Joy Read Online Free PDF Page B

several, basking in the words. After a few minutes, she closed her Bible.
    “Lord,” she said out loud, “I would drop to my knees if I didn't have on these stockings and this short skirt.” She chuckled and lifted her eyes. “You are so awesome, and I bless your Holy Name. I thank you, Heavenly Father, for this tremendous blessing. Thank you for your faithfulness. Thank you for your grace. I pray and thank you in the name of your son, Jesus, Amen.”
    Braxton's fingers continued their dance across the keyboard until he clicked on his speakerphone. “Hello,” he answered impatiently, and once again vowed to get caller ID.
    “Braxton, we got it!” Anya screamed.
    His fingers froze and his eyes moved from the computer to the phone. “You actually
got
the Linden account? That's great,” he said, forcing enthusiasm into his voice. He paused. “Well, there's no doubt now that you'll keep the business.”
    He heard her sigh. Several weeks had passed since they last discussed closing her agency once they married.
    “Even without Linden, I would have kept my company, Braxton. I've worked too hard to get here.”
    “I know, honey. It's just that I want to take care of you.”
    “I can take care of myself.”
    “I know you can,” he said quickly. “It's just my way of saying that I love you. Listen, I think this calls for a celebration.”
    “That's why I'm calling,” Anya said, cheering up again. “We're having a party tonight—nothing fancy. I'm just taking them to Crossroads. We'll have hors d'oeuvres in one of their private rooms.”
    “What time?” Braxton asked, trying to sound interested.
    “Between five and six.”
    Braxton hesitated. “I don't know, sweetie …”
    It was a moment before Anya spoke. “I thought you wanted to celebrate.”
    “Uh, yes, but I have to email this chapter to my editor in the morning,” he lied.
    “And you can't find a couple of hours to spend with me?”
    He waited a few beats. “All I want to do is spend time with you. Let's get together afterward. You can come by here.”
    Silence. Then, she asked, “Are you sure you can't make it to
my
party?”
    Braxton could hear Anya's fingers tapping against her desk. “It'll be better if we meet later.”
    “Okay.” Her voice was as sharp as a jagged rock.
    “So, you'll come here?” he asked.
    “Whatever.”
    “Now you have an attitude.”
    “No I don't.”
    “I can hear it.”
    “Whatever.”
    “Anya, I don't feel like going to a party with your office. I'll end up sitting in some corner while you go off and do your thing.”
    “I'll call you when I get home.”
    The dial tone droned in his ear. Braxton leaned back and tapped his fingertips together. That Linden account was going to impede his plans. How would he get her to sell her business now? He sighed. There was no way he could celebrate when he wasn't happy.
    He picked up the phone and punched one of the speed-dial numbers. It was answered on the first ring.
    “Hey, Carlos, what do you guys have planned for tonight?”
    “My amigo, corno estés?” Carlos sang out. Carlos was as Black as anyone, but since their childhood days in Oakland he'd told people he was Puerto Rican. To keep his story going, he always sprinkled his conversation with a few Spanish words.
    “Just wondering if you guys were doing anything tonight.”
    “Are you telling me that Anya is letting you off the leash?” Carlos asked, laughing.
    “You know it's not like that.”
    “Yeah, right. That's why an entire month has passed since we've heard from you.”
    “That's why I'm calling. So what's up?”
    “Well, William and I are going to the Sports Bar in Hermosa. The Lakers are playing the Warriors.”
    “Sounds good. What time?”
    “I have a client at five, and I'll be heading over after that. The game doesn't begin until seven thirty, but we plan on hanging out until then. So are we finally going to see you on a Friday night?”
    “I'll be there.”
    Carlos laughed again.