Better for Us by Vanessa Miller Read Free Book Online Page A

the nightly news.”
    “Noel, that’s why you shouldn’t have demanded that Jaylen accompany you this summer. You’re only making trouble for your campaign that you don’t need,” Ryla said, trying to sound like the reasonable one in the room.
    Noel turned on her. “Don’t you go there with me. It wouldn’t be necessary for me to get to know my daughter while I’m campaigning if you hadn’t kept her from me all these years.”
    Tilting her head back, Ryla asked, “Do you really want to give the staff and the vendors things to talk about?” She suddenly turned to Ian and asked, “Where is my daughter?”
    “She’s fine. I left her with Cathy so that I could come in here and calm y’all down.”
    Ian was talking, but Ryla was walking. After hearing that her daughter had been left with man-stealing Cathy, she hadn’t heard another word that Ian said. She swung the door open and rushed to Jaylen’s side as if she needed a protector. “Come on, baby, let me take you to get some lunch.”
    “I can do that,” Noel said as he approached the scene.
    Cathy stuck out her hand to Ryla and said, “Hey, Ryla, I wasn’t paying attention when you came in earlier. I had no idea that it was you. How’ve you been?”
    Ryla quickly shook Cathy’s hand and then let it go as if she would be in need of some disinfectant if she held on a second longer. “I’ve been good, and you?”
    “I’m doing great now that I’m finally able to use my political science degree.” Cathy put her hand on Noel’s shoulder and said, “I just can’t thank Noel enough for rescuing me from that boring accounting job I was in.”
    “I’m sure you’ve found many ways to thank him,” Ryla said with a knowing look in her eyes. She then grabbed Jaylen’s hand. “Come on, baby.”
    “Where are we going, Mommy?” Jaylen asked as Ryla tried to rush her out of Noel’s campaign office.
    “Yes, where are we going, Ryla?” Noel asked, keeping up with them.
    Ryla swung around. “I’m sure you’re busy, so you don’t need to go to lunch with us. I’m sure I can find my way around.”
    Noel opened the door for them, and as Ryla and Jaylen walked outside, he said, “I’ll tag along. I need to get Jaylen’s suitcase out of your car anyway.”
    Ryla glared at Noel as they walked toward her car. “I wasn’t trying to run off. I was going to bring her back.”
    “Well, this way I’ve got one less thing to worry about.” As they reached her car, Noel said, “Pop your trunk.”
    “What for?” Ryla was beginning to get irritated by Noel constantly barking orders at her.
    He gave her a “duh” look. “I need to get Jaylen’s suitcase, remember?”
    “Actually, you don’t.”
    Noel turned to his daughter. “Jaylen, why don’t you get in your mother’s car, so she and I can decide where we’re going for lunch.”
    “Okay, Daddy,” Jaylen said as she joyously jumped into the backseat of the car.
    Since it was hot out, Ryla got in the car, started it and turned on the air. She then got back out of the car and asked Noel, “What’s the problem now?”
    “What are you trying to pull?”
    “I don’t have the slightest idea what you’re talking about.” Indifference showed all over her face.
    “You just said I don’t need Jaylen’s suitcase. So, are you telling me that you didn’t bring her any clothes to wear when you knew that she was supposed to be staying with me for the summer?”
    “I brought her clothes, Noel. But Jaylen won’t be staying with you every night. My aunt lives in Dallas, so Jaylen and I will stay with her this summer and she can visit with you every day.” She couldn’t resist her last dig, so she said, “That way, Jaylen won’t interfere with your nightlife.”

Chapter 7
    N oel wasn’t about to let Ryla run his show. He had tried that in college and all he got for his efforts was a broken heart. After getting himself through that ordeal, he’d sworn that he would never let another woman