Read Online Sweet Nothings: A Karma Café Novella by Tawny Weber - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Tawny Weber
Tags: Book 2, Karma Café Series
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already stolen part of your life, of your heritage. Are you going to let her steal your money, too? You’re very identity?”
Now she stepped closer.
So close, he could smell himself on her skin.
So close he could see the tiny silver sparks in her vivid blue eyes.
So close, he wanted to wrap his arms around her and hold tight, never letting go.
Then she jabbed him in the chest with one finger.
“I left that abusive, horrible house and that abusive nasty woman eight years ago for a very good reason. And that reason still stands. If I gave a single damn about the money, I would have gone back. But I don’t, and I won’t.” She emphasized her declaration with another poke to his chest, then grabbed her blouse out of his now slack fingers. “No matter how good you are in bed.”
“That’s not fair,” he snapped.
“No? And coming here, conning your way into renting an apartment I just happened to be working on, and not telling anyone what your purpose was? That’s fair?”
No.
But that was business.
He’d be damned if she was going to think he’d had sex with her for business, though.
“Look, I didn’t plan on sleeping with you,” he protested, throwing his hands in the air. “I came here to find you. To convince you to come back and claim your inheritance. What we did, it wasn’t planned. I wouldn’t do that. I wouldn’t use you, use sex. Not like that.”
Brow furrowed, feeling a little sick to his stomach, Jacob held his breath and waited.
Shoving her arms into her blouse, her glare slowly faded and she gave an infinitesimal wince. Lips pressed together, she shrugged as if to say whatever.
His frown shifted from self-loathing to confusion. Before he could say anything, though, she grabbed her purse and headed for the door.
“So that’s it? You’re just going to let her win?” he asked quietly.
Bianca paused, her hand frozen on the doorknob. But she didn’t look back.
Jacob continued anyway.
“Are you going to let her take your father’s money? Your inheritance? Allow her to keep everything? There’s nothing wrong with running when you’re defenseless, Bianca. But can you live with yourself if you run now? You’re an adult. A strong woman with a solid circle of people who would stand behind you. Beside you.” He shoved his fists in his pockets, feeling like an idiot, but unable to resist adding, “Or in my case, stand in front of you. I won’t let her hurt you.”
“Just the thought of her hurts me,” Bianca whispered.
“Then she’s won. And she’ll always win.”
This time Bianca did look back.
The look in her eyes almost floored him.
She looked like he’d broken her heart.
“I don’t care.”
Chapter Eight
The air was richly scented with the hearty aroma of soup on the stove, the spice of freshly sliced pastrami for the Paninis and the overlying sweet allure of cookies and cake fresh from the oven.
From the lush scents to the colorful variety of food cooling, prepping or waiting on the long stainless counters or the ladder-like bakery racks. Pre-lunch in the Karma Café kitchen was a bouquet of deliciousness.
Anja felt like throwing up.
She paced from one end of the kitchen to the next, trying to shake off her worry and stomp out the concern with her spiked heeled boots.
She peered around the kitchen door, tension loosening a little when she noted her mother busy with customers. A dozen or so people were vying for her attention, although none were asking for food. It was the Astrology Club’s monthly luncheon, which meant they’d had their usual fare at one and would likely stay another hour or two scooping up as much dessert, coffee and information as they could get.
Natalia thrived on these meetings. Interest in all things New Age waxed and waned, but astrology never seemed to go out of style. And nobody knew more about the subject, or shared that information with the same casual verve as Natalia Karminski.
Anja relaxed a little, assured that
Now she stepped closer.
So close, he could smell himself on her skin.
So close he could see the tiny silver sparks in her vivid blue eyes.
So close, he wanted to wrap his arms around her and hold tight, never letting go.
Then she jabbed him in the chest with one finger.
“I left that abusive, horrible house and that abusive nasty woman eight years ago for a very good reason. And that reason still stands. If I gave a single damn about the money, I would have gone back. But I don’t, and I won’t.” She emphasized her declaration with another poke to his chest, then grabbed her blouse out of his now slack fingers. “No matter how good you are in bed.”
“That’s not fair,” he snapped.
“No? And coming here, conning your way into renting an apartment I just happened to be working on, and not telling anyone what your purpose was? That’s fair?”
No.
But that was business.
He’d be damned if she was going to think he’d had sex with her for business, though.
“Look, I didn’t plan on sleeping with you,” he protested, throwing his hands in the air. “I came here to find you. To convince you to come back and claim your inheritance. What we did, it wasn’t planned. I wouldn’t do that. I wouldn’t use you, use sex. Not like that.”
Brow furrowed, feeling a little sick to his stomach, Jacob held his breath and waited.
Shoving her arms into her blouse, her glare slowly faded and she gave an infinitesimal wince. Lips pressed together, she shrugged as if to say whatever.
His frown shifted from self-loathing to confusion. Before he could say anything, though, she grabbed her purse and headed for the door.
“So that’s it? You’re just going to let her win?” he asked quietly.
Bianca paused, her hand frozen on the doorknob. But she didn’t look back.
Jacob continued anyway.
“Are you going to let her take your father’s money? Your inheritance? Allow her to keep everything? There’s nothing wrong with running when you’re defenseless, Bianca. But can you live with yourself if you run now? You’re an adult. A strong woman with a solid circle of people who would stand behind you. Beside you.” He shoved his fists in his pockets, feeling like an idiot, but unable to resist adding, “Or in my case, stand in front of you. I won’t let her hurt you.”
“Just the thought of her hurts me,” Bianca whispered.
“Then she’s won. And she’ll always win.”
This time Bianca did look back.
The look in her eyes almost floored him.
She looked like he’d broken her heart.
“I don’t care.”
Chapter Eight
The air was richly scented with the hearty aroma of soup on the stove, the spice of freshly sliced pastrami for the Paninis and the overlying sweet allure of cookies and cake fresh from the oven.
From the lush scents to the colorful variety of food cooling, prepping or waiting on the long stainless counters or the ladder-like bakery racks. Pre-lunch in the Karma Café kitchen was a bouquet of deliciousness.
Anja felt like throwing up.
She paced from one end of the kitchen to the next, trying to shake off her worry and stomp out the concern with her spiked heeled boots.
She peered around the kitchen door, tension loosening a little when she noted her mother busy with customers. A dozen or so people were vying for her attention, although none were asking for food. It was the Astrology Club’s monthly luncheon, which meant they’d had their usual fare at one and would likely stay another hour or two scooping up as much dessert, coffee and information as they could get.
Natalia thrived on these meetings. Interest in all things New Age waxed and waned, but astrology never seemed to go out of style. And nobody knew more about the subject, or shared that information with the same casual verve as Natalia Karminski.
Anja relaxed a little, assured that
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