Too Little, Too Late Read Online Free PDF Page B

even worry about it,” she whispered.
    “Oh, I’m not worried. I just don’t play that.”
    “You know I understand, with the hoochies throwing themselves at Triage all the time,” Deborah said. “But this is business.” She looked around the room to remind Jasmine where they were. “And Hosea is going home with you.”
    “So, what have you been up to?” Natasia asked as the waiters placed salad plates in front of them.
    Through lunch, dessert, and speeches that followed, Natasia chatted with Hosea as if it was just the two of them. And Jasmine sat, seething in her seat.
    “Darlin’, are you ready?” Hosea finally asked.
    Jasmine’s eyes darted between Hosea and Natasia. “Oh, I’ve been ready.”
    Natasia smiled. “It was so nice to meet you…” She paused, squinted. “What did you say your name was?”
    “Jasmine,” Hosea responded for her. He took his wife’s hand. “Natasia, it was really good seeing you.”
    “Oh, sweetie, this pleasure was definitely all mine.” She opened her purse and pulled out a card. “Let me give you this. I’m staying at the Ritz and they give you these.” She tucked the business card into Hosea’s hand. “That’s the number to the hotel. Call me before you stop by.”
    Jasmine’s mouth opened wide. She could not believe that she was going to have to beat down this woman right here, right now.
    “I won’t need this.”
    “Sure you do.” Natasia grinned. “How else will we catch up?”
    “We’ll do that in the office.”
    “But my hotel room is much more…” she paused, looked at Jasmine, “private.”
    “No.” Hosea’s voice was stern this time and he handed her back the card.
    With a smirk, Natasia shrugged. “Whatever.” She smiled at Hosea, but when Natasia turned to Jasmine, all signs of her cheer were gone. “I guess we’ll be seeing quite a bit of each other.”
    “You can count on it,” Jasmine said before she took Hosea’s hand and marched out the door.

SEVEN
    H EAT ROSE FROM EVERY PORE of her body.
    Hosea asked, “Do you want me to drop you at your office?”
    “Aren’t you going home?” Jasmine managed to ask, although it was difficult to talk and breathe and fume at the same time.
    “Yeah, I told you, I’m going to hang out with Jacquie today.”
    “I’m going home with you.” She stared straight ahead.
    She couldn’t look at her husband, because if she did, she’d remember the way he looked at that woman. But even as she stomped toward their car, she knew there would be no way to forget Natasia Redding. Everything about that woman was unforgettable; she may have been working behind the scenes, but Natasia could have easily made her fortune in front of the camera. Svelte and striking, she had the undivided attention of every man and the undeniable envy of every woman in that room.
    “Darlin’, are you all right?” Hosea asked as they strapped on their seat belts.
    She wanted to tell him never to call her that again. “I’m. Fine.”
    Hosea glanced at her with raised eyebrows, shrugged, then inched the car from the parking garage.
    All Jasmine could think about was Natasia. Her looks. Her charm. The way she commanded Hosea’s attention as if she knew him. She did know him—well.
    I’m the first woman he ever loved.
    Jasmine bounced back against the seat. “Why didn’t you ever tell me about Natasia?” she demanded, still not looking at him.
    Hosea shrugged. “There was nothing to tell. Neither one of us talked about our past relationships.”
    Jasmine was ready to pounce, but thoughts about her ex made her slow her roll.
    “But you were engaged, ” she said, her tone softer now.
    “But never married.” He took her hand into his. “I married the woman I wanted.”
    Inside, she sighed, softening more. She wanted to forget all about this, but the vision of that woman in her mind wouldn’t stop.
    “You should have mentioned her.”
    “Why? She would still have shown up today. And that’s the problem you