Read Online Hale's Point by Patricia Ryan - Free Book Online Page A

sake.”
    She twisted free of his grip and backed away from him. “‘Nothing
in common’ meaning I’m so driven and you’re so laid-back, right?”
    “Well”
    “You know, I’ve been thinking about it, and for a guy who
worked two and three jobs for years and built up his own business from scratch,
I’m starting to think you’ve got a lot of nerve calling me driven.”
    He considered that, then shrugged. “I won’t argue that I’ve
been there. But that’s not where I am now.”
    “Meaning?”
    “Meaning I’m taking a vacation from all that—maybe
permanently.” He seemed to be growing exasperated. “You’re right. I worked my
butt off for more years than I care to think about. Then one night I crashed my
airplane into the side of a mountain. Suddenly I couldn’t work at all anymore.
For a long time I couldn’t do much of anything—couldn’t hold a book, couldn’t
sit up in bed and watch TV, couldn’t even feed myself. All I could do was
think. You try doing nothing but
thinking for a few months. It’s a very useful exercise for shaking some of the
chaff out of your life. You could use it— you’ve got plenty there to shake out.”
    Harley’s voice rose, and this time she didn’t try to tame it.
“Yeah, well, maybe I don’t need an airplane crash to help me set my priorities.”
    His voice rose, too. “Honey, there could be a nuclear
holocaust and you wouldn’t question your life! You’d still be out there,
stopwatch in hand, timing things and measuring things and making sure
everything was going according to plan.”
    “That’s not fair.”
    “I never said it was.” He was calmer now, weary. “It’s the
truth. The truth doesn’t have to be fair.”
    “Very profound. You’re full of insights and wisdom, aren’t
you? You know, I could do without lessons in life from a guy whose answer to
difficult situations is to just bolt .
Someone who didn’t even bother to pick up the phone and call his own father for
twenty-one years. Does he even know where you’ve been all this time? What you’ve
been doing? God knows what he thinks. Jamie Tilton didn’t even believe me when
I told him who you were. He said he’d heard you were dead. Someone told him you’d
died in Vietnam.”
    Tucker smiled as if this were preposterous. “I never went to
Vietnam.”
    “Someone else told him you’d died in jail.”
    The smile faded. He didn’t answer that one, she noted, just
lowered his head, closed his eyes, and rubbed the back of his neck. “I shouldn’t
be here. I should have left last night, not let you bring me back. I’ve done
nothing but irritate you.” He looked from her eyes to her mouth, and frowned.
Reaching out, he rested a hand lightly on her face and gently trailed his thumb
over her upper lip. “In more ways than one, I guess.”
    It struck her then, why he looked different. He had shaved.
For her? The thought made her legs feel weak.
    His fingertips stroked her face with a feathery touch, from
cheekbone to chin. He smiled again, but this time it was that shy smile that he
had worn last night when he’d asked her name. “I’ve got to tell you, though. I
mean, it may sound like a line out of a B movie, but it’s true. You’re really
very beautiful when you’re angry.” He chuckled self-consciously, the delicate
caress trailing down her throat and along one collarbone, coaxing shivers from
her. “Really. Just outstanding. I wish you could see yourself.”
    Harley just stared at him, at a complete loss for words.
Finally he withdrew his hand, said, “Good night,” and went into the house.
    ***
    The book Harley tried to read in bed was Priorities for the Successful Manager. She had already read the
first two chapters, “Stress in the Workplace” and “Strategies for Coping with
Stress.” Now she turned to chapter three, “Learning to Live with Stress,” and
reread the first page twice without absorbing any of it.
    She closed her eyes and leaned back against her