Read Taking Chances for Free Online Page B

even know him. One night of good deeds didn’t automatically make a nice, respectful guy. Didn’t all men have ulterior motives?
    She could always leave, but where would she go? To the next town, which only seemed to be the same as the one before? When would she stop running? She didn’t know what the point of it was anymore. Would it be so bad to just take a chance and settle down somewhere?
    “May I sit?”
    Lost in thought, Clair didn’t notice Roz had come up to her table and set a fresh drink in front of her. “Yes, ma’am.”
    “Oh, it feels good to sit. I wasn’t even supposed to work this morning. What kind of work do you do, Clair?”
    She paused for a moment, trying to decide what she wanted to tell her. But she had no reason to lie. “I don’t have a job at the moment,” she said, moving her straw to the new glass.
    “Really?” Roz sat up straighter, her eyes gleaming with excitement. “Well, are you looking for one? My last girl quit on me last week and I’ve been looking for someone ever since. I need someone like yesterday. I own this place, so I shouldn’t have to work these shifts. I’ve already put in my time.  Anyway, are you interested?”
    “Umm…well…That would be great but…”
    Roz clapped her hands together, beaming. “Oh great, this is great. When do you think you can you start?”
    “I can’t. Sorry, I just can’t,” Clair said.
    “Well, why not? I thought you didn’t have anywhere to go?” Roz gasped, slapping her hand over her mouth.
    Clair glared at her. “What did you just say?” She looked back toward the kitchen, knowing there was only one person who would have shared this information with her. “Well, in case you didn’t know, you have to have a place to live before you can have a job. And since you already know how pathetic my life is, you know I don’t have that. I’m not looking for any handouts here. I never said I needed help from anybody.”
    “No, you’re wrong; I don’t know anything about you. But it doesn’t take a rocket scientist to see that you don’t have much. Alex may not have had any right telling me your business, but all he’s trying to do is help. I can tell he…. well, he just wants to help. I did the same for him when he came in town over a year ago. He didn’t want my help either, but I can be pretty convincing. I can help you, if you’ll let me. I have an apartment above my garage and you’re welcome to live there while you’re working here. I’ll pay you, of course. We can work out the details later. You’d really be doing me a favor, so we’d actually be helping each other out. I need all the help I can get. What do you say?”
    Clair crossed her arms and slumped back against the seat. She looked out the window before turning to meet her eyes. “But you don’t even know me. Why would you even trust me?”
    Roz smiled, “Well, you haven’t given me a reason not to trust you… yet.”
    “I… I don’t know, Clair said hesitantly.
    “Don’t be stubborn. You need help and there’s no sense in pretending you’re doing okay out there on the street. Look at your face. No girl should be out there by herself. God knows what would have happened to you if Alex hadn’t come along. You look exhausted, and you need a place to rest and get back on your feet. Let me help you.”
    The more Roz talked, the further she leaned across the table. Clair couldn’t look at her. Instead, she stared at a pigeon pecking the ground outside her window. She knew once their eyes met, a flood of tears would come pouring out. She couldn’t understand why Roz cared so much. Why was she being so nice when she didn’t even know her? Her own mother didn’t show her that much compassion. But everything she said was true. She wasn’t doing okay. She was tired. Tired of everything.
    “All right, Roz, you’re all set. I’ve got everything moved around like you wanted,” Alex said, coming up to the table.
    “Thanks, hon, I appreciate you