Read Online Soft focus by Jayne Ann Krentz - Free Book Online
Authors: Jayne Ann Krentz
Tags: Contemporary Romance
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supposed to leave for Mirror Springs tomorrow morning."
"I told you about the charity reception."
Milo's jaw dropped. "You're still going to attend? After everything else that's happened?"
"I don't think it would be a good idea to skip it." Jack glanced at his watch. "Failing to show up would add fuel to the rumors that are already circulating. We can't afford that. In business, perception is all. Never forget that, Milo."
"Huh." Milo's thin face crunched into a darker frown. "I'd sure like to know how those rumors got started."
"So would I." Jack picked up his keys. "But we don't have time to investigate the leak now. We'll deal with it after we get Soft Focus back."
Milo trailed after him toward the door. "Tell me the truth, Jack. Do you really think you can find Page?"
Jack glanced at him as he opened the door. A wave of empathy went through him. Milo had a lot on his young, inexperienced shoulders.
"I'll find him, Milo."
CHAPTER SEVEN
Hayden shaw looked out across the glittering ballroom. "Fairfax just walked in. That raises two possibilities. Either the rumors about trouble at Excalibur were wrong or ..."
Elizabeth raised one brow. "Or?"
"Or else they were true and both of you are playing it cool tonight so that people will think they're wrong."
Elizabeth surprised herself with a low chuckle that she thought sounded remarkably genuine. "I can tell you this much: Jack Fairfax may be cold-blooded enough to put in an appearance tonight even if there were major problems at his company. But I certainly wouldn't be standing around drinking champagne if there were a disaster. I'd be in my office, huddled in front of my computer with a large cup of coffee, and I'd be tearing out my hair."
She had wanted very much not to attend the charity event tonight, but she knew that it would send the wrong message to those who, like Hayden, had picked up hints of trouble at Excalibur. Obviously Jack had followed the same logic. She doubted that he was enjoying himself any more than she was.
She wondered if he had noticed her standing here with Hayden and, if he had seen her, whether or not the sight of her chatting with his archenemy annoyed him. If it did bother him, she knew that he would not reveal it. Jack could play poker with the devil.
Why did she even care if he was annoyed? she wondered. Stupid question. She was in that strange mood again, the one she always plunged into a few days before she knew that she was to see Jack. The days preceding a regularly scheduled board meeting at Excalibur were always bad. The peculiar mix of emotions was just as predictable as certain other recurring biological functions.
She wondered what Jack would say if he knew that the thought of being in his company triggered a severe form of PMS in her.
An entire week together. Good grief, how could they possibly do it? She was accustomed to estimating the odds, but she could not even begin to guess whether or not they would throttle each other before they found Tyler Page.
Hayden surveyed her neat chignon appreciatively. "You look lovely tonight."
"Thank you."
Hayden lowered his voice to a husky drawl. "The dress is pretty terrific, too."
She pretended not to notice his gaze sliding appreciatively over the long line of her spine left exposed by the backless black gown. Hayden was interesting, very successful, and, with his warm, brown eyes, dark hair, and good facial bones, about ten times better looking than Jack Fairfax. He was also a few years younger. But the last thing she wanted to do tonight was flirt with him.
Jack's seemingly offhand question about Hayden's marital status yesterday morning had made her uneasy. Just as he had no doubt meant it to do, she thought. Typical of Fairfax to slip home a zinger just when she was starting to convince herself that she could get interested in Hayden.
She had told herself that she would ignore Jack's comment on the divorce, but she had known that would not be possible. Like a number
"I told you about the charity reception."
Milo's jaw dropped. "You're still going to attend? After everything else that's happened?"
"I don't think it would be a good idea to skip it." Jack glanced at his watch. "Failing to show up would add fuel to the rumors that are already circulating. We can't afford that. In business, perception is all. Never forget that, Milo."
"Huh." Milo's thin face crunched into a darker frown. "I'd sure like to know how those rumors got started."
"So would I." Jack picked up his keys. "But we don't have time to investigate the leak now. We'll deal with it after we get Soft Focus back."
Milo trailed after him toward the door. "Tell me the truth, Jack. Do you really think you can find Page?"
Jack glanced at him as he opened the door. A wave of empathy went through him. Milo had a lot on his young, inexperienced shoulders.
"I'll find him, Milo."
CHAPTER SEVEN
Hayden shaw looked out across the glittering ballroom. "Fairfax just walked in. That raises two possibilities. Either the rumors about trouble at Excalibur were wrong or ..."
Elizabeth raised one brow. "Or?"
"Or else they were true and both of you are playing it cool tonight so that people will think they're wrong."
Elizabeth surprised herself with a low chuckle that she thought sounded remarkably genuine. "I can tell you this much: Jack Fairfax may be cold-blooded enough to put in an appearance tonight even if there were major problems at his company. But I certainly wouldn't be standing around drinking champagne if there were a disaster. I'd be in my office, huddled in front of my computer with a large cup of coffee, and I'd be tearing out my hair."
She had wanted very much not to attend the charity event tonight, but she knew that it would send the wrong message to those who, like Hayden, had picked up hints of trouble at Excalibur. Obviously Jack had followed the same logic. She doubted that he was enjoying himself any more than she was.
She wondered if he had noticed her standing here with Hayden and, if he had seen her, whether or not the sight of her chatting with his archenemy annoyed him. If it did bother him, she knew that he would not reveal it. Jack could play poker with the devil.
Why did she even care if he was annoyed? she wondered. Stupid question. She was in that strange mood again, the one she always plunged into a few days before she knew that she was to see Jack. The days preceding a regularly scheduled board meeting at Excalibur were always bad. The peculiar mix of emotions was just as predictable as certain other recurring biological functions.
She wondered what Jack would say if he knew that the thought of being in his company triggered a severe form of PMS in her.
An entire week together. Good grief, how could they possibly do it? She was accustomed to estimating the odds, but she could not even begin to guess whether or not they would throttle each other before they found Tyler Page.
Hayden surveyed her neat chignon appreciatively. "You look lovely tonight."
"Thank you."
Hayden lowered his voice to a husky drawl. "The dress is pretty terrific, too."
She pretended not to notice his gaze sliding appreciatively over the long line of her spine left exposed by the backless black gown. Hayden was interesting, very successful, and, with his warm, brown eyes, dark hair, and good facial bones, about ten times better looking than Jack Fairfax. He was also a few years younger. But the last thing she wanted to do tonight was flirt with him.
Jack's seemingly offhand question about Hayden's marital status yesterday morning had made her uneasy. Just as he had no doubt meant it to do, she thought. Typical of Fairfax to slip home a zinger just when she was starting to convince herself that she could get interested in Hayden.
She had told herself that she would ignore Jack's comment on the divorce, but she had known that would not be possible. Like a number
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