Read Online Momentary Marriage by Carol Rose - Free Book Online Page B

called in sick again this morning. I’ll probably end up getting fired.”
    “No, you won’t. You’re a great worker. I can’t believe you and Doug fought about who I date.” Kelsey sighed impatiently, tapping her pencil against a stack of proofs.
    “That was just the starting point—“
    A movement in the hallway drew Kelsey's glance. Jared stood in her doorway, his dark suit jacket slung over his shoulder, the pure white of his immaculate shirt making his shoulders look even broader.
    He looked cool and delicious enough to eat. Kelsey immediately glanced down at the cream cheese stain on her blue shirt.
    “—from there,” Amy continued, “we went to the specific dangers of you dating Jared.”
    Kelsey’s gaze swung to Jared’s face. He stepped into her office and seated himself in the chair on the opposite side of her desk.
    “The dangers?” Kelsey's throat suddenly felt very dry. Just how much of Amy’s conversation could Jared hear?
    “Yes. I got so angry at the stupid way he talks about you, like you’re little Bo Peep looking for your sheep, and then he said he was just trying to protect you.”
    “Uh, why?” She probably shouldn’t have asked, she realized instantly.
    “Because he said Jared is a wolf. He’s never had a long term relationship since his divorce years and years ago. Doug says you’ll get hurt.”
    “Oh.” Like she'd ever planned on a long term relationship with a man. Their mother’s continual attempts toward that goal had certainly never netted her much beyond a decent investment portfolio. Kelsey preferred to earn her own retirement fund.
    “But I told him that was just an excuse,” Amy declared. “He doesn’t need to worry about you. You’re certainly tough enough to go up against Jared. It’s not like you’re inexperienced or anything.”
    “Of course not.” Kelsey smiled nervously at Jared.
    “Then I told him you were probably having a better time with some guy at that very moment than we were,” Amy said bitterly.
    “That, um, probably didn’t help matters,” Kelsey commented.
    “Nothing is going to help.” Amy broke into tears.
    “Don’t cry,” Kelsey begged her, no longer worried about Jared’s presence. “We’ll make it okay. I’ll find a way.”
    “I’m just wasting my life waiting for Doug to get a clue,” Amy said, between sobs. “I’m going to London .”
    “No!” Kelsey implored. “I’ll convince Doug that I’m not available. I’ll talk to him tonight. Tell him again that there’s no hope of us ever—“
    “Don’t waste your breath,” Amy said viciously. “He won’t believe you.”
    “But I could try again,” Kelsey faltered. “Tell him that I didn't realize before—“
    “Words just don’t sink in. It’s true that actions speak louder than words. I just need to get away from him, go to London .”
    “Wait, Amy,” Kelsey yelped. “Promise me that you won’t take that job offer yet. Give me a week to come up with something.”
    Amy sniffled and she was silent for a moment. “Okay. I guess a week won’t hurt, but I don’t think it’ll do any good. As long as you’re there, he’ll keep waiting for you to realize he’s your Prince Charming.”
    “Then I'll just have to convince him otherwise,” Kelsey said with a surge of determination.
    “Whatever,” Amy said. “Since you want me to, I’ll give it a week, but then I’m moving.”
    Kelsey hung up the phone, feeling both stunned and frightened. She had to do something quick if she didn’t want her sister moving an ocean away. Amy had already given Doug chance after chance to see her as a potential mate. How many women would do that while a man mooned over someone else?
    If only she herself were committed to someone. If Doug saw her as irrevocably tied to another man.
    “Boy, do I need a husband,” she blurted out. “Immediately.”
    Jared felt his brows climb in surprise. “Excuse me?”
    She tossed her pencil on the jumbled desk and said in anxious