Read The Inheritance (Forever Bound #1) for Free Online Page A

down her pipe. Her cell phone rang, and she glanced at the number. “Perfect timing,” she mumbled, reading her landlord’s name on the caller ID. She ignored the call. It wasn’t long until a message signaled on her phone. Despite wanting to throw the phone down the toilet, she listened to the message.
    “It’s Richard. I know you’re home and just refusing to answer my call, but you need to contact me ASAP. I’ve been patient, Charity. Your rent is way past due and delaying it will only hurt your case. Call me.” The phone went dead, and she deleted the message. She would’ve loved to call him and pay up, but she didn’t have the money he needed. Sure that the knock at her door was soon to follow, she finished her soup and put the dirty dishes in the sink, then grabbed her purse, and rushed out the front door. She hopped in her car and swore she saw the light flip on in his apartment, but never looked back.
    She drove the few miles down her road, to the right, and up a hill, until she turned into the parking lot of the nearest club. She sat there for a few minutes, contemplating whether she really wanted to go inside. Then after a few uncertain moments, she got out of the car and sauntered into the dark building.
    She glanced around the club, seeking out any familiar face in the crowd. When she didn’t see any, she walked up to the bar and sat down on one of the stools. She smiled at the bartender. “I’ll take sex on the beach.”
    “Coming right up!”
    She took a deep breath and slowly let it out, staring straight ahead and not focusing on her surroundings. When the bartender handed her the drink, she handed him a five and smiled. “Keep the change.” She needed time to think and sitting in a noisy club seemed a confusing option, but the right one. She took a drink and devised a game plan in her head. She had to talk to her boss and beg for a raise or more hours. She quickly was losing any other choice. She took another drink and planned out the words in her head. She would offer to work longer hours and give the ones that were closer to retirement age the time at home with their families. Stella, who only worked because her children were grown, out of the house, and living two thousand miles away, had talked about taking an extended vacation to visit them. She would gladly pick up all her hours if needed. Bill hadn’t really given Stella the time off she requested because he said that she was needed there, but Charity could help out in that aspect. It could work. It had to.
    She lifted her drink to her lips when she heard the voice next to her. “Penny for your thoughts.” A penny slid in front of her, and she looked up to stare into two dark brown eyes. His long hair was draped over his shoulders, and she bit back a groan that was fighting to be released. He smiled brightly, and her knees quivered.
    “Um…nice gesture but my thoughts aren’t worth that much.” She put her hand to the penny and slid it back to him, never breaking their gaze.
    He grinned, which made her heart race. “I doubt that. A beautiful girl sitting there so serenely, staring out like she has the weight of the world on her shoulders…must be pretty busy in your head. I can almost see the thoughts running around inside.”
    She smiled, blushing as she looked down at the bar. She’d never felt so drawn to a guy before. This coming from a woman that could sleep with a different guy every night and not think about it. When she looked back at him, she saw a gold speck in his eyes, that seemed to twinkle and invite her in. “You charmer…I bet you say that to all the women.”
    He laughed. “Not all of them…just the captivating ones.”
    She brushed a strand of hair back around her ear and bit her lower lip. Warmth settled into her inner core, and she situated herself on the bar stool to make herself comfortable. She took a long drawn out drink from her glass, and when she lowered it to the counter, she realized it was