Curtis Read Online Free PDF

have your brother pick up Kylie so that I could get myself
together a little more. Been years since I had to tux it up.” He ran his hand
down his jacket and fussed with a bit of lint. “My Betty used to love these
things.”
    Curtis nodded. He remembered her, but
not well. She’d died when Kylie had been about five or six. He turned to see
Royce come out and nearly groaned. He had the look of a man who wanted answers.
    “I’ve been looking for you.” Royce
directed his statement to both of them. “I was wondering if you’ve given any
thought to what we’ve proposed.”
    “No, not really. I’ve been…I turned it
all over to Kylie yesterday. She has all the information that you asked for. I
understand that Daniel is going to be taking over from now on.” Royce gave him
a questioning look. “I hope you don’t mind, but, well, I don’t have the heart
for it anymore. I’ve been a fool and now… well, now I just don’t know what to
do.”
    A few minutes later Jon entered the
party and, before Curtis could sneak in behind him, Royce stopped him. This was
not going to go well he knew. His temper was getting the better of him and he
didn’t want to be nice to anyone right now.
    “Don’t.” Royce looked at him harder. “I
mean it, Royce. I’m in no mood to explain things to you and I certainly don’t
want to be around people right now.”
    “Mom said you’d kissed Kylie.” That
surprised Curtis though he wasn’t sure why. They weren’t a family that kept
secrets well. “Feel like explaining that?”
    “Nope.” He moved toward the door again. “Daniel
can handle the situation and I’m going out of the country until next month. I
want to be there to make sure the new building we put up in Europe finishes on
time.” He didn’t have to be. They had the right people in the right jobs. And
he knew that when he went he’d more than likely be miserable as well as pissy. Which
was fine by him. He was tired of being the nice guy.
    The family table was crowded. There were
several men standing and more sitting in the chairs around it. He saw his mom
talking to the mayor as well as a few others from the state office there. Daniel
nor Kylie were around so he grabbed a chair when someone stood and ordered a
drink.
    “You still pouting?” He looked over at
Kasey. “You’ve been in a nasty funk all day, and yesterday too. Is it because
your brother got the job?” He didn’t know what she was talking about and asked.
“Royce managed to get that job in the governor’s office. It’s only a part-time
thing but he seems to be excited. I thought you were going to try for it.”
    “I decided that I didn’t want the
headache right now. I told Royce last week.” He was glad now that he’d made
that decision. “I’m going to Europe on Monday. I was wondering if I could have
some little kiddy time before I left.”
    He watched little Lee, Royce and Kasey’s
son, a couple hours a week. Kasey got some free time with her aunt Suzy and he
got to play with the little guy. He was nearly six months old now.
    The meeting/dinner was called to order
and he was relieved to see that Daniel and Kylie weren’t sitting with them. He
was just getting relaxed when he noticed them coming toward them. Daniel was
touching her back and guiding her to the table when he saw her stiffen. It was
all he could do not go simply leave.
    “Hello, everyone. I hope you don’t mind,
but Kylie’s table has been over filled. Mr. Taylor brought his wife and
girlfriend. I think we might be safer over here. And I suppose being a tad late
didn’t help. Kylie had some zipper problems and I had to help her with it.” Daniel
winked at him and sat her next to him as he sat on her other side. This was
going to be a very long night.
    “My goodness, Kylie, that dress is
stunning. Where on earth did you get it?” Kasey kicked him under the table and
he winced. What the hell was that for? “Don’t you think it’s a lovely
dress, Curtis?”
    He