Read The Proposal (Forever Bound Book 2) for Free Online Page B

smiled.  “Well, if that’s the case…I have a proposition for you.”
    Ana tilted her head towards Charity.  “Proposition?”  Charity reached into her purse and handed over the eviction notice.  Ana read it, then looked up, alarmed.  “That’s about a week away,” she responded, showing the obvious.
    “Yes, I realize that.  I don’t know what I’m going to do because I’m about to be out on the street, and I’m on the verge of no longer having a job.”
    “Derek wouldn’t fire you,” Ana pointed out.
    Charity laughed.  “You mean what his name is?  I know that, but I can’t continue to work there, especially when I don’t want to see him.”
    “Oh…” Ana quietly replied.  “Good point.”
    “Anyway, that’s where you come in,” Charity continued.
    Ana reached into her purse and produced a checkbook.  “How much do you need?”
    Charity shook her head.  “I’m not being evicted because of money.”
    Ana frowned.  “What?  Surely it’s not because you’re unruly.”  Ana laughed, then suddenly stopped.  “Is it because you’re unruly?”
    Charity shook her head.  “Not exactly, but there was an altercation, and it left Richard pretty pissed at me and…” she paused, before adding, “what’s his name.”  Ana pressed on, so Charity told her an edited version.  Basically, Richard made some unwanted advances and what’s his name stopped him.”
    Ana’s jaw dropped.  “So, basically what’s his name is your night and shining armor.”  She grinned and Charity shook her head.  Ana nodded.  “He is, and I say who needs this jackass landlord.”  She tossed the eviction notice across the table.  “Charity, you can do so much better.”  She paused and smiled.  “So, the proposition…does it have anything to do with you and me getting an apartment together?”  Charity nodded and she Ana smiled in response.  “You have yourself a roommate.”
    Charity felt better at that moment and couldn’t wait to finally be out of that apartment and start to get her life back into order.
     
    ***
     
    Derek ended the meeting with just a signature and thanking the crew for meeting with him.  He was glad to be out of there, as the last thing he wanted to do was talking about demolition and what they needed to know about the properties.  He couldn’t stop thinking about Charity and hoping that Ana called her and talked to her.  On the way back to the office, he caught himself stopping off at Bill’s Diner.  He hadn’t been back since the day he walked into the restaurant and met Charity for the first time.
    He thought she was beautiful then, but now he found her breathtaking.  He got out of his car and went into the restaurant.  He walked over to a table and took a seat.  He didn’t need to look at the menu because he planned on ordering the same thing he had that day.  He was approached by a young woman that greeted him with a welcoming smile.  “Good afternoon, Mayor Worthington.”
    “Hello…” he looked at her name tag and smiled, “Jamie.  Hope you’re having a wonderful day today.”
    She giggled, and he heard a soft lilt of nervousness in her voice.  “I am, thank you.  You?” she asked as if she needed to carry on the conversation.
    He smiled and nodded.  “It’s great.  Thanks.”
    She asked him what he wanted, and he placed his order.  When she left, his eyes followed her back to the counter.  She poured him a cup of coffee, then brought it back to him.  “Need anything else while you’re waiting for your food?” she asked.
    He hesitated and smiled.  “Actually, I do.”
    She grinned back at him.  “Alright.  How may I help you?”
    “I really don’t know how to ask you this, but a young woman used to work here, and I was wondering if you’ve seen her in the past few days?  She has brown hair and big brown eyes.  She’s about 5’8”.” 
    She laughed.  “You mean, Charity Parker?”
    He smiled.  “Yes. Have you