Read Online Strictly Business by Aubrianna Hunter - Free Book Online

seen.”
    “After lunch I want to go over some details about the house.
I realize it’s Saturday, but I see you have your sketch book. Do you mind Ms.
Wythe?” Jake asked.
    So, we’re back to Ms. Wythe again? Okay, fine . “Not
at all, Mr. Morgenstern. I only need about another half hour to finish the
sketches. You go ahead and eat, I’ll meet you in your office when I’m through.”
She made sure to infuse her voice with ice.
    She turned on her heel and strode out of the kitchen. She’d
be damned if she would eat with him. She headed to her room and the little desk
in there, to finish up the other two options she had sketched out. She’d drawn
a Cape Cod style, with vinyl siding, and a traditional farmhouse look as well.
A modern, larger version of what was there. But she had her favorite, and she
was hoping he would choose that one. Maybe she should present that one in the
middle, so he didn’t know it was her personal choice. He would probably pick
something else, just to spite her. Stupid ass!
    * * * * *
    Back in the kitchen, Jake felt Cody eyeing him while he made
his plate. Guessing he was waiting for some of the other guys to head back out
before saying anything, Jake just continued to gather his food before sitting
down at the table. Finally, it was down to Jake, Marsha and Ben.
    “So, what was that all about?” Cody finally spoke up.
    “What was what all about?” Jake knew what Cody was talking
about, but he really didn’t want to discuss it. Especially not with him.
    “With Jess. What was that all about? Oh, sorry, I meant with Ms. Wythe .”
    Jake heard the sarcasm Cody infused into the name.“I need to
get this house goin’ as soon as possible. That takes precedence over your love
life. You’ll have to show her the horse some other time.” Jake all but growled
out the comment.
    Cody grinned. “Well, that part was fine, but you probably
should’ve let her eat. I’m pretty sure she missed breakfast and we had quite a
workout last night.”
    Thinking back to last night, to Jess and Cody laughing,
dancing way too close, and remembering just how late he'd heard them come in,
Jake knew exactly what kind of workout they'd had. He felt the jealousy begin
to rise. Despite his constant reminders to himself that he didn't even like
Jess, he hated knowing she'd been with Cody.
    “You know, dancin’? Maybe you should bring her some food.
It’s been my experience that a hungry woman is a cranky woman. Isn’t that
right, Marsha?” Cody turned around and winked at her.
    It was then that Jake noticed Ben and Marsha had been
listening intently to every word.
    “Oh, that’s for sure, Cody. I’ll make her a plate right now
and take it up to her.” Marsha made a move to get up and Jake almost jumped out
of his chair.
    “I’ll get it. She’s comin’ to my office anyway.” He fixed a
plate of food, cold cut sandwiches, potato salad and green salad. He stopped
when he got to the dressing, not sure what she would like. He finally decided
on Italian. Everyone liked Italian, right? He could feel all three pairs of
eyes boring holes into his back. He grabbed the plate and a fork and stormed
out of the room without saying another word to anybody.
    They must have forgotten just how thin the old walls were in
this house. He heard them all burst out laughing as soon as he'd rounded the
corner. “Cody, you’re a rascal. Why’d you tease him like that?” Marsha asked.
    “Why, Marsha, I have no idea what you mean.”
    Jake walked into his office, trying to set aside his anger,
only to find her sitting quietly in one of the chairs opposite his. He knew
she’d heard him come in because she’d stiffened in her seat. He walked over,
dropped the plate down in front of her and sat in his chair.
    “It was brought to my attention, that in my…haste to see the
designs, you didn’t get to eat lunch. I didn’t know what you wanted, so I
brought some of everything.”
    “No, thank you. You want to see the