Read Online No Longer Needed by Brenda Grate - Free Book Online

sound friendlier.
    “I was wondering if you could use a break after your exams are done. Maybe you’d like to come to Greece with me?”
    An image of impossibly white teeth in a dark face flashed in Jen’s mind.  
    “Greece? What are you talking about?”
    “I’m going to see the little house your great-grandpa left me and I wondered if you’d like to come with me. It’s a wonderful time of year to visit Greece. I can wait until your exams are done.”
    “But, what about …” Jen stopped, lost for words. She resented the excitement rising up in her. She should be studying, finishing her degree and then getting ready to take the bar exam. She needed to do well so she’d be picked up by a prestigious firm. Her stomach clenched and she clapped a hand over her mouth, afraid she was going to throw up.
    “Jen?”
    She dropped her hand slowly.  
    “Okay,” she whispered. “I’ll go.”
    “Pardon? I can’t hear you.”
    “Yes, Mother, I’ll go with you.”
    “Really?”
    “I said I would,” she snapped. “Now, I really need to go back to studying. Email me the details. I can leave in a few weeks. My exams are done by then.”
    “That’s great.” Her mother was thrilled. “I’ll set it up and send you the details. I’m really glad you’re coming with me. We’re going to have a great time.”
    Jen cleared her throat.
    “Okay, I’ll let you go. Watch for my email. Bye hon …”
    Jen punched the end button and tossed her iPhone on her desk beside the text book. She wanted out. Maybe this was the answer. Go to Greece with her mother and then refuse to come home.
    And how will you support yourself?
    Jen hated that voice. She’d been either running from it or been driven by it her entire life. Every time she wanted to do something wild and crazy, the voice reminded her of all the negative outcomes, as if it had run a computer algorithm and was now giving her all the probability factors. She hated it. Sometimes she wished she weren’t able to look ahead more than a step or two down the road.
    Jen grabbed her iPhone again and before she could think twice she slammed the door on the voice and tapped Dimitri Petrakis’ name. She began to shake while she listened to it ring. First, she hoped he wouldn’t pick up, then she whispered, “Pick up,” just as he answered.
    “Petrakis Construction. I have picked up, how may I help you?”
    Jen could see his grin in her mind and heard it in his voice.
    Damn!
    She sat up straight in her chair and before she could consider hanging up, she said, “Hi. It’s Jennifer Jenkins. Um … you gave me your card the other day.”
    “Ah, yes, so your name is Jennifer.”
    Her name sounded exotic in his Greek accent. Jen shivered and held the phone closer to her ear.
    “Hello, Jennifer,” he said. “Can I take you out to dinner tonight?”
    Shocked, Jen didn’t know what to say. She should tell him she had to study. She should say she had exams and then summer job applications to prepare for. The voice shouted, but somehow it didn’t have the normal pull on her.  
    “Yes, okay,” she said, shocking herself and obviously the voice , too, because it instantly went silent.
    “Where do you live?”
    “Uh, no, I’ll meet you somewhere. You live in Toronto?”
    “Yes. Do you?”
    Jen didn’t want to tell him anything about herself yet. Sure, he was sexy, but she wasn’t stupid enough to let him pick her up.  
    “I’ll meet you at Il Giardino at seven.”
    Dimitri agreed, and she hung up. Jen was glad she’d thought of her Aunt Connie’s restaurant. At least there she’d be safe meeting a stranger.  
    Then she groaned. Aunt Connie would tell her mother about him. She’d not thought of that. Just hadn’t gotten past wanting to be in a safe environment.
    It was too late now.

Chapter 11

    A tray of buns hit the floor with a clang. Connie jumped and grabbed her heart. Then her head as she surveyed the mess. The new kitchen help stared at Connie, dread and