Taking Charge by Mandy Baggot Read Free Book Online Page B

Brad answered.
    “Well, given the tough economic climate, I had to opt
for the job that was going to pay the most,” Robyn told him.
    It was as close to the truth as she was going to
give. She answered the phone, she made appointments, and she did
the filing. But all the while, she gazed into the workshop, envying
the mechanics covered in grease, their hands in the engine of the
latest job. It was all she could do not to roll up the sleeves of
the blouse Clive had bought her from Saks and climb under the hood
of a car on her lunch hour. But she knew Clive would hate that.
    “My, my, Robyn Matthers the office girl,” Brad
teased.
    “Brad Willis the cop sounds more ridiculous to be
honest,” Robyn replied with a scowl.
    “I’m not so sure.”
    “Sorry to hear about you and Michelle. I mean, I
never really liked her much, she always called me Bobby and said
she would rather die than wear jeans, but Pam says you were dating
a long time before she ran off with…” Robyn began.
    “Randy Dennis. Yeah, Randy Dennis, the ugliest kid in
school,” Brad interrupted.
    “That surgery he had must have been pretty
extensive.”
    “Yeah, right,” Brad agreed with a sigh.
    “Plenty more fish in the sea, right? No point looking
back when forward’s the only way you can go,” Robyn said.
    “So they say. So, are you dating?” Brad asked.
    “Nope, too busy being an office girl.”
    “I don’t believe that.”
    “Believe it!”
    “I can’t imagine you’re short of male admirers
working in a garage, though. All that testosterone and having to
look at a pretty manager all day.”
    “Most of them are over forty and married.”
    “Bet they’ve thought about it.”
    “Eww! Brad, don’t! That’s creepy!”
    He laughed and pulled the car up outside Pam and
Bob’s.
    “They don’t know you’re out, do they?” Brad said.
    “Well, Pam worries and she wouldn’t understand that I
had to go to the bar tonight. She thinks I need sleep and…”
    “You do need sleep. Did you sneak out the
window?”
    “Kind of,” Robyn admitted.
    “You’ll be okay getting back in?”
    “Of course. It isn’t like I haven’t done it before,
right?”
    “It’s great to see you, Robyn,” Brad said as she
opened the car door.
    “You too, and you won’t forget about tomorrow night.
Seven at the arena, the whole squad of ten.”
    “I won’t forget,” Brad promised.
    Robyn shut the car door and hurried up the driveway,
hugging her sweater to herself.
    Once at the house, she eased open the window and
climbed up onto the sill. She looked back to Brad who was still
watching her from the car and she waved, before disappearing
inside. One mission was accomplished.

Chapter Seven
     
    She tried to open her eyes, but it wasn’t working.
They felt so heavy and sticky, like they were glued together. She
grabbed hold of the pillow and hauled herself up into a sitting
position, rubbing at her eyes with a fist. Her head ached, her
mouth was dry, and she smelled bad. Sunlight streamed through the
blinds, and that hurt her eyes, too. She looked at her watch. Her
vision blurred and she blinked to focus on the dial.
    “Shit!”
    It was almost midday.
    She stumbled out of bed, caught her foot in the
bedding, and fell flat on her face. God, she felt terrible! And she
so desperately needed coffee.
    When she had managed to stagger into the kitchen,
there was a note on the table and a set of keys beside it.
     
    Keys for you! Help yourself to everything! Dinner at
six – meatball stew! Pam
     
    The thought of meatball stew made her stomach rumble.
She was starving and she needed breakfast.
    She dialed Sarah.
    “Hi, it’s me. Wanna meet for breakfast? Yeah, I know
it’s almost lunchtime, but I slept in. Theo and Stacey’s in an
hour? I really stink and need to shower. Hey Sarah, do you know
anyone who could lend me a car?”
     
     
    Robyn was on her third mug of coffee when Sarah
joined her at the table in the diner.
    “You made it! Did you