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

stop her from saying?”
    The man was too damn quick. “Nothing.”
    “Joy.”
    She sighed. “She wanted me to work this weekend. I told her no.”
    “I can watch the girls.”
    “No again.”
    “It’s not—”
    “Not up for discussion.”
    “We’ve been together for a month now.”
    “Yes, and that’s not very long. I admit it was a miracle I got the job with Sharon, and it doesn’t pay much of anything. Just pocket change. I don’t want to put a financial strain on you since you’re paying for the girls’ daycare. I’m definitely not asking you to watch them on the weekend.”
    “First, it’s not a strain. I don’t have much else to do with my money. Like you said, I make a decent wage.”
    She glared at him.
    “Second, I know you want to be able to take care of yourself and the girls as soon as possible.”
    “Yes, and weekend work isn’t the way to do that.”
    “Can I make a suggestion?”
    Her face might be permanently stuck frowning. She tried to think more positively and therefore reflect it. The situation made it hard. She glanced over at Russ, and she realized along with the suit, he smelled nice.
    “Do you always smell like that at the end of the day?” she asked before she realized. “Oh, damn, sorry. That sounded rude. Just for the record, you smell good.”
    He grinned at her. “Thanks and no. While I was home, I put on a touch of aftershave.”
    “Did you shave?”
    “No.”
    “Then why...” She trailed off. He knew he was coming to get her. Sometimes he acted like he knew her deepest, darkest secrets like how tormented she had been over Isaac’s scent. Russ was the opposite. He didn’t drink or smoke. He was by no means perfect, evident by the fact that he had made her the proposition he did and the fact that he wanted everything his way and refused to see any different. She was expected to fall in line, and that’s where he came wrong and she had to tell him about himself! “What’s your suggestion?”
    He shook his head. She had changed the subject, and he let her. Curiosity made her come back to it.
    “You could go back to school.”
    She cringed. “I hate the thought of that, but I’ve been wondering if that’s my only option.”
    “Or.”
    She looked at him. “Or?”
    “We can talk about your other skills.”
    “What other skills?”
    He chuckled.
    “Wait, you’re not talking about my body, are you?”
    “You’re obsessed with your body.”
    “No, you are.”
    At a stoplight, he let his gaze rove her from head to thighs. She shifted in her seat. “I am. You’re right about that, but there’s more to you, Joy.”
    She folded her arms over her chest. “I’m not saying there’s not. It’s just that with so much coming at me so often, I can’t stop to think about it. I’m not down on myself.”
    “No, that’s what I always liked about you. You don’t indulge in pity parties. But...”
    “But what?”
    “You don’t let yourself dream either. You’re too much of a realist.”
    “I have to think about Denita and Nicolette.”
    “You won’t last if you don’t think beyond them.”
    “Excuse me?”
    “Don’t get mad.”
    “How do you figure I won’t when you’re telling me not to think of my daughters? If you’re about to give me that bullcrap about looking out for number one first, save it.”
    A nerve twitched in his jaw. “You also think everyone’s out to tell you you’re doing something wrong.”
    “You just said it.”
    “No, I said change your thinking a little, and open up more.”
    She didn’t get it, but this time she kept quiet. Sure she flew off the handle easily when it came to the girls, or herself for that matter. All her life, her mother ragged on her. The only bright spot growing up was her father, and he was gone. At the time, losing her dad had broken her heart, and the wedge between her and her mother had grown.
    “I’m not saying to not think of Denita and Nicolette. I’m saying also think about happiness and