Read Online Picket Fence Pursuit by Jennifer Johnson - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Jennifer Johnson
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employer. She hated seeing her daddy sick.
Two brothers-in-law working in the mines. Now, her flesh-and-blood brother would join them. One grandchild after another, and none of her sisters had an education above high school. Yet her parents, her sisters, her brothers—they all seemed content, happy.
She stood and stared at herself in the mirror. “Am I missing something here?”
Yes.
She squelched the answer that popped into her mind. Yes, she was missing something all right. She was missing the fact that no one in her family had a lick of sense. No one except her.
❧
Ryan gazed out the window of the airplane. Kylie’s rejection of him had hurt more than he initially realized. Trying to escape, if only for a few days, Ryan had booked a flight to see his old friend in Alaska. He sucked in a deep breath and blew it out slowly, willing the Dramamine to kick in. Though he traveled by plane at least three times each year, flying still made him nervous.
He closed his eyes and leaned back in his seat. A vision of Kylie peering up at him at the arcade just before the boy ran into them filled his mind. He visualized lowering his lips to hers. They were soft and sweet beneath his.
His mind shifted to the remembrance of the pain in her eyes when she told him she needed more. More. Why did women always want more? Why couldn’t they be content with love, with knowing a man cared about them?
He turned his head. He didn’t care what women wanted. Only what Kylie wanted. His heart was filled to the brim and spilling over with her, and he couldn’t stop the overflow. I think I’m falling in love with her.
Darkness surrounded him for a brief moment. He jolted at the voice of a woman instructing him to remain seated as the flight landed. He rubbed his eyes and looked at his watch. “Wow, I’ve been out for three hours.” He smiled. Dramamine was God’s gift to the fearful flyer.
The plane landed, and Ryan snatched his carry-on bag from the overhead compartment. Holding in a yawn, he made his way past the attendant and into the airport. He stopped at a coffee shop and bought an extra-large black java. After a few quick puffs to cool the coffee, he sucked down a large gulp.
He rented a pickup then headed for his hotel. After checking in, he drove to the Alaskan Logging Company. He yanked his cell phone from his pocket and dialed the owner’s number.
“You don’t get to surprise me this time, buddy.”
Ryan snapped his phone shut and turned at the sound of Jim’s voice behind him. “You take all the fun out of things, Jim.” He grabbed Jim Thompson’s hand and shook it as he patted his friend on the back. “How are you and your ladies doing?”
“Good. Callie’s working part-time in a florist shop now that all three girls are in school. What about you?”
“I’m doing good.”
“Any special lady in your life?”
Kylie’s face popped into Ryan’s mind. He swept the image away. “No.”
“Wouldn’t you say it’s about time?” He punched Ryan’s shoulder. “Aren’t you pushing thirty?”
Ryan forced a laugh. “Yeah. I’m just waiting on God’s timing.”
“Maybe you just need to make a move to cooler climates.” Jim nodded for Ryan to follow him into the office. “You know I would welcome your help here. Your dad was one of my uncle’s best workers, and the machine you invented—why, production has nearly doubled in the last several years.”
“I’m glad to hear it.” Ryan settled into the plush couch that sat opposite Jim’s desk. The phone rang.
“Just a sec, Ryan.” He picked up the receiver and his pen at the same time. “Thompson.” A grin lifted his mouth, and he laid down the pen. “Hey, doll, how’s your day going?” Jim’s attention stayed on his desk as he shook his head. “Sorry ’bout that, but don’t worry. I’ll be home at six, and I’ll call them. No, you don’t have to worry. I love you. I’ll see you tonight.”
Jim replaced the receiver, and Ryan
Two brothers-in-law working in the mines. Now, her flesh-and-blood brother would join them. One grandchild after another, and none of her sisters had an education above high school. Yet her parents, her sisters, her brothers—they all seemed content, happy.
She stood and stared at herself in the mirror. “Am I missing something here?”
Yes.
She squelched the answer that popped into her mind. Yes, she was missing something all right. She was missing the fact that no one in her family had a lick of sense. No one except her.
❧
Ryan gazed out the window of the airplane. Kylie’s rejection of him had hurt more than he initially realized. Trying to escape, if only for a few days, Ryan had booked a flight to see his old friend in Alaska. He sucked in a deep breath and blew it out slowly, willing the Dramamine to kick in. Though he traveled by plane at least three times each year, flying still made him nervous.
He closed his eyes and leaned back in his seat. A vision of Kylie peering up at him at the arcade just before the boy ran into them filled his mind. He visualized lowering his lips to hers. They were soft and sweet beneath his.
His mind shifted to the remembrance of the pain in her eyes when she told him she needed more. More. Why did women always want more? Why couldn’t they be content with love, with knowing a man cared about them?
He turned his head. He didn’t care what women wanted. Only what Kylie wanted. His heart was filled to the brim and spilling over with her, and he couldn’t stop the overflow. I think I’m falling in love with her.
Darkness surrounded him for a brief moment. He jolted at the voice of a woman instructing him to remain seated as the flight landed. He rubbed his eyes and looked at his watch. “Wow, I’ve been out for three hours.” He smiled. Dramamine was God’s gift to the fearful flyer.
The plane landed, and Ryan snatched his carry-on bag from the overhead compartment. Holding in a yawn, he made his way past the attendant and into the airport. He stopped at a coffee shop and bought an extra-large black java. After a few quick puffs to cool the coffee, he sucked down a large gulp.
He rented a pickup then headed for his hotel. After checking in, he drove to the Alaskan Logging Company. He yanked his cell phone from his pocket and dialed the owner’s number.
“You don’t get to surprise me this time, buddy.”
Ryan snapped his phone shut and turned at the sound of Jim’s voice behind him. “You take all the fun out of things, Jim.” He grabbed Jim Thompson’s hand and shook it as he patted his friend on the back. “How are you and your ladies doing?”
“Good. Callie’s working part-time in a florist shop now that all three girls are in school. What about you?”
“I’m doing good.”
“Any special lady in your life?”
Kylie’s face popped into Ryan’s mind. He swept the image away. “No.”
“Wouldn’t you say it’s about time?” He punched Ryan’s shoulder. “Aren’t you pushing thirty?”
Ryan forced a laugh. “Yeah. I’m just waiting on God’s timing.”
“Maybe you just need to make a move to cooler climates.” Jim nodded for Ryan to follow him into the office. “You know I would welcome your help here. Your dad was one of my uncle’s best workers, and the machine you invented—why, production has nearly doubled in the last several years.”
“I’m glad to hear it.” Ryan settled into the plush couch that sat opposite Jim’s desk. The phone rang.
“Just a sec, Ryan.” He picked up the receiver and his pen at the same time. “Thompson.” A grin lifted his mouth, and he laid down the pen. “Hey, doll, how’s your day going?” Jim’s attention stayed on his desk as he shook his head. “Sorry ’bout that, but don’t worry. I’ll be home at six, and I’ll call them. No, you don’t have to worry. I love you. I’ll see you tonight.”
Jim replaced the receiver, and Ryan
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