The Family Jewels by Christine Bell Read Free Book Online Page A

this point, there was no other choice. "Go ahead with the feeding tube, then."
    There was a long pause on the other end of the line and she braced herself.
    "I hate to broach the subject, Sadie. I know it's uncomfortable, for us as much as you, but we need to know-"
    "How we're going to pay for this. Yes," she snapped and rubbed a hand over her eyes before taking a steadying breath. "Sorry, I didn't mean to snap at you. This isn't your fault. I know you're just doing your job. I'll take care of it. I can make a payment tomorrow and then, if you give me a week," which was half as long as she needed, "I can pay the balance."
    She’d spent the past few days regrouping and had just finally settled on plan B, which was hitting Hannigan’s estate when he was away on the 15th. Now, though, between the latest medical crisis and the three hundred and fifty bucks for the dress she’d ruined when she’d neglected to stick the landing on her flight off the balcony, she was out of time and out of options. She'd have to make her move sooner and hope for the best.
    Pinching the bridge of her nose between thumb and forefinger, she shut out the sound of her father's voice ringing in her head.
    Who will take care of Clarissa if you’re in prison?
    She'd just make sure she didn't get caught. That was all there was to it.
    The administrator agreed that payment within a week would be okay and they said their goodbyes before disconnecting. Sadie pocketed her mobile with a sigh of frustration. She'd just have to work with what she had and make the best of a bad situation.
    “Cheer up, sad-faced clown, you’ve got a surprise.”
    Sadie looked up to see Monica standing in front of her with a massive bouquet of flowers in her hands. Blush-colored hydrangeas, to be exact.
    Her stomach flopped around like a beached mackerel as she reached out for the vase and spied a tiny white envelope tucked within the blooms. She set the vase on the bar and plucked the card from its nest.
    “Whoever sent those has great taste. They’re stunning,” Monica murmured. She was standing so close that Sadie could feel a hot wash of breath on her neck.
    “Yeah, I guess so,” she responded, turning and giving her co-worker a smile. She so wasn’t reading the note with Monica standing right there. After she’d taken a header off a balcony into a bush of those very same flowers, there was no question who’d sent them, but she was dying to see what he had to say.
    She held the card in a now-trembling hand, trying to think of a polite way to get some space when the hostess on duty came clippity-clopping into the bar on a pair of stilettos.
    “Monica, the four-top at table eleven is you.”
    “I’m on it.” The redhead took a second to retie her apron and headed toward the dining room. “But don’t think you’re getting off that easy,” she called over her shoulder to Sadie. “I’m dying to hear all about your admirer.”
    Admirer, indeed. More like nemesis. Surely by now he’d pieced it together that she’d stolen his wallet. She winced just thinking about it.
    What the hell had come over her? He’d recognized her and had been totally suspicious, but rather than just let it go and get out of the situation as cleanly as possible, she couldn’t resist.
    Those sexy, muscled arms around her as they danced. That sparkle of heat and bit of the devil in his eye as he questioned her. And the accent? God, the accent.
    She was out of sorts, confused by all the conflicting feelings --desperate to get away, but also inexplicably compelled to get even closer-- and right when she’d gotten him to agree to her Rumpelstiltskin deal and was ten feet from freedom, she’d felt the wallet pressed against her hip. There was no thought, only instinct. She could have no sooner stopped her heart from beating than stop herself from filching that wallet.
    It was only hours later when she sat cross-legged on her bed looking at the contents spread out before her that she