Poison by Leanne Davis Read Free Book Online

was not able to get a job somewhere else, due to the never ending theme of her current life; she had to pretend Cassie Reeves didn’t exist. Not only was her son not in school, and she had no home, now she was to have no job too? All because poor John couldn’t get over what happened over a decade ago?
    She let out a long breath. “I can’t get a job anywhere else. You know that.”
    “Yeah well, I can’t work with you all day then go home and live with you.”
    “Aren’t you being a tad over dramatic? It’s not like we hang out together. We can and do avoid each other.”
    He stared at her surprised. “You don’t think this is a problem?”
    “I think it’s a problem forcing me to be completely dependent on you.”
    He tapped his pen on the desk. “What is it you do when you’re not on the run from your ex-husband?”
    “I own a business.”
    His eye brows shot up. “You do?”
    “Jesus you don’t have to look so surprised. I’m actually not all that stupid believe it or not.”
    “What kind of business?”
    “Cleaning business. Houses, offices, shops, whatever.”
    “You’re a housecleaner?”
    She glared at him. “Yes. I am. What? That business isn’t good enough for you? You try it and see how not easy it is.”
    He rolled his eyes. “Relax. I wasn’t trying to insult you.”
    “This time.”
    “Fine. This time. What about if you cleaned this office? The house? We have a cleaning service for both of them. I’ll cancel it and we’ll pay you what we paid them. It’ll give you enough to pay for your expenses.”
    She opened her mouth then shut it. He was right. If this was the only way he could live with her, then she’d have to accept his ultimatum.
    “I’d rather work in the office.”
    “I think this is a better idea for both of us. You shouldn’t be dealing with the public. The more out of sight you are the less chance anyone will catch wind of your presence.”
    “And you won’t have to see me.”
    He nodded. “Obviously I prefer that.”
    “I won’t make as much money.”
    “Could you please work with me here? I’m trying.”
    She glared at him. “Fine. But I think you’re completely unreasonable.”
    He shut his eyes. “I’m not unreasonable. I simply didn’t sign up for all this. Harry did. Luke did. I’m dealing with it because your son needs it. So could you cut me a little slack?”
    ****
    Cassie left John’s office, tidied up her work space, and then walked out the clinic’s front door. She stood in the entrance. What was she supposed to do now? It wasn’t like she had anywhere to go, or anyone to see. She started to wander down the sidewalk to try and clear her head. She had nothing to do, and only a house that she wasn’t welcome in to go home too. How was this going to work? How was she going to stand it?
    She stopped walking; her breathing hitched as anxiety filled her. She’d long ago discovered her demons, ranging from alcohol and depression, to sex and men. The only reason she’d changed her destructive ways was she became pregnant with Tim. After he was born, though clean and sober, she was full of anxiety as she learned to be a responsible grown-up and a mother all at once. Still, every so often, an anxiety attack would try to drag her back into the mass of nerves that plagued her the first few years of Tim’s life.
    Cassie straightened her posture. Not now though. She didn’t have that luxury anymore to be the helpless screw up. She had a son now. Tim was the reason she had finally changed her life. And no matter what life threw at her, things like Marcus Leary or John Tyler, she was not going to fall apart now.
    Shaking off the feelings of inadequacy and an unreasonable dislike of John, Cassie started back toward her car, to go pick up her son, and start settling into a man’s house who didn’t want her, while hiding from the man who wanted her too much.
    ****
    Cassie followed the well trodden trail that cut through the sand dunes. The beach