Read Online Breaking Josephine by Marie Stewart - Free Book Online Page B

actually
want to be a lawyer?” I said, trying to keep the focus on him.
    He raised his
eyebrows and responded, “No, not really. But William took over my father’s film
studio, not me. And I need to do something to make money, since I can’t seem to
get what’s rightfully mine. I might end up being a politician. Who knows.” He
looked out at the ocean, asking, “Do you have plans for the future? Are you
staying here in Cannon Beach or just here temporarily?”
    When I didn’t
answer right away, he looked at me, and seeing the wary expression on my face,
he put up his hands, waiving his question off. “I’m not prying, really,” he
said, “forget I asked.”
    “No, it’s okay,” I
said, still trying to be polite. “I’m just surprised you’re interested I guess.
I don’t have any concrete plans, no. I’d like to do more than what I’m doing,
but I’m trying right now to save up enough money to buy a car, and then maybe
I’ll start going to community college and see what I’m interested in.”
    “You should get
out, away from Oregon, go somewhere else for college. Maybe the East Coast?”
Colin said.
    I narrowed my
eyes, looking at him. “Are you trying to get rid of me?” I asked, half joking,
half not, based on the tone of his questions.
    “No, it’s not
that,” Colin said, with a small laugh, lightening the mood, “it’s just that
it’s good to get out and get away from where you know, where you’ve been, and
explore new things. That’s all.”
    I paused and
looked at him, then said, teasing him a bit, “I take it that’s what you’re
doing with law school?”
    “Well, you’ve got
me there,” he answered. “I’m going back to Stanford. Maybe I should take my own
advice and go somewhere else.”
    I was about to
tease him more, relieved the conversation had taken a friendly turn, when Macy
bounded up to my side. “Go where?” she asked. “I think the party is great, why
would you want to leave? I don’t have any idea why I didn’t want to come to
this thing. Ooohh, there’s William. Gotta go. Bye Jo. Hi and bye Colin!”
    “Bye Macy,” I said
as she drifted away into the sea of guests. I turned toward the house to look
for a server carrying champagne and my heart leapt in my chest. Dex stood in
the doorway in a classic black tux looking simply magnificent. He wore the tux
like it was his second skin, which surprised me since the few times I’d seen
him, he’d been incredibly casual. He’d slicked his dark hair back off his face,
showcasing his smooth skin and commanding features. His eyes caught the
twinkling lights on the bannister, sparkling like a glacier in the bright artic
sun. He seemed more natural, more in control, more powerful now than I’d ever
seen him before. I felt my pulse race and goose bumps prickle my skin as his
eyes scanned the room.
    When his eyes
found mine I saw an instant of recognition and joy, lighting his face and eyes
with an unmatched splendor. But as quickly as it appeared, it was gone,
replaced by hot, searing anger. He strode across the house, ignoring hellos,
offers of champagne, and curious glances. Every step he took closer to me sent
a new wave of simmering rage in my direction, his eyes never leaving my face. He
came through the open french doors and out onto the balcony as I instinctively
backed up, teetering in Macy’s too-tall heels, my back crushing into the
railing. He stopped inches from my face, his eyes alive with a burning
intensity of passion and naked hostility. He grabbed my arms and held them in
his powerful grip.
    “Who are you?” he snarled,
inches from my face. I was still shorter than Dex, and although I felt tall and
ungainly before, now the urge to cower and disappear under his intense stare
was stifling. But I refused to let him know my feelings, putting my hands on
his chest and shoving him back.
    “Let go of me. You
know who I am,” I said, with as much defiance and resistance as I could offer.
    “I want to