So Right With You by Maggie Kaye Read Free Book Online

back on the street, Garrett turned to her and asked, “Did you have to tell her I was your boss? That woman now thinks you’re some kind of gold digger, and I’m your sleazy boss who’s sleeping with you.”
    “Why would she think that?” she asked, outraged.
    “Perhaps because there are sleazy bosses who buy gifts for their gold-digging secretaries with whom they’re sleeping,” he said.
    Chloe looked miffed. “Not everybody is like that. I told you I would pay you back.”
    “I know, but not everybody thinks like you.”
    Chloe waited on the sidewalk while Garrett opened the hatch and stashed her purchases. Shutting it, he walked over to her and opened the passenger door. She climbed in to sit. He closed the door, making sure her dress was out of the way. When he was inside the vehicle, Chloe asked the very question he had been hoping to avoid.
    “Can I see the receipt?”
    “Now, Red, I told you I’d take care of it.”
    “And I told you I couldn’t let you do that. Give me the receipt,” she said, not giving an inch.
    “Darlin’, don’t worry your pretty little head. It’s no big deal.”
    “Garrett, cut the bull.”
    “You know you really don’t want to see it. You have enough on your plate without worrying about that little bill.”
    “Give me the receipt. I need to know how much I owe you.”
    “All right, but don’t say I didn’t warn you.” He pulled out his wallet and removed the receipt. He hesitated before handing it to her.
    She looked at it. She took a second glance as if her eyes had deceived her. “It can’t be that much. It has to be a mistake, right?” She looked to him for reassurance.
    He flinched. He wasn’t sure if she was going to hit him or start crying. He felt like an ass. Glancing over, he saw her skin turn ashen and her eyes moisten, but she sucked it in and somehow didn’t cry. It made him feel worse.
    “Ah, honey, just let me pay for it. It’s really not that big of a deal.”
    “No!”
    It was the loudest silence he had ever experienced in his life as he drove to the next stop. At first, he tried to reason with her to let him pay for the clothes. She didn’t say a word. It made him nervous. He began to wonder if having her stay with him was such a good idea. He knew he was being ridiculous, but the thought still crossed his mind. She wouldn’t kill him in his sleep, would she? He glanced over at her. She stared straight ahead.
    *~*
    When Garrett pulled up to the shopping center, she finally spoke, slowly enunciating each word. “Garrett Nolan, I have more than enough clothes. Please tell me that’s not why we’re here. I can’t afford another shopping spree, probably ever again.”
    “I know. I’m sorry. Please let me pay for it.”
    “Nope! It was my mistake. I should have known better.”
    “I’m an idiot.”
    “You’ll get no argument here.”
    Garrett jumped out and walked around to open her door. “I promise we’re not here to buy anything else. I need to get something done. Please, get out of the car. They’re going to close any minute. We’re going to have to hustle if we’re going to make it. It’s already five minutes to five, and the place closes at five.”
    Curiosity was the only reason she got out of the SUV. She wanted to know what he was up to now. Of course, she reminded herself, curiosity did kill the rat—or was it the cat? It didn’t matter. She was going to make Garrett wish he were dead if he pulled anything else.
    Once she was out, he grabbed her hand to pull her after him. With her shorter stature, she had to practically run in her heels to keep up. She collided with him when he suddenly stopped by one of the store fronts. She looked up to see the sign that read Lloyd’s Locks.
    “Damn,” he said when he saw a man was already pulling down the security gate to the store. “Hey, mister, can we get keys made?”
    The gray-haired man turned and rose slowly from his stooped position. He nodded. “Another minute and