Foster Brother's Arms by Penny Blake Read Free Book Online

tell him.
    “For ten years, Lana?”
    “I don’t expect you to understand.”
    “I’m trying to, I really am.  But the thought of you selling yourself for the past ten years—when I could have helped you.  Why didn’t you look me up?  If you didn’t want to jeopardize my schooling and my place in the company, that’s one thing.  But why didn’t you come back to me the moment I’d taken over? The Everly’s passed away years ago. I have complete control over my life, the company, the family fortune—everything.  I run an empire. Why didn’t you let me help you?”
    “Because I was ashamed. I didn’t want you to see what I had become. I didn’t think you’d even consider being with someone who does what I do for a living.”
    “Well you sure as hell wouldn’t be doing it if you were with me, that’s for damn sure.”
    “I thought that having been a prostitute for years would be a sure-fire deal breaker.”
    “Then you don’t know me very well.”
    The waiter approaches our table. “Have the lady and gentlemen decided what they’d like to order this evening?”
    “No,” we both say at the same time.
    “I’ll come back later then,” he says nervously and scurries away.
    “This is all so unexpected, Raine.  So where does this leave us?”
    He reaches across the table and takes my hand.  Without thinking about it, I turn mine over so we’re palm to palm, then I clutch his hand tightly, holding onto him for dear life. 
    “This is what comes next,” he says. “You leave this city behind and come back to Maine with me.  I’ll take care of you, Lana.  Whatever you could ever want or need—“
    “I can’t.” I shake my head. “I have…responsibilities here.”
    “Like what? To that escort service? Fuck them.  That life is over now. If you have an agreement with them, I have lawyers—”
    “It’s not that.”
    “What is it then? Do you need money? Because I’ll pay you an outrageous sum of money to go back to Maine with me—even if it’s just for a week—and stay as my guest.”
    I squint my eyes skeptically. “Raine, are you trying to Pretty Woman me?”
    “I’m trying to save you.”
    “I don’t need saving. I’m doing okay, Raine. I have a life here.”
    “You call this a life?”
    “Yes, I do. I have responsibilities.”
    “What responsibilities? I can help you in any way you need, Lana. Just tell me what I can do to help.”
    “I have a son here.”
    “Alright,” he says in a level tone, clearly assessing the new information. “So you can’t just take off at a moment’s notice. I understand now.  Well, he’ll need a babysitter or a nanny.  Is that who’s taking care of him now?”
    I nod.
    “So I’ll offer her an outrageous sum of money to move to Maine with us so the boy isn’t too traumatized by being uprooted.  How old is he?”
    “He’s almost ten.”
    Raine looks baffled for a moment. Then thoughtful.  Then gravely serious.
    He tilts his head, one big question lighting up his eyes.
    I bite my lower lip and nod.
    He strokes a hand down his face, which has gone white as a sheet. 
    With a trembling hand, I dig through my purse and find my wallet. Then I pull out a school portrait and hand it across the table.  “His name is Sam.  He’s a really sweet kid. He loves animals. He loves books.  He’s sensitive and sometimes the other boys at school pick on him.  But he’s a happy kid nonetheless.  My jobs are few and far between—because they pay so well—so I get to spend a lot of time with him.”
    Raine is simply staring at the picture, his face an unreadable mask. 
    I babble on, “He loves to go to the movies and the library, and is favorite food is hot wings.  He has two guinea pigs named Salvador and Strawberry—he came up with those himself. He loves the Beatles—oh, and drawing.  How could I forget that.  He loves drawing pictures—and he’s really talented for a nine year old.  I promised him a trip to New York to go to