Page 56 of His Weekend Wife

“Yes, smart-ass, I guess so.” She laughed, but it soon faded when she continued. “I knew something was wrong, especially when I stopped hearing from her. I thought it was drugs, still haven’t ruled that out as a vice of hers.”

“Have you asked?”

She lifted her shoulder, then let it fall. “I asked, but she hasn’t always been the most honest. She came to me, in big trouble, asking for help.”

He paused his fingers on the sole of her foot. “Ah, thirty thousand bills deep in trouble?”

“Yes. You pretty much already knew that the money was for her, didn’t you?”

“Knowing your sister like I do, I’m not surprised. And I do know you would have only come to me asking for help if it meant saving someone else.” He switched feet and continued massaging. “What’d she do? Forget to pay her rent for a year?”

“No, she got into gambling debt, owed the wrong people money, yet, I found out recently she’d been lying—or partially lying. I don’t know. Phillipe had enticed her with promises he couldn’t keep. I don’t know the details—I don’t think I want to know.” She kept her gaze on his hand.

“You could have wanted the truth and probably still not have gotten it.”

“I’m sorry that I didn’t tell you. I had no choice.” She clasped her hands in her lap.

“Can I say that I’m happy the thirty grand went to your sister, no, but I can still afford bread and milk. Did she pay up whatever, whomever, she owed?” Seeing her pale expression, he sighed. “She didn’t pay?”

“She gave the money to Phillipe and it’s gone.”

“Oh fuck! The dirty rotten bastard,” he growled.

She dropped her feet and sat straight. “You said you wouldn’t be mad.”

“Not at you. I’m real pissed at this sack of shit, Phillipe. Let me guess. He lost every cent either in gambling or drugs?”

“Probably.” She lowered her eyes to the patio stones.

He couldn’t stand to see her this way. With a finger, he tilted her face up. “Hey, this isn’t your fault. You did everything you could.” He saw the moisture in her gaze and he swore if she cried, he’d lose it.

“She’s asked for more help.”

He cocked his head. “No surprise. What did you tell her?”

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