Read Online Stormy Challenge by Stephanie James, Jayne Ann Krentz - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Stephanie James, Jayne Ann Krentz
Tags: Contemporary Romance
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hands into her pockets and stalked back up the beach toward the distant inn. She didn't look up as he fell into step beside her, but she heard the questioning note in his voice.
"Leya?" He was waiting for her ultimate answer, she realized, asking if she was going to make things difficult for him.
And it struck her that Court was still wary of her. True, he had her signature on the contract, but she retained half-ownership of the firm. As long as she held fifty percent of the shares, she could still represent a threat to his control. He himself had pointed out that all she would need to do was convince Keith they'd made a mistake
. . .
Something inside her despaired. She didn't want to think Court was really so unscrupulous. She didn't want to acknowledge the possibility that he was still scheming. With a small inner sigh, she realized why. She was attracted to the man.
Attracted to him in a way she had never been attracted to anyone else. She simply didn't want to believe the worst of him. In spite of the evidence!
But she had to be realistic, she told herself fiercely. The only thing she could be sure of was that Court wasn't completely confident of her. He was prepared to exert himself if she proved rebellious. He was equally prepared to accept her surrender immediately. But what would he do, she wondered acidly, if she didn't give him the clearcut answer he wanted? It was a poor punishment for the humiliation he had put her through, but it was all she had.
"I'll have to think about it," she told him coolly.
"Think about it!" he exploded. "What do you mean, think about it? Either you're going to accept the situation or you aren't!"
"Whatever you say, Court," she replied demurely, trying to take some satisfaction from his obvious frustration. It was hard. She didn't want the satisfaction of punishing him. She wanted the satisfaction of knowing he really wanted her!
"What do you think you're playing at, Leya Brandon?" he growled. "You were ready to commit murder when you opened the door this morning. A few minutes ago you were shivering in my arms. Make up your mind, damn it!"
"I'll try," she promised mockingly. "But first I think I'll have breakfast. There's nothing like a brisk morning walk on the beach to stir up an appetite, don't you agree?"
She watched him out of the corner of her slanting green eyes and saw the look of wariness and confusion tautening his features.
"Then what?" he prodded belligerently.
"After breakfast? Why, then I think I'll make arrangements to head back to Santa Rosa, of course. I'm sure you'll understand when I say my vacation has been spoiled!"
"There's no need to turn tail and run." He had apparently reached the conclusion that she was afraid of him.
"I'm not running," she assured him with forced serenity, "I'm flying. There's a plane out of that little town up the coast that connects with a major airline. I'll be home by noon."
There was a heavy silence.
"I drove up," Court said finally. "I'll drive you back."
Leya was startled. "No thanks," she managed. "It's a full day's trip by car and I don't think I want to be cooped up with you for that long."
"Leya!"
"Yes, Court?" she said with vast, insincere politeness.
"I said I'll drive you if you're determined to go back to Santa Rosa today!"
She sensed his uncertainty and impatience and wondered at it. A part of her longed to believe it stemmed from the fact that he was finding his victory hollow. But she knew better than that. The only reason Court was making an effort to maintain some relationship with her was because he was nervous about the power she still held over him. True, Keith practically idolized the older man now, but if his determined sister went to work on him, who was to say she might not be able to convince her brother they'd made a mistake? She still held a fifty-percent ownership in Brandon Security.
But the thought of spending several more hours with Court was suddenly too tempting. Leya was honest enough
"Leya?" He was waiting for her ultimate answer, she realized, asking if she was going to make things difficult for him.
And it struck her that Court was still wary of her. True, he had her signature on the contract, but she retained half-ownership of the firm. As long as she held fifty percent of the shares, she could still represent a threat to his control. He himself had pointed out that all she would need to do was convince Keith they'd made a mistake
. . .
Something inside her despaired. She didn't want to think Court was really so unscrupulous. She didn't want to acknowledge the possibility that he was still scheming. With a small inner sigh, she realized why. She was attracted to the man.
Attracted to him in a way she had never been attracted to anyone else. She simply didn't want to believe the worst of him. In spite of the evidence!
But she had to be realistic, she told herself fiercely. The only thing she could be sure of was that Court wasn't completely confident of her. He was prepared to exert himself if she proved rebellious. He was equally prepared to accept her surrender immediately. But what would he do, she wondered acidly, if she didn't give him the clearcut answer he wanted? It was a poor punishment for the humiliation he had put her through, but it was all she had.
"I'll have to think about it," she told him coolly.
"Think about it!" he exploded. "What do you mean, think about it? Either you're going to accept the situation or you aren't!"
"Whatever you say, Court," she replied demurely, trying to take some satisfaction from his obvious frustration. It was hard. She didn't want the satisfaction of punishing him. She wanted the satisfaction of knowing he really wanted her!
"What do you think you're playing at, Leya Brandon?" he growled. "You were ready to commit murder when you opened the door this morning. A few minutes ago you were shivering in my arms. Make up your mind, damn it!"
"I'll try," she promised mockingly. "But first I think I'll have breakfast. There's nothing like a brisk morning walk on the beach to stir up an appetite, don't you agree?"
She watched him out of the corner of her slanting green eyes and saw the look of wariness and confusion tautening his features.
"Then what?" he prodded belligerently.
"After breakfast? Why, then I think I'll make arrangements to head back to Santa Rosa, of course. I'm sure you'll understand when I say my vacation has been spoiled!"
"There's no need to turn tail and run." He had apparently reached the conclusion that she was afraid of him.
"I'm not running," she assured him with forced serenity, "I'm flying. There's a plane out of that little town up the coast that connects with a major airline. I'll be home by noon."
There was a heavy silence.
"I drove up," Court said finally. "I'll drive you back."
Leya was startled. "No thanks," she managed. "It's a full day's trip by car and I don't think I want to be cooped up with you for that long."
"Leya!"
"Yes, Court?" she said with vast, insincere politeness.
"I said I'll drive you if you're determined to go back to Santa Rosa today!"
She sensed his uncertainty and impatience and wondered at it. A part of her longed to believe it stemmed from the fact that he was finding his victory hollow. But she knew better than that. The only reason Court was making an effort to maintain some relationship with her was because he was nervous about the power she still held over him. True, Keith practically idolized the older man now, but if his determined sister went to work on him, who was to say she might not be able to convince her brother they'd made a mistake? She still held a fifty-percent ownership in Brandon Security.
But the thought of spending several more hours with Court was suddenly too tempting. Leya was honest enough
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