Never Too Late by Julie Blair Read Free Book Online Page A

what?”
    “You got everything you wanted,” Jamie said watching Penni’s wife, Lori, frolicking in the pool with their two kids. Jamie drank greedily. Penni made perfect iced tea—just the right mix of lemon and sugar.
    “Speaking of beloveds…dare I ask where yours is?”
    “Shopping.”
    “Again?” Penni’s eyebrows went up. “You’re under financial stress and she’s out spending your money? Jamie—”
    “Our money, and it’s her way of having fun.” Jamie laughed at Lori and Travis, their ten-year-old, splashing each other.
    “She should be helping you.”
    “She’s never been involved in my business.”
    “And you’ve never had a problem like this. When the going gets tough, some people roll up their sleeves and pitch in, and some go shopping.”
    “I love her the way she is.”
    “Do you have to?”
    “Not listening,” Jamie said as she went over to the table and turned on the iPod. “Requests?”
    “Like there’s any choice. It’ll be another month before you’re out of your ‘Melissa mood.’ If there’s a more loyal fan, I haven’t met her. How many concerts?”
    “Forty-two.”
    “What’s the farthest you’ve gone?”
    “Atlanta.” Jamie flopped onto the chaise. Was anything better than lying in the sun? It had always been her instant ticket to relaxation.
    “How long’s it been since that concert?”
    “Twenty years.”
    “Do you ever think about that girl?”
    “Nope.” Her last image of Carly was looking down the length of her body—her breasts, the soft roundness of her belly, the triangle of blond hair—as she lay snuggled in Jamie’s arms. Jamie sat up, and sweat rolled down her chest.
    “But don’t you ever wonder what your life would be like now if—”
    “It was one night a long time ago. Fun. Meaningless.” Penni was so ridiculous sometimes. “My contribution to a straight woman’s education.”
    “I forget her—”
    “Carly.”
    “Oh, yeah. I always remember her as the Southern girl who broke your heart.”
    “She did not break my heart.” Jamie tossed her sunglasses on her towel and walked to the pool. She dove in and surfaced near Lori. “Your wife’s being a pain.”
    “You mean stubborn? Pushy?”
    Jamie picked up Travis and catapulted him into the air. “Exactly.”
    “She loves you. It’s her only defense and it’s a good one.”
    Jamie threw Travis until her arms ached and then returned to the chaise. She was just dozing off when something cold touched her shoulder.
    “You drink this stuff like water,” Penni said as she handed Jamie another iced tea, shoving Jamie’s leg over with her hip as she sat facing her. “Any luck hiring a new office manager?”
    “Interviewed three more this week. I wouldn’t trust any of them to wash my car. Betty’s husband is going to kill me if I don’t get her replaced soon.” Jamie’s attempted laugh came out strangled. “Maybe my standards are too high.”
    “Or maybe you’re just scared to trust anyone. How’s the rest of it going?”
    “Dismal. I can’t even count how many hours I’ve spent going through patient files or how many phone calls I’ve made to the insurance companies. And having to get together the documentation for the DA and IRS…” Jamie felt her good mood disappearing.
    “One day at a time.” Penni patted her thigh. “Aren’t your accountant and attorney helping?”
    “My attorney’s trying to keep the DA happy. My accountant’s working with the IRS. But neither of them can go through the patient files, and that’s the root of the problem. They wouldn’t know what to look for. And I got into this mess because I trusted someone else to run my business. I’m not making that mistake again.”
    “Why not hire a forensic accountant?”
    “No.” Jamie wiped sweat off her throat. “I’m not letting anyone go through my books until I’ve figured out what Marjorie did. I’m going to know everything there is to know about it so I’m not dependent on my