Read Online Jed's Sweet Revenge by Deborah Smith - Free Book Online
Authors: Deborah Smith
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her island, she didn’t know the current slang for what Jed had just done. Now she knew it wasn’t spoon. “Whatever you want to call it, I didn’t intend to make you think I’m interested in a physical relationship with you,” she retorted.
What Jed lacked in verbal skills, he more than made up for in solid instinct and observation. He could read a horse’s mood just by looking into its eyes. It was the same with women, and he knew that this island wildflower, for all her protests, had enjoyed his touch, his kiss. He didn’t know if he could tease her into caring about him, a cowboy with too many rough edges, but the kiss made a good start in the right direction.
“Do you have a man?” he asked bluntly.
Her eyes narrowed in defense. “No. Should I?”
“Well, most gals put a high value on us handsome devils.”
“I find value in things other people don’t understand,” she informed him. “I paint pictures of sea life with a detail most artists don’t care about. I’m also an amateur scientist. I spend a lot of my time making intricate notes about the island flora and fauna. I send them to a biologist at the University of Georgia.”
Thena sighed dramatically. “I just don’t have time to indulge in superficial sexual encounters. Sexual attraction is nothing more than a complex interaction of hormonal chemicals, anyway. It’s been tested many times in laboratory experiments.”
Jed grunted. “When I kissed you, wildflower, your lips weren’t thinkin’ about white mice.”
“My chemicals were simply reacting to yours.” She and Nate had discussed this subject in great detail. Jedidiah Powers couldn’t confuse her.
“Uh-huh. Like a volcano. You were scared to kiss me back the way you wanted to.” His eyes held enormous self-satisfaction. “Guess you thought your chemicals might boil over.”
Thena decided to take the offensive. “Do you have a woman?”
“Not lately.”
“Well, I refuse to fill the temporary gap in your lurid sex life.” She was surprised to see a wounded, soulful look pass briefly across his face. Thena kicked herself mentally. This man didn’t fit her idea of a lecherous playboy, despite his bold attentions. He looked as if he’d spent most of his life on the outside looking in at everyone else’s happiness. She was a loner too. She understood.
Thena’s anger faded. “Jedidiah,” she murmured, her musical voice putting beautiful inflections in his name, “you’re a very handsome man. And I have no man in my life.” He looked askance at her frankness, then his eyes filled with intense respect for it. Respect, and affection. Thena’s lips parted in a melting reaction to such rapt attention. For a moment she simply stared at him, feeling a little giddy. Finally she forced her eyes away from his and continued. “But I’m just … just too old for romance, you see.”
He nearly choked on a restrained laugh. “You look mighty fine, granny.”
“In here,” she said plaintively, as she pointed to her head.
“Whew, that’s a relief,” he teased. “I thought maybe you’d put a spell on me so I couldn’t tell that you’re about a hundred and toothless, with pruney lips.” His amusement died as he saw all the pain behind her silver eyes. “Why are you too old?” he asked gently.
Thena forced herself to ignore the effect his rumbling, tender voice had on her emotions. “I never had a chance to make many friends my own age. I went to elementary and high school on the mainland, but I didn’t really fit in. I was too quiet, and I liked to read all the time, or paint. I was very close to my parents, and I spent a lot of time on Sancia withthem and various colleagues of theirs who’d drop by here to do research. I went away to college for a year, but I decided I could learn more on my own than in class so I came home. Now I know that was a mistake.”
She pointed to her head again. “So … I’m old. I like to watch movies, I like to read, I
What Jed lacked in verbal skills, he more than made up for in solid instinct and observation. He could read a horse’s mood just by looking into its eyes. It was the same with women, and he knew that this island wildflower, for all her protests, had enjoyed his touch, his kiss. He didn’t know if he could tease her into caring about him, a cowboy with too many rough edges, but the kiss made a good start in the right direction.
“Do you have a man?” he asked bluntly.
Her eyes narrowed in defense. “No. Should I?”
“Well, most gals put a high value on us handsome devils.”
“I find value in things other people don’t understand,” she informed him. “I paint pictures of sea life with a detail most artists don’t care about. I’m also an amateur scientist. I spend a lot of my time making intricate notes about the island flora and fauna. I send them to a biologist at the University of Georgia.”
Thena sighed dramatically. “I just don’t have time to indulge in superficial sexual encounters. Sexual attraction is nothing more than a complex interaction of hormonal chemicals, anyway. It’s been tested many times in laboratory experiments.”
Jed grunted. “When I kissed you, wildflower, your lips weren’t thinkin’ about white mice.”
“My chemicals were simply reacting to yours.” She and Nate had discussed this subject in great detail. Jedidiah Powers couldn’t confuse her.
“Uh-huh. Like a volcano. You were scared to kiss me back the way you wanted to.” His eyes held enormous self-satisfaction. “Guess you thought your chemicals might boil over.”
Thena decided to take the offensive. “Do you have a woman?”
“Not lately.”
“Well, I refuse to fill the temporary gap in your lurid sex life.” She was surprised to see a wounded, soulful look pass briefly across his face. Thena kicked herself mentally. This man didn’t fit her idea of a lecherous playboy, despite his bold attentions. He looked as if he’d spent most of his life on the outside looking in at everyone else’s happiness. She was a loner too. She understood.
Thena’s anger faded. “Jedidiah,” she murmured, her musical voice putting beautiful inflections in his name, “you’re a very handsome man. And I have no man in my life.” He looked askance at her frankness, then his eyes filled with intense respect for it. Respect, and affection. Thena’s lips parted in a melting reaction to such rapt attention. For a moment she simply stared at him, feeling a little giddy. Finally she forced her eyes away from his and continued. “But I’m just … just too old for romance, you see.”
He nearly choked on a restrained laugh. “You look mighty fine, granny.”
“In here,” she said plaintively, as she pointed to her head.
“Whew, that’s a relief,” he teased. “I thought maybe you’d put a spell on me so I couldn’t tell that you’re about a hundred and toothless, with pruney lips.” His amusement died as he saw all the pain behind her silver eyes. “Why are you too old?” he asked gently.
Thena forced herself to ignore the effect his rumbling, tender voice had on her emotions. “I never had a chance to make many friends my own age. I went to elementary and high school on the mainland, but I didn’t really fit in. I was too quiet, and I liked to read all the time, or paint. I was very close to my parents, and I spent a lot of time on Sancia withthem and various colleagues of theirs who’d drop by here to do research. I went away to college for a year, but I decided I could learn more on my own than in class so I came home. Now I know that was a mistake.”
She pointed to her head again. “So … I’m old. I like to watch movies, I like to read, I
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