Gotta Get Next To You Read Online Free PDF Page B

that you mention it, I don’t appreciate
the board hiring staff without my input.”
    Andrea scowled at the thought of a handsome
face wearing a smug expression. Irritation mixed with an odd tingle
of attraction.
    Gran cleared her throat. “If he’s qualified
and likable, what’s the harm? Besides, I can tell he’s the right
man for the job.”
    “From talking to him for five minutes? Sure
you can,” Andrea said dryly.
    “I don’t know why you meet a nice, single man
and get your back up,” Gran said, both hands on her hips.
    Andrea pointed a forefinger at her. “Stop
right there.”
    “What?” Gran assumed a look of pure
innocence.
    “None of your tricks, Gran. I’m not kidding.”
Andrea scowled at her, hoping to look fierce.
    “All I’m saying is you don’t have to give up
men for-ever just because your husband was no good.” Gran turned
back to the stove.
    “I don’t want to have this talk again, so let
me say this clearly. I’m concentrating on my career for now.”
Andrea walked over to her and tapped her on the shoulder. “Got
it?”
    “I saw the way you were looking at him.” Gran
put the lid on the pot of red beans and faced her again.
    “Gran—”
    “Fine, be by yourself,” Gran grumbled.
    “I’m going to enjoy my homecoming and get the
clinic in shape. That’s more than enough.”
    “If you say so.” Gran lifted a shoulder.
    “I do say so,” Andrea added firmly.
    “But you gotta admit, that Jamal is sure
gonna dress the place up. Such a fine-looking young man.” Gran’s
dark eyebrows arched.
    “I need competent, qualified staff. Not
window dressing.” Andrea clenched her teeth. “But I’m stuck with
him, I guess.”
    “He didn’t take the job just to get on your
nerves. Right, Curtis?” Gran said.
    Uncle Curtis choked on a bit of potato salad.
He shook his head. “Hmm... ahem, dunno,” was his garbled
answer.
    “Don’t you think he’s a nice young fella?”
Gran pressed on.
    “Yeah, umm, I, er...” Uncle Curtis blinked
like a deer caught in headlights.
    “Ellis seemed like a nice young fellow, too.
So do half the serial killers on death row,” Andrea retorted. “The
man’s got ’player’ plastered all over him.”
    “Now, that’s plain silly to judge the boy so
fast. Ain’t that right, Curtis?” Gran turned to her son for support
again.
    “I’ve got tire marks all over me from the
last hit-and- run. Trust me, I know the type.” Andrea waved a
hand.
    “Curtis, tell her she’s being unreasonable,”
Gran said. She fixed him with a hard look.
    “Leave me outta this. I didn’t have nothin’
to do with it.”
    “Nothing to do with what, Uncle Curtis?”
Andrea looked from Gran to him.
    He shook his head as though warding off
danger. “Not me, uh-uh.”
    ‘Tell me what—” Before Andrea could finish,
her cousin Leonard came in, talking to someone behind him.
    “Don’t worry. If my grandmamma invited you,
then you can come in the kitchen with the family.” Leonard grinned.
“Ain’t that right, Gran?”
    Jamal strolled in behind him. “Boy, sure
smells good in here. Nothing like down-home cooking.”
    Andrea’s mouth dropped open. She gaped at him
for five seconds, and then turned to Gran with a scowl. The woman
had more nerve than ten busybodies put together.
    “We’re so glad you could come, sugar.” Gran
pointedly avoided looking at Andrea. She strolled over and took him
by the arm. “You have a seat right here.” “Thanks, ma’am.” Jamal
sat at the kitchen table and beamed at Andrea. “Good to see ya
again.”
    Jamal looked perfectly at home with his
elbows propped on the table. Andrea squinted at him. The man was so
annoying. She was determined not to be affected by him. Let him
parade around in front of her. So he looks okay. So what? Andrea
lifted her nose in the air and continued to gaze at him.
    His broad shoulders were covered by a dark
blue cot-ton knit shirt with a white stripe on the collar and short
sleeves. Andrea