His Reason, Her Choice by Teona Bell Read Free Book Online Page A

was high, but his eyes still sparked with anger.
    “The girls—”
    “Will believe whatever you tell them. Tell them you’ve loved me for years, and the timing was finally right.”
    She rolled her eyes.
    He pushed fingers through his hair. “Tell them I’m the bad guy.”
    “Because you are.”
    He dropped his hand to his side and walked toward the door. Russ never shouted or stuck around to argue. He stopped at the door, a hand on the jamb. “I want all of your stuff in my room by tonight, Joy.”
    “Yes, sir!”
    He spun around to face her, but seemed to change his mind about saying anything. Then he disappeared. Joy slammed the flat of palm on the surface of the water. She only managed to splash herself, but she didn’t care. She needed to find a job fast.

Chapter Ten
    “J oy, I’m going to need you to come in on Saturday. We’ve got a ton of heads wanting washes, and a couple of these clients tip really nice.”
    Joy grabbed her jacket from the hook it hung on. The rain had been coming down earlier, and thanks to Nicolette, she didn’t have an umbrella anymore. Her daughter had been playing with the thing and now the bar was bent, and it wouldn’t open. At least both her and Denita had raincoats and cute little matching umbrellas. Joy would have to buy another from today’s tips.
    “You know I can’t work on the weekend, Sharon. I don’t have anybody to watch my girls, and even if I put them in daycare, it’ll just eat up whatever I make.”
    Her new employer groaned. “You can’t live off the two days you’re here during the week.”
    “I know. I’m working on that.”
    One of the stylists stuck her head in the door leading to the front of the salon. “Damn, Sharon, when you get white boys up in here? He’s not half bad though.”
    Sharon wrinkled her nose. “Don’t say that all loud, and I have a few. We cater to whoever wants their hair done.”
    “I said boys —excuse me—man.”
    Sharon rolled her eyes. “Fine. I don’t.”
    Joy had a sneaking suspicion the “white boy” was hers. She confirmed it when she walked out to the front to find Russ talking quietly on his cell near the door. Dressed in a gray business suit, he did look pretty good, but she wondered why he was there. When he spotted her, he clicked the phone closed and strode to her. His hand touched her arm lightly but with an unmistakable possessiveness. Several sounds of comprehension rose around the room.
    “You said you were getting off around now, didn’t you? I thought I’d pick you up. It’s coming down out there.”
    “I was going to catch the bus,” she said and shrugged. “It’s rained before.”
    “Yes, but when ran back home for some paperwork I’d forgotten, I noticed your umbrella in the trash.”
    She winced. “Nicolette.”
    He nodded his understanding with a slight grin. “Are you ready?”
    “How are you?” Sharon walked over and stuck her hand out.
    Russ took it. “I apologize. My mind is on getting back to the office. Nice to meet you. I’m Russ.”
    “Sharon.” She smiled. “It’s good to meet Joy’s boyfriend. She’s not like the rest of these loud women, yapping away about all their business. Joy keeps her head down and does her job.”
    “Hey,” someone shouted in protest, proving Sharon’s point.
    Russ glanced at Joy. “She is something special.”
    “So, I was thinking,” Sharon began, but Joy cut her off. She pulled Russ away from her.
    “Sorry, Sharon. We’ll have to talk about it tomorrow. I have to pick up the girls or pay a fee for being late. Good night, ladies.”
    Joy hurried Russ out the door, not mentioning the fact that they had plenty of time to get to the daycare since she didn’t have to catch the bus. Once they were in the car with Russ behind the wheel, he leaned across and kissed her lips. The soft touch was nice, but then he deepened it, dipping his tongue into her mouth.
    After a few moments, he straightened and started the car. “What did you