Lonely Heart Read Online Free PDF

from making the same mistakes.
    “Glad you feel that way. You can start by unpackin’ those boxes.” I pointed to the pile stacked in the corner of the small dining room.
    The boxes were too much for me to carry and squatting down was nearly impossible without assistance. Yasmine attempted to help, but she was pregnant, too, though not as far along. Ebony was swamped as well. Her new position at the zoo and her new husband Brian’s work schedule made it hard for them to spend time together. Both helped me move in, but she hadn’t been able to stay and help unpack. I was in no way about to interrupt their time together for help unpacking pesky boxes.
    “Now? I haven’t even seen the place. Where do I sleep?”
    “Kitchen is there,” I pointed, doing the stewardess routine. “…bathroom is down the hall on the right. There are two bedrooms. I guess you can use the baby’s room. My room is at the end of the hall. I’ll put the crib in there; it’ll save me a trip in the middle of the night. The patio is there, and this is the living room.”
    Tiffany laughed. “Okay, thanks for the tour of the mansion. Can I put my stuff up first?”
    “Sure, be my guest. Look in my closet for extra hangers if you need them.”
    I counted down as she dragged her first bag down the short hall until she got to her designated room.
    “Kaity, there’s no bed in here,” she yelled down the hall.
    “It’s supposed to be the baby’s room. Crib, not bed,” I yelled back.
    “Well, shoot, that’s not there either.”
    “One step at a time,” I mumbled, my thoughts going back to my car.
    Tiffany walked back down the hall. “Can I sleep with you then?”
    “The moment you get a job you’re buyin’ your own bed.”
    “Agreed.” She grabbed the handle of the next bag.
    “You have one time to kick me in your sleep and it’s the sofa, understand?”
    She stopped, put a hand on her protruding hip. “I’m not five anymore.”
    “Thank the lord for small favors.”
    “Ha, ha, ha.” She disappeared back down the hall.
    Small favors.
    Maybe that’s why Tiffany had landed in my home. How big of a favor was yet to be seen.
     

Chapter 6
     
    “¡Aye!” I scooted from beneath the Monte Carlo, examined my bleeding thumb, and cursed the vibrating phone in the pocket of my overalls.
    There was no need to check the caller ID. After going off for the tenth time, it could only be Gina.
    I washed the grease from my hands before retrieving the first aid kit from the office. Tio Alejandro sat behind his desk, exhaustion etched into his face.
    “Are you okay?”
    He ran a hand over his graying beard and sighed. “Sí. I’m going home as soon as I complete the order forms.”
    My thumb bandaged, I walked over to the desk to scan the inventory forms. “Go home, Tio, I’ll finish this.”
    “No, my job is here, yours is out there.” He pointed towards the garage.
    I shook my head. “Tio, go home, spend time with your wife. It’s getting late.” Five-forty-five wasn’t exactly late, but for a man who’d spent years on a strict schedule, it was. “Take your wife some flowers and enjoy your evening. I’ll make sure it gets done.”
    His mouth opened as if to say something, but thought about it. “Sí, esta bien. Gracias.” He scooted his seat back from the desk. “You finished with the Monte Carlo?”
    “Sí. When I finish here, I’ll replace the gas filter on the Maxima. It’s overdue.”
    “See, told you not to take that job.” He grabbed his jacket from the coat rack.
    And I told him we needed to make upgrades to the shop to accommodate newer vehicles. It was a losing battle.
    The business management portion of my training felt as if it were a waste of time. In order to put it into practice, I would have to own my own shop. The amount of capital needed was daunting. My business plan was written. In order to make it happen, I would need to apply for a business loan and have my own capital to bring to the table. My