Free Wrong Way Renee by Wynter Daniels

to me like it is to you…and to Mama . At least not for right now. ”
    But as she said it, she wondered if that were really true. It would be nice to be taken care of, not to have to worry about things like money. God knew she wasn't any good at managing her finances.
    “You're not getting any younger, you know.”
    She bristled. “Thanks for pointin g that out to me, sister dear.”
    “I'll tell you something. This wasn't Mama 's idea, or mine. ” She pursed her lips and raised her brows like she was holding back the location of Jimmy Hoffa's corpse.
    “Daddy?”
    Char shook her head.
    “Gary?”
    “Nope. It was Cleave himself. Daddy said Cleave saw that picture of you he has in his office and started asking questions. Told Daddy he'd like to meet you sometime. That's how he scored this invitation. ” She folded her arms, obviously pleased with herself for setting the record straight .
    “Really? That's interesting. I think I'm going to head home now. You know how much I hate football.”
    “Are you g oing out with him or anything?”
    “With whom?” Her sister was too damn easy to piss off.
    “Oh, you … ” She balled her fists and stomped her foot, just like she had when they were kids.
    “Love you . ” She hurried from the kitchen and made her way to the family room where the men were sitting on the couch, leaning toward the big screen TV. Elizabeth was thumbing through the December issue of Southern Living.
    “I'm leaving now. ” All eyes turned toward her. “Thank you for a lovely Thanksgiving, everyone. Cleave , so nice to have met you.”
    He gave her a half nod . “Same here.”
    The men turned back to the game.
    “Bye, honey. Thanks for all your help. ” Elizabeth laid the magazine down as she stood to kiss her daughter goodbye.
    “Bye, Mama . Love you. ” She drove back home feeling on top of the world. This would be the first weekend in years that she'd have two dates with two different men. But what if they both turned out to be duds? What if she got herself all hyped for two great dates, but they both stood her up? When she thought about her love life, her constant companions were fear and doubt.
    The men might find her boring. What if she somehow turned them off? She c ould trip or stumble, showing them what a klutz she really was. What if they ran out of things to say? What if she was really as much of a loser as she suspected?

Chapter Four

     
    “Extra whippe d cream on that chocolate latte, ” Renee told the Starbuck’s clerk as the woman fixed her coffee. She sat at a table for two as her phone rang . “Hello?”
    “Good morning. Did you have a nice Thanksgiving? ” Joe asked.
    She smiled as his voice seemed to caress her right through the phone line . “The usual, you know, tu rkey, stuffing, family, guilt.”
    “ I can relate. Heading out to the mall?”
    “Yeah. I'm starting with a caf feine IV.”
    “Don't steal anything, now.”
    She huffed. “You're so not funn y. How was your turkey day?”
    “Good. I went to my dad and step mom's. It was quiet, but nice. So, are we on for tonight?”
    She closed her eyes, relieved he wasn't canceling. “I'm looking forward to it. What time do you want to pick me up? ” She took a long sip of her coffee, unsure if it was the joe or the Joe that had caused the warmth making its way through her body.
    “How's six? I h ave to work until four-thirty.”
    “Tha t'd be great.” This was going to require a new outfit.
    At a bouti que she frequented, she found a long sleeved leopard print turtleneck. A black pencil skirt completed the ensemble.
    “How's that working for you, Renee? ” the salesgirl called into the dressing room.
    It was kind of embarrassing that she and the saleslady were on a first name basis, but it did help when she was search ing for something specific. The girl even had her cell number for when new merchandise came in that she thought Renee might like. And she always held a size twelve back for her.
    “I