Read Online December Heat by Joanie MacNeil - Free Book Online Page A

she said as he put down his cup, her curiosity finally getting the better of her. “I know very little about you.”
    “There’s really not much to tell.”
    “Oh, come on. Of course there is. Tell me.”
    The coaxing softness in her voice surprised her. Did she sound as seductive to Jake as she did to her own ears?
    “Where did you grow up? How did you get to where you are now?”
    His eyes darkened. “The lady is full of questions.”
    “So, if I don’t ask, you won’t tell me, will you?”
    He flashed a broad grin at her. “Probably not.”
    Nic crossed her arms, pretended to pout.
    “ Oh, all right, if you’re going to sulk...I can’t cope with a sulky woman.”
    She gave him a knowing smile.
    “Devil woman,” he retorted. “You tricked me.”
    “Mmm.”
    “I grew up in Canberra. My mother died just after I was born and my older sister took care of us.”
    “Us?” she prompted softly.
    “Yeah, Luke and me. He kind of adopted us as his family when we were about eight. His own parents didn’t much care about him.”
    “That’s sad,” Nic said, her heart going out to the small boy and the anguish he must have gone through.
    “Yeah, it is.” His thoughts seemed to drift off to somewhere Nic knew she couldn’t reach.
    “Luke and I left home to go to university in Sydney. Within a year, my father died, my sister married and from then on, as there was no home base anymore, I seemed to fall into a wandering lifestyle. I studied journalism, worked at one of the local TV networks, one thing lead to another and here I am.”
    “No special woman in your life?”
    Was that a hurt expression that fleetingly reflected in his eyes?
    “Not anymore.”
    His voice sounded a touch gravely.
    “That’s when I decided settling down wasn’t for me. I had to make a career choice, one that didn’t include a wife and family. That and my job just don’t mix.”
    “And you plan to continue your wandering lifestyle?”
    “Sure,” he said. “What else is there?”
     
    * * *
     
    Relaxing in the love seat on her verandah, Nic reflected on her outing with Jake.
    Had she made a mistake inviting him to stay?
    She’d asked herself that question so many times she was thoroughly sick of it. And she still couldn’t decide on the answer. That, and how he seemed to chafe her vulnerability, bothered her even more.
    She still grieved for Mark, supposed she always would in some small way. At the moment, she had no choice but to let that process take its course, however long it took.
    Somehow, Jake had gotten under her skin. He had a softer heart than she’d given him credit for. He was all contradiction—not quite the smart alec she’d pegged him to be. She tried not to think about his tender caresses that promised so much more at the slightest invitation.
    Getting involved with Jake, no matter how briefly, wasn’t an option. She needed to move on with her life, re-establish her own career and secure a future for herself, under her own steam.
    And never again would she allow herself to become involved in a relationship which demanded as much as her marriage had done. Mark gave up a career he loved for her, and it had lead to his destruction and almost taken her with it. Nor would she become involved with a man who preferred to live an adventurous life.
    Like Mark.
    Like Jake.
    Jake.
    Jake’s image filled her thoughts. One intimate moment with him and she knew she’d be lost forever. He was definitely hands off.
    “So much for taking my mind off things,” she mumbled, tossing aside the dance culture magazine. With a deep sigh, she leaned back in the love seat and closed her eyes for a moment.
    Just what would it be like to be involved with someone who lived and worked in another country? Impossibly miserable. What would be the point? Hadn’t she considered that with Mark? Her memories blurred. A long distance relationship just wouldn’t work for her. Entertaining such thoughts was leaving yourself open to