Read Online In the Market for Love by Nina Blake - Free Book Online Page B

loved having them for the occasional sleep over and taking them for an early morning walk on Coogee Beach. She thought about Jake and how fondly he spoke about Connor. How obvious it was that his son was the most important thing in the world to him.
    And she thought how different Jake’s life was from hers.
    “So what do you do for your holidays?” he asked.
    “Not much real ly,” she replied vaguely. She tilted her head and considered Jake carefully. Would the truth shock him?
    “When Nick died he left me with a lot of debt. I had to sell our house. We hadn’t had it for long and it ended up costing me money. I’m only just getting back on my feet. Now I’m flush and I’ve got a little flat in Coogee but I couldn’t tell you the last time I went on a holiday.”
    She’d said too much already. She couldn’t possibly tell Jake how a young man like her husband raked up large debts, all the time keeping it hidden from her. After he passed away, she found out he’d sold his share of the architecture business to his partner, as well as amassed remarkable credit card bills.
    For a moment, she thought Jake appeared to be considering what she’d said and that he might ask her about her husband’s debts but instead he changed the subject.
    “And what’s your dream holiday?” he asked.
    “I don ’t need to think about that one. Paris. It has to be Paris.”
    Jake’s hand inched across the table.
    “Paris,” h e said.
    He covered her hand with his. It sent a sensual ripple through her. His ga ze dropped to their hands, then slowly along her breasts up to her eyes as if he were drinking her in.
    She had to think straight. She was drawn to him. She couldn’t deny it. Yet their lives were so different.
    Jake tilted his head and leaned across the table.
    “I hope you aren’t thinking of kissing me?” she said, teasing him. “Such a shame you promised not to.”
    “Are you sure that’s what I said?”
    She glanced at her watch. “Actually, the real shame is the time.”
    With an early afternoon appointment at work, Rachel had to race off so she made her apologies. She had to keep a level head around Jake and couldn’t afford to be late for her next meeting. As she rose to leave, he pulled some notes out of his wallet and left them on the table.
    She knew he’ d follow her.
    *          *          *
    Jake was behind her as she bounded out of the restaurant and up the stairs, the taut muscles of her calves twitching above her strappy heeled sandals, her skirt swaying as it brushed against her legs.
    He was quicker and stronger as he stretched one arm out to hold the door closed at the top of the stairs. He wanted to prolong their time together and steal whatever moments he could.
    Rachel gazed up at him through lowered lids. “You’re not thinking of breaking your promise, are you?”
    “Whatever gives you that idea?”
    He could see she was enjoying this, revelling in the power he’d inadvertently given her with that promise.
    He pulled his arm back from the door. He wouldn’t stop her from leaving, nor would he attempt to kiss her, no matter how much he wanted to.
    At the top of the darkened stairs the air was cool but between them it was a humid haze , a barrier Jake dared not cross.
    He took in the rich crimson of Rachel’s top, her neckline exposed so enticingly, the bare ivory skin pale and smooth. The top showed off her collarbones before the sweep down to the swell of her breasts. He wanted to reach out. He wanted her.
    Jake took a step back and pulled the door open. If she stood before him any longer he’d no longer be a man who kept his word.
    “I keep my promises,” he sai d.
    Rachel stood her ground and looked him up and down.
    She lifted one hand and brushed it gently against the small area of tanned skin at his neck where his shirt was slightly open. With a touch that was barely there, her fingertips moved upwards to cup his jaw in her hand. She arched her neck and