Getting Lucky Read Online Free PDF Page B

investments she’d made over the years had paid off even more handsomely. So to hades with ZachariahTaylor and his unfounded accusations! Let him stew in his own suspicions. As long as she knew that contrary to his nasty little digs she’d actually been teaching his sister a little financial responsibility, what did it matter what he believed? Her mouth curved up on one side. “So what you’re saying is I oughtta lighten up?”
    “Listen, sweetie, I know that’s easy for me to say when it’s not my integrity under attack, but maybe just a little. Or at least try not to take his crap so much to heart. What are you going to do about the sister?”
    “Glynnis?”
    “Yes. Taylor sounds like a first-class bastard, but to play devil’s advocate for a minute, you said yourself he probably has experience on his side when it comes to dealing with his sister’s character judgment skills. Her track record in that department sounds less than impressive.”
    “It is, and I did.” Despite her newfound resolve, however, Lily realized she still wasn’t in the mood to give him the benefit of the doubt. “Is this going somewhere, Mimi?”
    “Not in a straightforward manner, apparently.” Her friend laughed. “I guess what I’m trying to say is, maybe his wanting to know her whereabouts is more than a control issue. What if he’s just genuinely concerned for her welfare? How do you balance that against his hounding you for information?”
    “By keeping out of it. Glynnis can be too wide-eyed for her own good sometimes—heck, we got to talking in the first place because she was torn up from discovering the very charming young man currently sweeping her off her feet had his eye firmly on her bank account.But the fact is, she’s of age. If she’d wanted her brother to know her plans, she would have left him a note or called by now, so it’s sure as sugar not up to me to fill in the blanks. Plus, I really like David, and I genuinely think he’ll be good for her.” She took a sip of wine. “If the commando king learns David dared whisk her away, though…. Well, I shudder to think what he’ll do. Frothing at the mouth would just be the beginning.” She looked across the table at her friend. “Boy, I’m starting to think maybe I should’ve just bought the darn apartment when it went condo. At least then I wouldn’t be smack in the middle of this opera.”
    “No, you’d be thirty grand short of your goal, instead. And for what? Not your dream digs, that’s for sure. Your place was a nice enough, but they wanted way too much for a piece of real estate that’s not even seven hundred square feet. Hell, I usually equate an asking price like that with something that provides at least a partial view, even if it’s one you have to hang out a window to see.”
    It cheered Lily to hear her decision validated. “You’re right. Bless you for reminding me I wasn’t particularly attached to it—not enough, at least, to dig into my savings for the down payment and closing costs.”
    Brilliant sunshine poured through the window. And glancing out at the palm trees rustling their green fronds in the gentle breeze, she let her long-held dream of finally settling in one place to open her own restaurant give her a moment’s peace before turning back to the problem at hand. “One thing’s for sure,” she told her friend. “I’m gonna have to step up my search for somewhere else to live. I was hoping to hold off until I got back from my next gig aboard the Argosy , but the writing’s on the wall. Much as I detest letting him get away with driving me off, there’s just no living with the guy.”
    “Now that’s not necessarily so.” A long skein of artfully streaked butterscotch-colored hair slipped over Mimi’s shoulder and she scooped it back behind her. “I’m telling you, sweetie, tell the man the truth. He’ll probably be so mortified by how badly he misjudged you that he’ll offer you room and board for free.”