Read Online Destiny by Carly Phillips - Free Book Online

Because being diagnosed had taught her that life was short and unpredictable and she shouldn’t live it being safe. Nash had been her refuge since they’d met when she was sixteen. But there wasn’t a spark anymore and hadn’t been for a while. She wanted to experience life fully and sensed Joe felt the same way.
    The only problem was her illness. She had relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis and she didn’t know when she’d be hit by an episode, which could last anywhere from twenty-four hours to a week or more. She didn’t want to be a burden to anyone, especially not to a vibrant man like Joe.
    It was hard enough dealing with Nash’s overprotective nature. But him she understood. Joe, she didn’t. And the last thing she wanted was his pity.
    Still, she wanted . Butterflies kicked in her stomach as she stared into his mocha-colored eyes. “ Why? Why do you want to go out with me?”
    “Are you kidding?” he asked her. “I’ve been sucking up to you for the last six months. You have to know I’m interested.”
    His words gave her ego a much-needed boost. “And I need to know why because I’m not looking for another guy who has a need to take care of me. I can take care of myself.”
    “Good.” He rose to his full height and folded his arms across his chest. “Because there’s a big difference between wanting you and wanting to babysit you,” he said bluntly. “Happy now?” he asked her.
    “I most definitely am,” she said, smiling, surprising even herself. “So yes. I’ll go out with you. What did you have in mind?”
    His grin was wide and equaled hers. “That would be a surprise. Saturday night work for you? My manager can watch the bar.”
    She nodded. “You can pick me up.”
    “Be ready at eight.”
    “I think I can manage that.”
    “Looking forward to it, gorgeous.” Joe winked at her before turning his back on her completely and focusing on another patron.
    Alone again, Annie looked around for Kelly, but she hadn’t returned. She didn’t see Nash, either. A part of her was glad. She would much rather head home and savor the anticipation of her upcoming date.
    As Joe watched Annie leave the bar, he gripped the cleaning rag tighter in his hand. In order to get a date with the woman he’d had a thing for since he’d seen her coming out of Gillman’s ice-cream shop when he was fifteen, he’d had to lie. Hell, yes, he wouldn’t mind taking care of her. Somehow he’d gotten an overabundance of the protective gene his father had been lacking.
    His old man, who had turned the bar over to him, had used this place as his personal playground, picking up women and discarding them when he was through. His mother had been the first in a long line of females, the only difference being he’d married Joe’s mom. Frank hadn’t done his wife any favors since he often came home reeking of booze and other women, ignoring her and whatever she needed out of life. He and his sister both resented the old man, and when he’d died, all Joe had felt was relief.
    Joe had had a crush on Annie since high school. He wanted to get to know her better now that she was single and open to it. He had to be careful not to step over the line and act like Nash, the ultimate take-over-and-do-what-he-wanted kind of guy. Joe told himself he could handle not looking out for Annie to the point of driving her crazy. He’d already done his share of caretaking for his mother. Though Ilene Lockhart was better now, Joe knew what it was like to be a caretaker for an emotionally fragile woman. Though his sister had helped, it hadn’t been easy and he wasn’t sure he’d want to repeat his teenage years.
    He respected Annie for wanting equality and independence. But equality required trust and she didn’t know him well enough to have that kind of faith. Coming off a marriage and recent diagnosis of a serious illness, she wanted fun and no strings.
    He wanted her .
    He could give her exactly what she needed right now.