Read Online Playing for Keeps/A Tempting Stranger by Lori Copeland - Free Book Online Page A
Authors: Lori Copeland
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what I always dreamed of!
Jason got to his feet once again as Jessica began to clear the table. "So what are you planning to do?" Jason asked her. Jessica's stomach fluttered, dreading the odious task before her.
"Jason," she started hesitantly, "you don't have any trouble running your big ranch, do you?"
Jason's features took on a guarded expression, his jade eyes narrowing. "No," he said cautiously. "Why?"
She'd play it safe and appeal to his business side right off, she decided. "It occurred to me you might want to take advantage of a rare business opportunity," she said brightly. "I thought maybe you'd like to run the farm for me!"
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Jason's mouth dropped open. Jessica's heart thudded as she plunged on. ''No, now wait, Jason. I know what you're thinking, because at first I thought the same thing. I know we didn't exactly part friends eight years ago, but," she rushed on, "we are two mature adults now, perfectly able to set aside our old differences . . ."
"Jessica, just hold it right there," Jason said tensely between clenched teeth.
"No, please, Jason, hear me out." She gulped breathlessly. Somehow she was going to have to make him run this farm for her! "I'll pay you ten thousand dollars. Just think, Jason! Ten thousand dollars! You could buy some new farm equipment, a new car." She looked guiltily out the window. "You could just consider it your mad money," she suggested helpfully.
Jason interrupted her again. "Look, Jessie, the last thing in the world I need is your mon"
"Oh, Jason, please! " she pleaded, very close to tears now. "I don't know of anyone else to ask," she finished hopelessly.
Jason strode agitatedly back over to the window and began to pace back and forth. "Let me get this straight, Jessica. You want me to run this farm for the next six months . . ."
"For ten thousand dollars," Jessica inserted temptingly.
" . . . for ten thousand dollars," Jason conceded. "Now, I'm just supposed to hop over here every day, run your farm, and forget all about what happened eight years ago? Dammit, Jessica! Do you know what you're asking?"
"Well, you wouldn't have to see me much," Jessica promised resentfully. "I'd stay out of your way."
"That isn't the point, Jessica!" Jason stopped pacing, coming to a halt in front of her chair, pulling her swiftly to her feet, his eyes looking deep into her simmering, lavender ones. "There's not enough money in the world to tempt me to put myself back in that emotional blender you had me in years ago. I've spent eight long years trying to
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get you out of my blood, and I'll be damned if I'll let you do that to me again.'' A tense muscle worked along his smooth, clean-shaven jaw as Jessica stared back at the familiar loved face before her.
"You never did believe that I let you go because I had no other choice, did you?" she whispered softly.
"You had other choices," Jason said curtly, their faces still perilously close, making her bones turn to liquid jelly as his soft, clean breath fanned her face.
"Did I, Jason? What choices did I really have? I was under age, and Uncle Fred had a serious heart condition, not to mention the fact that I owed them a tremendous debt of gratitude for taking me into their home, loving me as their own child. I just couldn't break their hearts," she finished sadly, her eyes reflecting the deep hurt she was experiencing.
"So instead you broke mine," Jason said huskily.
"And mine, too," she said quietly.
"It doesn't matter, Jessie. You'll never have the opportunity to do it again," Jason stated firmly, stepping back from her.
Jessica felt the sun had gone behind a cloud as the warmth of his hard, granite body moved away from her. Her temper rapidly boiled to the surface, and her eyes turned to a dark purple as she whirled around to confront Jason. "Well, if you were so all-fired brokenhearted over me, why didn't you come after mefight harder for me do something other than just walk away? I never even saw you again until the
Jason got to his feet once again as Jessica began to clear the table. "So what are you planning to do?" Jason asked her. Jessica's stomach fluttered, dreading the odious task before her.
"Jason," she started hesitantly, "you don't have any trouble running your big ranch, do you?"
Jason's features took on a guarded expression, his jade eyes narrowing. "No," he said cautiously. "Why?"
She'd play it safe and appeal to his business side right off, she decided. "It occurred to me you might want to take advantage of a rare business opportunity," she said brightly. "I thought maybe you'd like to run the farm for me!"
Page 64
Jason's mouth dropped open. Jessica's heart thudded as she plunged on. ''No, now wait, Jason. I know what you're thinking, because at first I thought the same thing. I know we didn't exactly part friends eight years ago, but," she rushed on, "we are two mature adults now, perfectly able to set aside our old differences . . ."
"Jessica, just hold it right there," Jason said tensely between clenched teeth.
"No, please, Jason, hear me out." She gulped breathlessly. Somehow she was going to have to make him run this farm for her! "I'll pay you ten thousand dollars. Just think, Jason! Ten thousand dollars! You could buy some new farm equipment, a new car." She looked guiltily out the window. "You could just consider it your mad money," she suggested helpfully.
Jason interrupted her again. "Look, Jessie, the last thing in the world I need is your mon"
"Oh, Jason, please! " she pleaded, very close to tears now. "I don't know of anyone else to ask," she finished hopelessly.
Jason strode agitatedly back over to the window and began to pace back and forth. "Let me get this straight, Jessica. You want me to run this farm for the next six months . . ."
"For ten thousand dollars," Jessica inserted temptingly.
" . . . for ten thousand dollars," Jason conceded. "Now, I'm just supposed to hop over here every day, run your farm, and forget all about what happened eight years ago? Dammit, Jessica! Do you know what you're asking?"
"Well, you wouldn't have to see me much," Jessica promised resentfully. "I'd stay out of your way."
"That isn't the point, Jessica!" Jason stopped pacing, coming to a halt in front of her chair, pulling her swiftly to her feet, his eyes looking deep into her simmering, lavender ones. "There's not enough money in the world to tempt me to put myself back in that emotional blender you had me in years ago. I've spent eight long years trying to
Page 65
get you out of my blood, and I'll be damned if I'll let you do that to me again.'' A tense muscle worked along his smooth, clean-shaven jaw as Jessica stared back at the familiar loved face before her.
"You never did believe that I let you go because I had no other choice, did you?" she whispered softly.
"You had other choices," Jason said curtly, their faces still perilously close, making her bones turn to liquid jelly as his soft, clean breath fanned her face.
"Did I, Jason? What choices did I really have? I was under age, and Uncle Fred had a serious heart condition, not to mention the fact that I owed them a tremendous debt of gratitude for taking me into their home, loving me as their own child. I just couldn't break their hearts," she finished sadly, her eyes reflecting the deep hurt she was experiencing.
"So instead you broke mine," Jason said huskily.
"And mine, too," she said quietly.
"It doesn't matter, Jessie. You'll never have the opportunity to do it again," Jason stated firmly, stepping back from her.
Jessica felt the sun had gone behind a cloud as the warmth of his hard, granite body moved away from her. Her temper rapidly boiled to the surface, and her eyes turned to a dark purple as she whirled around to confront Jason. "Well, if you were so all-fired brokenhearted over me, why didn't you come after mefight harder for me do something other than just walk away? I never even saw you again until the
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