Read Online A Man to Remember by Mary Tate Engels - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Mary Tate Engels
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them back? And this is only part of the inheritance."
"Yes, I think so. Where's the rest?" She looked around. "The jewelry."
"Oh. Uh, it's stored at the hacienda," he muttered. "Not all of it is family heirlooms, as you might think. Some of the jewelry was purchased merely as an investment, rather than try to take large sums of money back. These jewels are worth more that way." Jake raked his hand through his unruly hair. Damn! The lies just seemed to multiply upon themselves. There were so many now he couldn't even keep track of them.
During the afternoon Jake asked Alyse to stay for dinner, and immediately he wondered why he'd done it. Then, on reflection, he admitted the truth to himself. He wanted her close, perhaps wanted her to be convenient. Oh, God, he just wanted her.
"I didn't bring any other clothes, Jake. Just the shorts I wore earlier."
"We can take care of that," he said easily, and showed her an immaculate upstairs bedroom with small adjoining bath. "You can freshen up and rest here for a couple of hours." He flung open the closet. "One of these dresses should fit you. Emilio—ah, Aunt Myra always keeps some extras around for, uh, nieces that drop in. Cocktails are available at sunset on the patio. Dinner at dark. See you later." Jake left, wearing a secret smile. Things were going according to plan. No, better than planned. Much better.
After Jake had disappeared, Alyse sorted through the pastel hand-embroidered dresses hanging in the closet. Ankle-length, many were simple dresses of cotton and lace gathered from a circular neckline, slender versions of the muumuu. He planned on my staying, she decided. These dresses are here on purpose. Rather than be angry at the thought of his manipulation, she found the notion endearing in a man as rough and rugged as Jake.
With delight she discovered that her second-story window opened onto a balcony with a gorgeous view of the crescent-shaped city and sun-sparkling bay. Her bath was like a tiny greenhouse with trailing jasmine and blooming orchids mingling their heavenly fragrances. While she lounged in the luxurious tub, Alyse could think only of being with Jake again tonight. Obviously he wanted her with him too. Otherwise he wouldn't have arranged it. A faint breeze drifted over the bed, and Alyse couldn't resist stretching out on the cool, clean sheets. She was asleep in minutes; dreaming of Jake's ragged beard and how tantalizing it felt beneath her fingertips and when he kissed her.
At sunset Alyse found Jake on the patio talking to a dark-haired man she'd never met. She had chosen a wheat-colored dress with a brightly embroidered bodice of brilliant green and purple flowers. Jake's smile of approval wasn't lost as she glided across the bricked patio toward him.
He met her halfway. "I see you found a dress you like. I like it too."
"Thank you." She smiled and twirled before him. "Of course, I feel as though you'd planned all this."
"Any objections so far?"
She shook her head. "It's been another lovely day with you, Jake."
"Good." His brown eyes softened, and he drew her toward the other man. "I want you to meet Emilio Sanchez. He manages the villa for my aunt."
Alyse shook his hand, and they chatted as Jake motioned to the maid for another drink. When dinner was announced, Jake led her into the dining room with apologies from his aunt. "She isn't feeling well enough to join us tonight. I hope you understand."
Secretly he prayed Alyse would not understand any of this until they were well on their way.
After dinner Emilio excused himself, leaving Jake and Alyse alone. They adjourned to the lower patio, the one with an excellent view of the city and harbor at night. Jake pointed to her tiny silver boat bobbing in the harbor. "There's the Skye Command. See it?" But he carefully failed to mention how he'd watched her diligently, night after night, through binoculars from this very spot. Jake's hand rested on her shoulder as they stood together, enjoying
"Yes, I think so. Where's the rest?" She looked around. "The jewelry."
"Oh. Uh, it's stored at the hacienda," he muttered. "Not all of it is family heirlooms, as you might think. Some of the jewelry was purchased merely as an investment, rather than try to take large sums of money back. These jewels are worth more that way." Jake raked his hand through his unruly hair. Damn! The lies just seemed to multiply upon themselves. There were so many now he couldn't even keep track of them.
During the afternoon Jake asked Alyse to stay for dinner, and immediately he wondered why he'd done it. Then, on reflection, he admitted the truth to himself. He wanted her close, perhaps wanted her to be convenient. Oh, God, he just wanted her.
"I didn't bring any other clothes, Jake. Just the shorts I wore earlier."
"We can take care of that," he said easily, and showed her an immaculate upstairs bedroom with small adjoining bath. "You can freshen up and rest here for a couple of hours." He flung open the closet. "One of these dresses should fit you. Emilio—ah, Aunt Myra always keeps some extras around for, uh, nieces that drop in. Cocktails are available at sunset on the patio. Dinner at dark. See you later." Jake left, wearing a secret smile. Things were going according to plan. No, better than planned. Much better.
After Jake had disappeared, Alyse sorted through the pastel hand-embroidered dresses hanging in the closet. Ankle-length, many were simple dresses of cotton and lace gathered from a circular neckline, slender versions of the muumuu. He planned on my staying, she decided. These dresses are here on purpose. Rather than be angry at the thought of his manipulation, she found the notion endearing in a man as rough and rugged as Jake.
With delight she discovered that her second-story window opened onto a balcony with a gorgeous view of the crescent-shaped city and sun-sparkling bay. Her bath was like a tiny greenhouse with trailing jasmine and blooming orchids mingling their heavenly fragrances. While she lounged in the luxurious tub, Alyse could think only of being with Jake again tonight. Obviously he wanted her with him too. Otherwise he wouldn't have arranged it. A faint breeze drifted over the bed, and Alyse couldn't resist stretching out on the cool, clean sheets. She was asleep in minutes; dreaming of Jake's ragged beard and how tantalizing it felt beneath her fingertips and when he kissed her.
At sunset Alyse found Jake on the patio talking to a dark-haired man she'd never met. She had chosen a wheat-colored dress with a brightly embroidered bodice of brilliant green and purple flowers. Jake's smile of approval wasn't lost as she glided across the bricked patio toward him.
He met her halfway. "I see you found a dress you like. I like it too."
"Thank you." She smiled and twirled before him. "Of course, I feel as though you'd planned all this."
"Any objections so far?"
She shook her head. "It's been another lovely day with you, Jake."
"Good." His brown eyes softened, and he drew her toward the other man. "I want you to meet Emilio Sanchez. He manages the villa for my aunt."
Alyse shook his hand, and they chatted as Jake motioned to the maid for another drink. When dinner was announced, Jake led her into the dining room with apologies from his aunt. "She isn't feeling well enough to join us tonight. I hope you understand."
Secretly he prayed Alyse would not understand any of this until they were well on their way.
After dinner Emilio excused himself, leaving Jake and Alyse alone. They adjourned to the lower patio, the one with an excellent view of the city and harbor at night. Jake pointed to her tiny silver boat bobbing in the harbor. "There's the Skye Command. See it?" But he carefully failed to mention how he'd watched her diligently, night after night, through binoculars from this very spot. Jake's hand rested on her shoulder as they stood together, enjoying
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