September: Calendar Girl Book 9 by Audrey Carlan Read Free Book Online

words whispered over and over in a prayer, a chant.
    “Please. Please don’t take Wes away from me.”
    “Don’t take Wes away.”
    “Don’t take Wes away.”

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    S everal pings jarred me out of a fitful sleep. I’d fallen asleep while leaning over the side of the bed where I’d knelt to pray. The last thing I remembered was begging the Lord not to take away the man I loved. Time would only tell if He’d taken pity on me.
    The display on my cell phone blinked against the wall next to the side table where I’d set it to charge. Like an old woman with severe arthritis, I maneuvered my stiff joints and exhausted body into a standing position. Lifting my arms up high toward the ceiling, I rolled onto my toes and reached for the sky, stretching long unused muscles. Various joints popped and crackled, protesting the last week-and-a-half of sitting in plastic chairs, kneeling by bedsides, and not getting enough rest.
    I ambled over to the side of the bed and plopped down, picking up my phone.
    What if it’s news about Wes?
    Equal parts trepidation and anticipation tightened my chest as I glanced down and frowned.
    To: Mia Saunders
    From: Blaine Douchebag Pintero
    Pretty, pretty Mia. I haven’t received payment. You owe me.

    I owe him ! The nerve of that fucking bastard.
    Pressing my fingers into my temples did not alleviate the tension that came with the necessity of dealing with Blaine. The simple truth was, I didn’t have his money, and there was no way I was going to be able to make it magically appear. Not only was I going to be a hundred grand shy for missing my payment this month, last month’s payment went to the client I’d flaked. So technically, I was two hundred thousand in the hole because he wouldn’t be getting a payment at the end of this month either. To date, I’d paid him six months’ worth at the end of each month, for a total of six hundred thousand toward the million Pops owed. Millie had no choice but to pay off bachelor number nine the hundred thousand I made in August from Max to save her own ass and the company. I usually didn’t get paid until the end of the month, and since I wasn’t working September, that was another hundred thousand lost. Business was business, and a man with a hundred grand to blow on an escort could wrap Millie up in court for ages. She’d have lost everything. Now I’m the one who stands to lose everything…again. Fuck!
    What would I do? If Wes were here, he’d offer to pay the debt. Of course, he would. At this point, I’d have no choice but to accept his offer, at least until I got the extra money from my brand new ownership in Cunningham Oil & Gas. I could ask Max for the money. He’d give it to me…but ugh, I couldn’t do that to him. Nothing like a long lost sister begging for cash. “Hey, I’m your new sister. Thanks for twenty-five percent of your family legacy. Can I borrow two hundred thousand until I make money off you next year and can pay you back?”
    Falling back on the bed, I stared at the text again. I just needed to ask for more time.
    To: Blaine Douchebag Pintero
    From: Mia Saunders
    Pops took a turn. Not working these two months. Need more time. Five more months and I’ll have it with interest.
    I figured the adding interest part would do it. If anything, Blaine was a businessman and money was his kryptonite.
    To: Mia Saunders
    From: Blaine Douchebag Pintero
    Let’s discuss over dinner. Our place. You remember.
    Instantly, I went from wired to straight pissed off. How dare he try to get me to go out with him when my father was dying and my boyfriend was missing? Okay, he didn’t know about the boyfriend part, but still. What angle was he trying to work? Last time I was here, he asked me out. Now again. It’s like he forgot that he cheated on me with not one woman but two—at the same fucking time—the very day he proposed. When he asked, I wanted to take a little time to think about it. I needed to decide if I wanted to be a