Free Ruthless by Shelia M. Goss Page A

had been two weeks, seven hours, and five minutes since Sheba had had any physical contact with her husband. They had been Skyping several times a week and communicating via e-mail daily. Every morning—which was actually night where he was—they found time to chat. It had taken them both time to adjust to the ten-hour time difference.
    Sheba turned on her computer and logged into Skype. After a light exchange with Uriah, Sheba said, “Are they treating you okay over there? It looks like you’ve lost some weight.”
    â€œI’m fine.” Uriah shifted in his chair.
    â€œYou don’t look fine,” Sheba responded.
    â€œI’m still on our time zone, so my sleep pattern is still a little off, baby.”
    â€œI miss you so much. I’m so bored without you here.” Sheba tapped her pen on the desk.
    â€œStay out of trouble. You know how you are when you get bored.”
    â€œLet’s see. There is a sale going on at Kohl’s.”
    â€œSheba, we’re supposed to be saving money, remember?”
    â€œYou’re getting a bonus for being over there, and you did say I could do more shopping, remember?” Sheba flashed him her Colgate smile.
    â€œYes, I did, baby. Just don’t do too much damage, okay, sweetie?”
    â€œI won’t. I promise.”
    â€œI’m serious, Sheba. This money is extra, but I don’t want it all going to credit card bills.”
    â€œIt won’t. Besides, Kohl’s sends me these coupons, and I’ll be saving at least twenty percent on my purchases.”
    Uriah laughed. “Baby, you’re something else.”
    â€œThat’s why you love me, right?”
    â€œYou know it.”
    Their Skyping session was about to end when Uriah asked, “How is Delilah?”
    Delilah had been a sore subject between the two, so she was surprised he asked about her. “She’s fine. She’ll be getting out of the hospital soon. I was thinking about having her move in here.”
    Uriah frowned. “Maybe you should think twice about that. You don’t know anything about that woman. It’s not wise to have her come live in our house.”
    â€œShe’s my sister. She has her own house, but she’ll still need medical care, and I am a nurse, or have you forgotten?”
    â€œBaby, all I’m saying is, I’ve talked to some people, and there are rumors about Delilah that don’t put her in a favorable light. What if she is like folks are saying she is? Do you really want that type of woman around you?”
    Sheba threw her hands up in the air. “Delilah is not as bad as people make her out to be.”
    â€œSo you think.”
    â€œBefore this gets out of hand, let’s end this discussion about Delilah.”
    â€œPromise me you won’t move that woman into my house,” Uriah said.
    Sheba crossed her fingers. “We’ll talk about it later.”
    â€œNo, Sheba. Promise me now.”
    Sheba shook her laptop. “Baby, I think we have a bad connection. Love you.”
    â€œI love you, too. But—”
    Sheba hit the switch on the power cord so the computer would turn off. She had no intentions of listening to Uriah. He had left her alone, and she could use this time to get to know Delilah better. Besides, with him being in another country, he would never find out Delilah was there, anyway. She had made up her mind. She would ask Delilah to move in with her. And stay until at least the doctor gave her a clean bill of health.
    She called the hospital. When Delilah picked up, Sheba said, “Delilah, you’re moving in with me when you get out of the hospital, and I’m not taking no for an answer.”
    â€œYou weren’t going to get one from me, either, because I was just sitting here wondering how I was going to take care of myself once I got home. I have money in the bank, but I can’t afford a live-in nurse to take care of me. But