For Her Honor by Elayne Disano Read Free Book Online Page B

Marie’s, supervision or Jen’s. I’m there four mornings, then leave around one or so to work from home. That’s all I can offer for now, until Halloween kicks in.”
    “I’ll take it.” Karen didn’t have to think. She’d secured herself three full days at the bank and an additional ten hours a week at the card shop. She’d calculate what her gross would be based upon what the bank offered and current minimum wage, then figure out deductions so she’d know what to expect for take-home. It was a start. Which was all she needed right now.
    Eva cocked her head. “Honest question?”
    “Go ahead?” Karen braced herself.
    “With your creden tials, if you decide to go rabbiting off on me like Cyndi did for something better, you’ll give me proper notice?”
    Karen let out the breath she was holding, glad it wasn’t a question about her past. “You have my word.”
    “That’s all I need to know. Well,” Eva stood up, “how about next Tuesday? It’ll give me time to talk to Marie, rework the schedule and come up with a plan.”
    K aren stood, too. “Perfect. Eva, thank you so much.”
    “Come on. I promised you a tour,” They left the room and Eva pointed towards the right. “Our bedroom’s down there, other end is a bathroom, linen closet and another small room. But, my favorite,” Eva grinned and crooked her finger as Karen followed her to a set of three steps, which led to another door. When Eva pushed it open, Karen’s heart jumped. It was the turret, which was slowly being morphed into a nursery for the inhabitant of Eva’s little belly bump. Still unfurnished, it was painted a pale toast color topped with a yellow, green and white border. Built in shelves were starting to be filled with ‘baby stuff.’ “Ben did everything – the paint, the border and finished the floors. Now we just have to pick out furniture.”
    ‘Ben’ was obviously the ‘big biker’ husband in that photo. “It’s lovely, Eva.”
    “Thanks. Let’s head down.”
    The two women descended the stairs and Karen followed Eva through the living room. “Mini tour. This is the dining room. It had an ugly ass mural on the wall when I first bought it. And,” they crossed through a threshold, “kitchen. Painted the cabinets, got new counters and my husband did the hardwood floors and butcher block counter. Replaced the harvest gold fridge, but still have to do the stove. Sliders lead to the backyard where all the noise is coming from. Can I get you some more iced tea?”
    Karen held her empty glass before putting it on the counter. “Oh, no thank you. I should get going.”
    “Okay. Oh, hey. You mentioned you wound up in Tippitt ‘on a recommendation.’ Who was it?”
    Before Karen could answer the slider open and she almost fell backwards. The man in the photo with Eva walked in and practically swallowed up what space was left in the kitchen. This had to be Ben, the man who was lovingly preparing a room for their child. But right now, he looked prepared to give Karen a heart attack as he stood there. He was shirtless, sweaty and mountainously huge, with a depiction of barbed wire tattooed around his collarbone. His head was shaved on both sides above his ears while the remainder of his dark blonde hair was pulled back in a ponytail. “Hello,” he cautiously said.
    Eva cut in. “Karen, this is my husband, Ben.” She looked up at him. “Just did an interview. She’s going to take Cyndi’s place two days a week.”
    “Cyndi?” Another voice outside the slider asked as the man attached to it came in. “Don’t tell me that squirrely little chick is……..” He halted upon seeing Karen as soon as he stepped inside.
    Her e yes zeroed in on his half naked body – at least six feet tall, lean and chiseled from the slope of his hip muscles, past an impressive six-pack and up to his defined pecs where tiny silver rings hung from both nipples. A nice pair of shoulders and muscular arms were laced with tattoos as