Ozark Retreat by Jerry D. Young Read Free Book Online Page B

biggest customers.” He glared at Red. She just grinned at him. “And she knows it. She won’t go home unless I hire a bodyguard, and turn around and charge her father for it.”
    “You knew about this a week ago and don’t already have it sorted out?” Brady asked, more than a little annoyed.
    “I can be difficult,” Red said, again rather matter-of-factly. “Daddy always says so. So it must be true.”
    “I’m out of here,” Brady said, rising from the chair.
    Red made chicken clucking noises. Brady turned as red as Red’s hair and outfit.
    “Tell you what, Pretty Boy; I’ll add triple to what you’re getting from him, if you do it.” She nodded toward Parkinson.
    “You said you spent every dime. It doesn’t sound like your father would fork it over when I get there,” Brady replied, his annoyance growing at Red’s calm demeanor.
    “Actually, I’m lying.”
    “About what? Being out of money or paying me?”
    Red grinned. “Yes.”
    Brady almost growled. “How old are you? You’re acting like a sixteen-year-old.”
    “Why, thank you. But no. I’m legal. I’m twenty-six.”
    Brady couldn’t help it. His mouth dropped open and his eyes widened. She sure looked a lot closer to sixteen than she did twenty-six.
    It took a moment, but Brady finally responded. “No. It’s ridiculous.”
    Red made the clucking sounds again. “Stop that,” Brady said.
    “Come on,” she said. “It’s just a game. Play it and win and you’ll be rewarded.”
    “Wait a minute,” Brady said, frowning, “why wouldn’t I be successful? You said you were willing to go, just with an escort.”
    “Well, things just sort of happen around me. Daddy always says so.”
    “Lord have mercy,” Parkinson said. “She’s right. She’s a jinx.” Red stuck her tongue out at him.
    That settled it for Brady. There was no way he was going to saddle himself with her, with everything going on, jinx or not. She was just too unstable. He felt his conscience twinge as he turned to leave. Red moved over to him and linked her left arm through his right. “By the way. Don’t ever call me Red. I know you were thinking it,” she said as they were walking out the office door.
    Brady struggled just slightly, but her grip was firm. He resigned himself to the fact that he was escorting her to Kansas City. “Okay. Deal. Don’t call me Pretty Boy. My name is Brady. What should I call you?”
    “Daddy calls me Precious.”
    “I am not going to call you Precious!” Brady insisted. “What is your given name?”
    “Precious.”
    Brady groaned.
    “I know,” she said then, laughing at him, “I always figured that if I ever had to be an exotic dancer to make a living if Daddy cut me off, I’d use the name Star. You can call me that.”
    Brady didn’t respond to that directly. He asked, “Where are your bags and things.”
    “The hotel is holding them. I haven’t paid the bill.”
    “Great. I’ll spring for it. I’ll make sure Parkinson pays me back.”
    “Actually, I’ll send them the money when I get back home. Take my word for it, it will be cheaper on you to buy me new than to get my stuff out of hock.”
    “You don’t really need anything else,” Brady said. It’s only a long day’s drive.”
    “Actually I do,” she said, leaning over toward him as if to whisper confidentially. “You see, it’s that time of the month. I need the works.”
    Brady hung his head for a moment, and then turned on the turn signal, checked the traffic behind and moved into the left turn lane. “There’s a mall just up here,” he said.
    “You are so sweet, Brady.”
    “Don’t push it… Star.”
    Star giggled.
    Brady pulled into the mall and stopped. He gave Star two hundred in twenties. “Just get what you really need. I’ll wait here.”
    “Spoilsport,” Star said. But she took the money and got out of the Suburban.
    Brady saw her shiver. Then she was jogging toward the mall entrance. He turned on the news to see what was