Read Online Bargains and Betrayals by Shannon Delany - Free Book Online Page A

“Nothin’. Nope,” he assured me. “I’m really worried about you.”
    “Then get me out of here.”
    He glanced away. “I wish it was that simple. I’ve spoken to Dr. Jones. But the paperwork I signed … it’s for one solid month of treatment. Here.” He looked at me, his eyes dark. “I don’t know how to get around that. Legally.”
    My fingers twitched under the warm weight of his hands. I doubted we had money for a lawyer to combat someone as savvy as Dr. Jones and I hated even bringing it up. “I wouldn’t ask you to do anything that wasn’t legal.”
    “Well, you’re the only one,” Dad said, pulling his hands away from mine to drum on the table with his fingers. “Pietr’s already made some interesting suggestions. And Wanda? She’s almost of the same frame of mind as that boy.”
    “Wanda and Pietr, agreeing?”
    “Yep. He’s a little weird … don’t you think?”
    I snorted. “How, Dad?”
    “Well, he’s been hanging around the house a bit. I figured it was a good idea, you know, so I could rub off on him a little. Talk to him about this issue with fightin’ he has—”
    Yeah, he gets into rumbles whenever somebody attacks his girlfriend.
    “… you know, give him some sort of strong moral influence since he’s dropped that Sarah and is crazy for you.”
    I glared at him.
    “Sorry. I guess I shouldn’t say the ‘c-word’ here.” He rubbed his forehead. “I don’t want some guy who’s constantly in trouble being around you. So he’s helpin’ out. A lot.”
    “And?”
    “And…” He leaned forward until our noses nearly touched. “You should see him throw hay bales. Not like any other guy who’s helped out on the farm. This boy can throw hay. And he’s fast doin’ chores,” he marveled. “And.” Dad glanced away.
    “And?” I bit the inside of my cheek, remembering the other things Pietr excelled at when we were in the barn alone.
    “And that’s not nearly the oddest thing about him, Jessie.”
    Time to steer the conversation away from the absolute weirdness of my boyfriend. “He’s really something, Dad. Has he taken Rio out for a ride?”
    “Nope. That’s weird, too,” Dad muttered. “Rio’s okay with him—shy at first, but he refuses to take her out. I offered to teach him a bit, get him up to snuff, but he said you’d teach him everything he needs to know.”
    “And he told you he loves me?”
    “In no uncertain terms. I think—”
    “Please don’t tell me we’re too young to feel that sort of way about each other.”
    Dad shook his head. “I don’t think it’d matter if I tried. The boy lives and breathes everything about you. He’s full of questions. All the time.” He paused, scrunching his eyes up and searching my face. “He stops by—every night?”
    “Yes.”
    “Should I be worried he’s … a stalker?”
    I’d only worry about Pietr stalking me if I was some small forest creature out late. “No, Dad. He’s no stalker. He just…” I heaved in a long breath. “He just…”
    “Loves you.”
    “I guess.” Resting my head in my hands, I stared at the table.
    “Jessie, if you don’t love him—”
    I dropped my head to the table.
    “You should let him know.”
    “I do love him. That’s why I wish he didn’t love me so much.”
    Dad leaned back and studied his hands a moment. “Your mother always said we’d have problems understanding teenage girls. This was easier when she handled it.”
    “Pietr could get into huge trouble sneaking around here. They’ve got dogs. He could get hurt.”
    Dad started to open his mouth and then shut it again.
    “Pietr needs to keep clear of here.”
    “I don’t think there’s anything I can say that’ll keep that boy away from you. Even if it puts him in danger.”
    “Tell him I want him to stay away. Tell him it’s…” My face heated. I wanted to tell Pietr in person, not pass my message through Dad.
    “What?”
    “Tell him—oh, crap. It’s so cheesy.”
    Dad