Ask Me to Stay (Honky Tonk Angels #4) Read Free

And offer lunch. Thank you again, Cody.”
    “Don’t mention it. So, were you headed for Cotton Creek or just making a pit stop?”
    “That depends on whether I can find work here.”
    “You’re looking for a job?”
    “Yes.”
    “Doing what?”
    “Whatever pays for Lily and me to live.”
    “Ever work in a bar or restaurant?”
    “Yes. I worked for a chain restaurant in Nashville as a server and bartender, and for several privately owned restaurants and bars, and I did the books for some of them.”
    “You do accounting?”
    “Yes.”
    “And you don’t mind waiting tables or working a bar?”
    “Not at all.”
    “Well girl, you just might be the answer to my prayer.”
    “Seriously?”
    Cody grinned at Callie and then at her father. “I know now why you called.”
    “Anything to help my babies,” Billy said and smiled.
    Cody reached out to give his shoulder a squeeze, then yelled for her sister. “Hannah? Get out here, girl!”
    A few seconds later, Hannah appeared. “What ya’ll need?”
    “Come over here.” Cody motioned her over.
    When Hannah reached the table, Cody gestured to Callie. “This is Callie Williams and her daughter Lily. Callie, my sister and partner, Hannah.”
    “It’s a pleasure to meet you.” Hannah smiled and bent down to address Lily. “And you too, beautiful girl.”
    “Belly hurt,” Lily said with a mouthful of potato salad.
    Billy laughed at the concerned expression on Hannah’s face as she looked at Callie. “That’s her way of saying she’s hungry,”  he explained
    “Oh.” Hannah smiled. “Well eat up sweetheart. There’s plenty more where that came from.” She looked at Callie. “She’s beautiful.”
    “Thank you.”
    “So, Hannah.” Cody drew Hannah’s attention. “Callie is in need of a job and I was just about to tell her that we’re in desperate need of someone to do the books here. She has experience in doing the books for some bars and restaurants in Nashville.”
    “Oh my god, yes.” Hannah quickly pulled up a chair and addressed Callie. “We have a computer and QuickBooks, but I really don’t trust myself to get it right and Cody would rather be beat than do that stuff.”
    “God’s honest truth.” Cody added and looked at Hannah. “So, what do you think?”
    “I think hell yeah, sister.”
    “Bam.” Cody grinned and looked at Callie. “So, we could definitely use you – what you think, Hannah? Three days a week for the books?”
    “Yes,” Hannah said, and added, “And if you want extra work, we can put you on as many dinner or night shifts as you want. We’re really shorthanded.”
    “Seriously?”
    “Hell yeah,” Cody answered.
    “Don’t you want references?”
    “Well sure, but we don’t have to have them this minute.”
    Callie looked around the table, and Jayce couldn’t help but notice how overwhelmed she appeared. “You’d give me a job just like that?” she asked.
    “Sure, why not?”
    Callie looked over at her daughter and reached out to stroke the child’s curls before responding. “I – I don’t know how to thank you.”
    “By telling me when you can start,” Hannah answered.
    A stricken look came on Callie’s face that had Jayce feeling sorry for her. “Oh dear.” Callie’s hands went into her lap and clenched “I – I don’t know. We don’t have a place to stay and I’d have to find child care for Lily and—”
    “No problem,” Cody interrupted. “Until you find a permanent place, you can stay with me at the ranch. I’ve got plenty of room.”
    “And,” Hannah added, “after lunch, if you want, I can take you over to meet Mrs. Branch. She runs the daycare at the church and she’s the nicest woman that ever walked the earth. The kids love her.”
    Jayce caught himself reaching to touch Callie when tears glistened in her eyes.
    “Oh… oh my…” Callie swiped at her eyes. “Are you serious?”
    “Absolutely.” Hannah looked at Cody.
    “Amen,” Cody agreed. “The way I