Total pages in book: 71
Estimated words: 68004 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 340(@200wpm)___ 272(@250wpm)___ 227(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 68004 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 340(@200wpm)___ 272(@250wpm)___ 227(@300wpm)
“Do you mind calling her and asking her to come see me?”
“Can do.” The deputy turned to leave.
“Thank you. I really appreciate your help. If this works out, I’ll owe you big time,” she said sincerely. Then she hastened to clarify what she meant, not wanting him to get any wrong ideas. “As long as it doesn’t involve sex.”
“Woman, you’re the one with sex on the brain, not me. Jesus, what’s with women nowadays? I remember the good ole days when women were too embarrassed to talk about it. So, you know, around these parts, the word sex is considered a four-letter word coming from a woman with a man in the room.”
“Then, how does you helping me benefit you?” she asked skeptically.
“Puts my ass back in my cruiser, where it belongs.”
Alanna watched the deputy swagger off as if he owned the world as butterflies filled her stomach. He seemed just a little too cheerful when all he was going to get out of helping her was a return to his normal duties.
The first bloom of happiness at possibly getting of jail faded into apprehension. Why did she feel as if she had just unwittingly sold her soul after bargaining with a fast-talking devil in Kentucky?
Chapter Three
“Mrs. Bates, were you able to contact Mr. Coleman about the housekeeping job Deputy Porter told me about?”
Being in the lawyer’s presence never failed to make her feel as if she had royally screwed her life up. Immaculately dressed, from the stylish hair to the tips of her shoes, the lawyer didn’t have a hair or thread out of place. Mrs. Bates appeared to have every aspect of her life within her control, while she couldn’t even control what she could pick to eat without the deputy switching the order to what he wanted.
Glancing up from her briefcase after taking out a legal pad and ink pen, Mrs. Bates’s rigid expression showed she was expecting the same lack of cooperation from her that she had received when they had talked previously. “I did. Silas said he would stop by to interview you when he comes to town this morning.”
“It didn’t put him off that I’m in jail?”
“No. He was more concerned about when you could start.”
Her lawyer seemed to be just as surprised at the lack of concern as she was.
“Did he ask what charges had been pressed against me?” she probed, embarrassed about having to meet a potential employer in jail.
“No, I don’t imagine Silas needed to. Everyone in town knows why you were arrested.”
Cringing inwardly about what must be being said about her, Alanna began wondering what kind of man would be willing to hire someone in jail for kidnapping and attempted extortion.
Withering shame had her seeking to reclaim what little pride she could in front of the other woman.
“I hope he doesn’t think I’ll let him take advantage of the situation and expect more than cleaning and cooking.”
“I didn’t come out and ask if sex was in the job description when I spoke to him over the phone. I thought I would save that question for when he comes to interview you for the job.”
Alanna tried not to blush under her lawyer’s gaze. Self-conscious, she tugged the orange sleeve of the scrub top she was wearing over her wrist. God, she missed wearing regular clothes. The ugly bright orange scrubs she had been forced to wear since her arrest never let her forget for a second she was a prisoner. Compared to the other woman, she felt like a carrot stick. Orange was definitely not her color. She resembled a pumpkin.
She envied the clothes her lawyer was wearing, from the Louis Vuitton heels to the light gray skirt with a matching blazer, which was set off by a Milano purple silk blouse tucked neatly inside the waistband. If she didn’t feel at a disadvantage already at her lawyer’s polished appearance compared to the jailhouse thin scrubs she was wearing, the cool air blowing directly down on her side of the table just put the cherry on top of the downward spiral her life had taken.
“I’ve arranged for the interview. Now, are you finally willing—”
“Do you mind switching places with me?” Alanna cut her off. “I’m freezing under this vent,” she explained when the other woman stared at her coolly.
“Certainly.”
They switched places, and Alanna folded her arms across her chest defensively. “They keep this place like an igloo. What’s the temperature outside?” she asked before the lawyer could resume talking, not above taking advantage of any distraction to put off having to discuss her case. “It’s fall. You would think the sheriff would have switched over to heat instead of keeping the air conditioning on high.”
Alanna saw the woman glance upward toward the vent with a baffled expression before returning her gaze to her. “It is a little warm out today, but I’ll speak to the sheriff before I leave.”