Read Online Guardian Angel by Linda Wisdom - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Linda Wisdom
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conducting the meetings here instead of my office."
"Then I should have been the first to know them."
"You will, after lunch," he said cryptically. "Would you care for some coffee?"
Alex shook her head. "All I want is a hot shower." Her mint-green eyes narrowed. "I feel grubby."
The white lines around Jared's mouth told her that her thrust hit home.
"Yes." His voice was hoarse. "I know just the feeling."
Alex paled under the unexpected attack. Well, she couldn't complain, could she? All Jared had done was defend his pride the best way he could. Past experience had her see him use a few well-chosen words to flay a supposedly self-assured man to ribbons. Just the way her father would deal with someone. Alex wasn't aware that her eyes had suddenly clouded over and her jaw had tight ened. Jared was alternately puzzled and concerned by her abrupt withdrawal.
"Alex?"
Slowly the eyes cleared and the taut muscles relaxed. She tipped her head back and smiled at him, a narrow, bitter smile.
"You have it down pat, Mr. Templeton," she said soft ly. "You missed your calling. You should have been in the navy. You would have had a brilliant career." She turned away and walked swiftly toward Chris.
Jared watched her with confused eyes. Although Chris didn't seem to notice anything unusual, he was quick to see that Alex's voice was pitched a shade higher than normal and her gestures weren't natural. Again he fought the urge to go over and shake the truth out of her, to demand the reason for these chilling withdrawals. He also suffered from an irritating jealousy that Alex could act so natural and carefree with Chris while she was tense and abrupt with him. Except ... His lips curved with the memory of her slender warmth curled against him. What would it be like to have that warmth all night? He turned away and cursed himself for these tormenting thoughts that only served to heighten his frustration.
When Alex was shown to her room, she was surprised to be steered toward a different wing of the house than the others had been taken to.
"Aren't the others in a different wing?" she asked Ma vis.
The housekeeper nodded as she drew back the drapes to reveal a breathtaking view of the mountains. "Mr. Tem pleton thought you'd be more comfortable here."
Away from the men is more like it, Alex thought to herself, setting her tote bag on the bed. Her suitcase had already been delivered to her room and was sitting on the carpet next to the bed.
"Lunch is at one," Mavis told her. "There's plenty of towels in the bathroom. If you need anything, just say so."
Alex shook her head. "I don't think I will. Thank you."
After Mavis left her, Alex busied herself unpacking and putting her clothes away. She looked around the bedroom, finding the Spanish theme repeated in the dark wood four- poster and heavy dresser with an ornate mirror hung above. A painting of a Spanish castle hung over the bed and an Indian print blanket partially covered another wall. The brick-colored bedspread was heavy cotton, yet soft to the touch. The bathroom was completely modern, including a separate shower cubicle next to the bathtub.
Alex was surprised by the simplicity of the furnishings in the house. She had heard that Jared's house in Brent wood was very plush compared to this. This was a home and another side of the man she hadn't seen before. She had an idea that her time here would be very informative, if not dangerous to her peace of mind.
Without warning Alex's knees suddenly buckled and she collapsed onto the edge of the bed. Was she fighting some type of physical attraction for Jared?
"God help me," she whispered, looking down at her clenched fists lying in her lap. While she did an excellent job of protecting other people, could she perform that same duty for herself, not just her body, but her emotions as well?
CHAPTER FOUR
A few moments before one o'clock Alex returned to the living room to find everyone already there. After seeing Jared standing
"Then I should have been the first to know them."
"You will, after lunch," he said cryptically. "Would you care for some coffee?"
Alex shook her head. "All I want is a hot shower." Her mint-green eyes narrowed. "I feel grubby."
The white lines around Jared's mouth told her that her thrust hit home.
"Yes." His voice was hoarse. "I know just the feeling."
Alex paled under the unexpected attack. Well, she couldn't complain, could she? All Jared had done was defend his pride the best way he could. Past experience had her see him use a few well-chosen words to flay a supposedly self-assured man to ribbons. Just the way her father would deal with someone. Alex wasn't aware that her eyes had suddenly clouded over and her jaw had tight ened. Jared was alternately puzzled and concerned by her abrupt withdrawal.
"Alex?"
Slowly the eyes cleared and the taut muscles relaxed. She tipped her head back and smiled at him, a narrow, bitter smile.
"You have it down pat, Mr. Templeton," she said soft ly. "You missed your calling. You should have been in the navy. You would have had a brilliant career." She turned away and walked swiftly toward Chris.
Jared watched her with confused eyes. Although Chris didn't seem to notice anything unusual, he was quick to see that Alex's voice was pitched a shade higher than normal and her gestures weren't natural. Again he fought the urge to go over and shake the truth out of her, to demand the reason for these chilling withdrawals. He also suffered from an irritating jealousy that Alex could act so natural and carefree with Chris while she was tense and abrupt with him. Except ... His lips curved with the memory of her slender warmth curled against him. What would it be like to have that warmth all night? He turned away and cursed himself for these tormenting thoughts that only served to heighten his frustration.
When Alex was shown to her room, she was surprised to be steered toward a different wing of the house than the others had been taken to.
"Aren't the others in a different wing?" she asked Ma vis.
The housekeeper nodded as she drew back the drapes to reveal a breathtaking view of the mountains. "Mr. Tem pleton thought you'd be more comfortable here."
Away from the men is more like it, Alex thought to herself, setting her tote bag on the bed. Her suitcase had already been delivered to her room and was sitting on the carpet next to the bed.
"Lunch is at one," Mavis told her. "There's plenty of towels in the bathroom. If you need anything, just say so."
Alex shook her head. "I don't think I will. Thank you."
After Mavis left her, Alex busied herself unpacking and putting her clothes away. She looked around the bedroom, finding the Spanish theme repeated in the dark wood four- poster and heavy dresser with an ornate mirror hung above. A painting of a Spanish castle hung over the bed and an Indian print blanket partially covered another wall. The brick-colored bedspread was heavy cotton, yet soft to the touch. The bathroom was completely modern, including a separate shower cubicle next to the bathtub.
Alex was surprised by the simplicity of the furnishings in the house. She had heard that Jared's house in Brent wood was very plush compared to this. This was a home and another side of the man she hadn't seen before. She had an idea that her time here would be very informative, if not dangerous to her peace of mind.
Without warning Alex's knees suddenly buckled and she collapsed onto the edge of the bed. Was she fighting some type of physical attraction for Jared?
"God help me," she whispered, looking down at her clenched fists lying in her lap. While she did an excellent job of protecting other people, could she perform that same duty for herself, not just her body, but her emotions as well?
CHAPTER FOUR
A few moments before one o'clock Alex returned to the living room to find everyone already there. After seeing Jared standing
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