A Date on Cloud Nine Read Online Free Page A

change.”
    “In other words…”
    “Clean up your act, girl.”
    “Um, can you be more specific?”
    “Well, for one, you can’t go throwing money away. You can’t hand it all over to your friends. In fact, you can’t give any of it to your friends. You must ensure that it all goes where it will do good. The more, the better.”
    “I could give it to the Church, I guess.”
    “May I make a suggestion?”
    “Please!”
    “Spread it out. Reach more people, and I mean on a personal level. Don’t just write a bunch of checks and drop them in the mail. Go see where it’s needed, meet those who need it. Give just what’s warranted in each situation. Nothing extra. Make every dollar count. You’re good at that, and John will expect you to put it to good use.”
    “Whew, that could take a while.” She’d look up Mr. Sexy Rumble in her spare time. But that raised a big question. “So how will I find the right man right away?”
    “I can’t tell you that.”
    “Not even a hint?”
    Elizabeth leaned close and whispered, “It’s someone you already know.”
    “That’s the best you can do?”
    “There’ll be perks,” she said with an enticing wink.
    “Other than having a baby, the only perk I can think of is—” Lilly felt her cheeks burn hell-hot. “It’s not so bad that you know everything I’ve ever said, but do you have to know every thought I’ve ever had, too?”
    “It’s pretty universal, really. Every woman wants one night of lusty, heart-pounding passion.” Elizabeth sighed. “The multiple-orgasms-until-you-think-you’ll-pass-out type.”
    “Yeah, I wouldn’t mind trying that.” In light of Elizabeth’s glow, it was impossible to be embarrassed.
    “You’ll do fine if you just keep the rules in mind. Break any of them, though, and pfft , you’re right back here, and you’ll be dealing with John, instead of me.”
    “Will I remember this? Well, I guess I will, if I’m going to be writing my net worth down to zero. Otherwise my friends’ll have me committed.”
    “If you’re comfortable, you can share some of what you saw and felt. You know, the usual near-death-experience stories.” Elizabeth’s voice began to fade. “But I just want to caution you against telling anyone why you’re doing what you’re going back to do. That never works out. Oh, and since you were early, everyone’s already booked, but I’ll see if I can find a mentor to get you through the next few months. Wouldn’t want you to go astray again.”
    “Will I—Hey, wait!” At first she thought Elizabeth was fading, but then she realized it was she herself who was moving away from the light.
    Elizabeth’s parting words were, “Whatever you do, don’t take it off.”
    “What? Don’t take what off? Wait. How will I know who my mentor is? Elizabeth!”

3
    J ake Murdoch didn’t mind the snowstorm. He’d grown up in St. Louis and was used to its unpredictable weather. Fifty degrees one day, six inches of snow the next. Big deal.
    Nor did he mind filling in for Tom at Cloud Nine, especially in bad weather; in fact, he insisted on it. His neighbor was elderly, had broken his hip last year, and shouldn’t be out in the snow and ice. Jake could make up lost time in his taxi later, when more people were out and about.
    And he could handle the minor—ha!—gas leak in the store. Call a repairman ASAP, open the doors, bad air out, good air in. Should’ve been a piece of cake.
    But he was really pissed off with the outcome: explosion, dense smoke, missing customer. The other woman—her friend—ended up in the same corner as he, so it was a simple matter to grab her by the arm and propel her through the gaping hole that used to be the frontdoor. Now she was standing outside next to him, crying, screaming at the store, at him, at the world in general, he guessed. He never thought he’d be grateful to have his ears ring so loudly that he couldn’t hear someone, but if the view of her tonsils was any