Read Suited (St. Martin Family Saga) for Free Online Page B

longevity.”
    “Jesus. Thanks for that grim image.”
    Cash shrugged. “Just trying to help. It’s not too late to get out.”
    “I know.” Camp nodded, as if trying to convince himself, “I know.”
    ≈
    Isa turned to work on the following week’s schedule since she and Cash would be gone for the next three days. While she organized her week, she listened to Cash and Camp. They were talking about their father.
    “Dad’s on his way; he’d like to see you. Do you think you can wait another hour before you and Isa leave for New Orleans?”
    Cash shrugged. “Yeah, sure, I gotta check on the progress in the pit anyway.”
    Isa studied Cash on his way outside, concluding that he looked desperate. She hated that. He’d been estranged from his father for eight years. Camp had told her that Cash had seen their father on average two to three times per year but that they didn’t speak, and she knew they’d yet to talk since he’d been back. She wondered why Cliff was coming to the site but she shook it off and went into the copy room.
    Through one-way glass she saw the exterior door open and in walked Clifton St. Martin. “Speak of the devil,” she whispered. He was an imposing man who stood board straight at about six feet five. The man simply commanded the room. The twins, the shortest men in the family, stood nearly half a foot shorter than their father.
    Clifton sat at the desk that was his but was being used by Cash. He started flipping through paperwork, scrutinizing and questioning every decision.
    “I don’t know, Dad,” Camp told him for the third or fourth time. “I told you you’ll have to ask Cash.”
    “Where the hell is that boy?”
    Overhearing the full conversation, including the overly picky questions, Isa emerged from behind the copy machine.
    “Hello, Clifton.”
    Clifton used the wheels of the chair to push back from the desk. He stood and walked to Isa with extended arms.
    “ Isa, tu es très belle .”
    Isa knew he was speaking about her beauty. He did the same to all the women in his family, and she’d always loved that. Loved being included. She’d memorized a few fitting responses and today tried out a new one. “ Et vous avez de beaux yeux .” She loved the St. Martin ice-blue eyes, knew he was responsible for passing the color to his children, and so she told him that he had nice eyes.
    Clifton smiled. “And smart too, the whole package. It’s a wonder some man hasn’t snatched you away from us.”
    Camp and Isa shared a nervous look. When Cash had taken off and left Isa behind, the entire family had been crushed, but Isa begged them not to interfere. It was true that Isa had become part of their lives over the three years she and Cash had been together. Given that she had no family of her own, she’d become a permanent fixture at their home. Whenever the family was hosting a party or just having a barbeque, she’d been invited. She’d even spent some holidays with them, and it was the St. Martins who had her looking forward to her birthday instead of loathing it. Before she’d met them, no one had even recognized her birthday. They did it up big too, with decorations and gifts and so much food she had to roll herself home. And they continued to celebrate her birthday every year.
    “I understand you’ve been working solely with Cash for the last eight weeks while Camp finishes up in Lake Charles.”
    “That’s right.”
    He lifted his brow. “Starting a project is the hardest and most crucial part. Tell me, how’s Cash doing?”
    The truth was Cash had really come around and into his own over the last two months. At first he just sort of sat back and let the project run itself. He’d let her have free rein with the decision-making on her end, but she knew Cash. He’d been thrown into the project, and Cash didn’t like to show his hand until he had all the facts. The first two weeks he’d been compiling his cards to make his move. By week three he’d taken