Tryst by Cambria Hebert Read Free Book Online

sick. And I won’t lie ; his words were a huge blow to my self-esteem. I never thought I was the prettiest or the smartest, but I never really thought I was unworthy of anyone’s full love either.
    But that’s exactly what he implied. He implied I wasn’t enough to keep him happy. He implied I wasn’t enough.
    “Talie?” a familiar voice said from behind. I spun, blinking away the silent accusation.
    “Hey, Claire,” I said, mustering a smile for my best friend. She looked good in a cobalt-blue lace blouse, a pair of white skinny jeans, and her sassy red hair all styled out in an arranged tousled mess.
    She was enough to keep a man happy.
    “What happened?” she asked, her eyes narrowing on my face.
    “I signed the separation papers .”
    She grabbed me by the wrist and led me through the store toward the back where we went through a door with a sign that read : “Employees Only.” After making a sharp right into a small office, she closed the door and dropped down behind her desk with a sigh. “I hate inventory.”
    “Inventory sucks .” I agreed just because that’s what BFFs did. They agreed with each other. I’d never actually done inventory before so I wouldn’t know, but I would take her word for it. That thought gave me an idea. “Is this place hiring?”
    She gave me a wary look. “Actually we are. For sales associates.”
    “You don’t think I would make a good employee?”
    “Of course you would. I just can’t imagine subjecting you to inventory.”
    I laughed. “Well , getting a paycheck might be nice.”
    “You’re trained in billing and coding for doctors and hospitals.”
    “Numbers,” I replied. “Isn’t that what inventory is? Counting?”
    “Touché.”
    “Can I have an application?”
    “You can have the job if you want it,” she said , waving away my request like it was a pesky technicality.
    “Don’t you want my references?” I lifted a brow.
    “Nah.” She grinned. “I know where you live.”
    I laughed.
    “You didn’t come here for a job. And you didn’t come here to buy that god-awful purse you’re carrying around.”
    I glanced down at the purse. I hadn’t even realized I was still clutching it. It was ugly. I set it on her desk with a look of disdain.
    “We got in a shipment of Michael Kors bags this morning. To die for. You should go through the stash before we put them on display.”
    “Where are they?” I asked, perking up. Maybe a new bag would make me feel better. It certainly would make me look better.
    I had a slight obsession with purses.
    Blake said I had too many.
    It was exactly why I needed another one.
    “So you saw him,” she said, steering the conversation back to the reason I was here.
    “Yes.”
    “How was it?”
    “He apologized that I caught him in bed with his secretary. And then he told me he wanted to have a baby.”
    “ He played the family card,” she said. Claire knew how much I wanted a family and kids. Up until this point, Blake hadn’t wanted to start a family yet. He was too focused on his career. “Maybe he really is sorry.”
    “Then he went on to say he would be discreet in his future affairs and I wouldn’t notice because I’d be too busy being a mother.”
    “Tell me you’re kidding.”
    “I’m not kidding.”
    “And that explains that ugly-ass bag you were carrying around.” She sighed.
    I grimaced and looked at the bag. It was the color of puke. And it smelled weird.
    “Do I have the words COMPLETE IDIOT stamped across my forehead?”
    “Of course not. He’s just a complete ass.”
    “I made him sign the papers. I threatened his good family name.” I glanced at Claire. “He said it wasn’t over.”
    “And people wonder why I’m still single,” she mused. After her comment , she glanced at me, guilty. “Sorry.”
    “Don’t be. I wish I’d never got ten married.”
    We lapsed into silence.
    “I’m homeless, about to get divorced, and out of a job.”
    “I just gave you a job.” Claire