d he’d select as Crystal’s replacement, but then cast the thought aside. She wouldn’t be around to find out.
     
     

Chapter Four
     
    “I told you not to try. The man has a heart made of ice.”
    “Hmm,” Amera said, hanging up her thick winter coat in the tiny office her friend Florence Dean used at Peale House. After the ruined proposal dinner, and Curtis’ cryptic behavior, Amera didn’t feel like going home just yet and decided to visit her friend. Meeting her had been fortuitous. She’d met the attractive brown skinned woman with elaborately designed tight braids and a big smile at a holding facility, when she had first arrived in the US, and then lost touch. They had only been there for two days, before they were separated, and sent to different parts of the country.
    Florence’s upbringing had been harder than hers. Amera had the