Sudden Pleasures by Bertrice Small Read Free Book Online Page A

be sad would be if these two hardworking people lost everything because some damned fools added dumb clauses to their wills in order to get their own way even after death,” Rick remarked. “I don’t know about Mulcahy’s father, but why the hell Edward Kimbrough thought Ashley couldn’t survive without a big, strong man to keep her safe I’ll never know. She is one competent girl.”
    “Yeah,” Joe agreed.
    Tiffany got up from the conference table and looked at both of them with a jaundiced eye. “Well,” she said, “at least you guys understand that women are capable of managing alone if we have to or choose to, or whatever. Now I’ve got to think about what I’m going to wear tomorrow.”
    The two men laughed as she left them.
    When she had gone Rick Johnson looked at his partner. “Do you think they’ll like each other?” he wondered.
    “They have to,” Joe said. “I don’t see that either of them has a choice except to give up everything they’ve gotten or worked for, and that’s just plain crazy.”

    The following morning the two partners stood in the conference room window looking down at the silver-gray limousine that had just pulled up in front of their building. Joe had already told Rick that his cousin had never learned to drive, and used a car service on a regular basis. Normally he would have arrived in a Town Car, but as his wife would also be with them he would want a bigger vehicle. The driver jumped out and ran around the car to open the door. Two men stepped out.
    “That’s Ray,” Joe said, pointing to the shorter of the two men. “He’s older than me by a couple of years. He was always good to me when I was a kid.”
    “That why you went into law?” Rick asked.
    “Yeah, I guess it was. I’ve always admired him. He’s a senior partner at ASK. When Joshua Alexander retired a couple of years ago he handpicked Ray for his place. But Alexander’s name remains on the letterhead,” Joe explained.
    “Where’s the limo going?” Rick asked. The two men had disappeared into the building, and it was pulling away from the curb.
    “Out to the house. I made Tiffany stay home. I didn’t want he R&Rose hovering while we were trying to make a deal. Where’s Ashley? She should be here by now,” Joe said as the intercom buzzed, announcing their two visitors, who were then ushered into the conference room.
    “And Nina’s here from Lacy Nothings,” the receptionist said. “She needs to see you, Mr. P. Shall I send her in too?”
    “Yeah,” Joe told her. What the hell was going on? If Ashley was going to try to pull out of this he would no longer represent her. Hell! He’d represent SSEXL. “Ray!” he greeted his cousin, and the two men embraced warmly. “Sit down. You know my partner, Rick Johnson. Just give me a minute, will you?” He turned to Nina. “Where is she?” he asked.
    “She’s going to be late. Madeira called, and I don’t speak Spanish,” Nina said. “It shouldn’t be any more than ten minutes.” Then she turned and hurried out.
    “Sorry about that,” Joe said. “Ashley is going to be a few minutes late, and she sends her apologies. She had to take an overseas call. Could I offer everyone some coffee? Water?”
    Judy, the firm’s receptionist, stood waiting, and hurried out when she had been given orders for four coffees.
    “Ryan,” Ray Pietro d’Angelo said, “this is my cousin, Joe Pietro d’Angelo.”
    The men shook hands and chatted over the coffee that Judy had returned with for them. And then the intercom buzzed again, and Judy said, “Miss Kimbrough is here. I’m sending her in, sir.”
    The conference door opened and Ashley came in, breathless from running from her shop. She was wearing white silk slacks and a red tee. “I am so sorry,” she apologized. “Did Nina tell you? Sister Marie Consuelo called from Madeira.”
    “She couldn’t call back?” Joe asked.
    “No, she couldn’t,” Ashley said. “There is no phone at the