Read Online Sweet Seduction (The BAD BOY BILLIONAIRES Series) by Judy Angelo - Free Book Online Page A
Authors: Judy Angelo
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head sadly. “But it was an accident I
caused. When I took my eyes off the road it was to glance at her. We got into
an argument over something stupid…I can’t even remember what. All I remember
is that I said something in anger, looked at her…and then she screamed.”
“I am…so sorry.” The words were so bare, so
inadequate, but Sam didn’t know what else to say. What do you tell a man
drowning in a sea of guilt, a man who refused to be comforted because he felt
he deserved to suffer?
“If it weren’t for me she’d still be alive.” He
pulled his hand away from her grasp and sat back in his chair. Then he folded
his arms across his chest. “What right do I have to be happy when the woman I
loved is dead and I was the one who killed her?”
Sam slid her hand from off the table and returned it
to her lap. As she watched Jake she could see his emotional struggle in the
resolute set of his jaw and his defensive posture, folding his arms as if to
lock himself away from anyone who would dare reach out to him in sympathy.
So that was it. The problem was not with her, it was
with Jake. Because of his feelings of guilt he’d decided that he should suffer
all the days of his life.
Which made things even worse for Sam. Competing with the
ghost of his late wife was one thing but trying to convince a guilt-ridden man
that he deserved happiness was a horse of a different color. You can’t save a
man who doesn’t want to be saved. Jake’s healing could not come from her. He
would have to find that will within himself.
Until then, as far as winning his love was concerned,
Sam now knew that she didn’t have the chance of an ice cube in hell.
CHAPTER SIX
“So how’s my girl doing?” Alvin trudged into the
office in his muddy work boots without wiping his feet. As usual. At Meg’s
sharp look he dropped his toolkit and backed out. “Alright, alright,” he
muttered as he went back down the steps. “Sheesh.”
Meg looked across at Sam sitting at the computer and
laughed. “You can’t teach an old dog new tricks.”
When Alvin tramped back into the office his boots were
wet but sparkling clean, obviously freshly washed. He must have gone round
back and turned the hose on them. Sam grinned at her Dad. Smart man. Much
easier than sitting on the step, cleaning off mud.
“So how’s my girl?” he asked again and walked over to
give her a peck on the forehead. “You’ve been so busy with your decorating
gigs I haven’t seen much of you around the office lately.”
“I know, Dad,” she said, her tone apologetic. “But
things have eased off a bit now.”
“Well, I’m glad to have you back,” he said with a wide
grin. “I missed my plumbing partner. Didn’t we, Meg?” He walked over and
kissed his wife on the cheek.
“Sam’s not my plumbing partner and of course we miss
her,” she said and swatted at him. “Now leave me alone. Don’t you see I’m
trying to get these invoices done?”
He lifted his eyebrows to Sam and gave her a crooked
smile. “That’s my wife for you, all love and kisses.” Then he grabbed his
lunch kit and headed for the kitchen in the back.
As soon as he was out of earshot Meg dropped her stack
of invoices onto the desk and turned her sharp eyes on Sam. “Your dad made a
good point,” she said as she tapped her pen on the desk. That was what she
always did when she was thinking. “For the last few weeks you’ve been so
focused on your decorating jobs we’ve hardly seen you. Now all of a sudden you
have the time to spend four days out of a week with us?” Meg cocked her head
to one side. “This is the first time Alvin has come in early enough to catch
you in the office but I’ve been here all week. With you. What gives?”
“Oh, nothing.” Sam shrugged, trying to look casual.
“Don’t give me that,” Meg said with a snort. “You’ve
been moping around
caused. When I took my eyes off the road it was to glance at her. We got into
an argument over something stupid…I can’t even remember what. All I remember
is that I said something in anger, looked at her…and then she screamed.”
“I am…so sorry.” The words were so bare, so
inadequate, but Sam didn’t know what else to say. What do you tell a man
drowning in a sea of guilt, a man who refused to be comforted because he felt
he deserved to suffer?
“If it weren’t for me she’d still be alive.” He
pulled his hand away from her grasp and sat back in his chair. Then he folded
his arms across his chest. “What right do I have to be happy when the woman I
loved is dead and I was the one who killed her?”
Sam slid her hand from off the table and returned it
to her lap. As she watched Jake she could see his emotional struggle in the
resolute set of his jaw and his defensive posture, folding his arms as if to
lock himself away from anyone who would dare reach out to him in sympathy.
So that was it. The problem was not with her, it was
with Jake. Because of his feelings of guilt he’d decided that he should suffer
all the days of his life.
Which made things even worse for Sam. Competing with the
ghost of his late wife was one thing but trying to convince a guilt-ridden man
that he deserved happiness was a horse of a different color. You can’t save a
man who doesn’t want to be saved. Jake’s healing could not come from her. He
would have to find that will within himself.
Until then, as far as winning his love was concerned,
Sam now knew that she didn’t have the chance of an ice cube in hell.
CHAPTER SIX
“So how’s my girl doing?” Alvin trudged into the
office in his muddy work boots without wiping his feet. As usual. At Meg’s
sharp look he dropped his toolkit and backed out. “Alright, alright,” he
muttered as he went back down the steps. “Sheesh.”
Meg looked across at Sam sitting at the computer and
laughed. “You can’t teach an old dog new tricks.”
When Alvin tramped back into the office his boots were
wet but sparkling clean, obviously freshly washed. He must have gone round
back and turned the hose on them. Sam grinned at her Dad. Smart man. Much
easier than sitting on the step, cleaning off mud.
“So how’s my girl?” he asked again and walked over to
give her a peck on the forehead. “You’ve been so busy with your decorating
gigs I haven’t seen much of you around the office lately.”
“I know, Dad,” she said, her tone apologetic. “But
things have eased off a bit now.”
“Well, I’m glad to have you back,” he said with a wide
grin. “I missed my plumbing partner. Didn’t we, Meg?” He walked over and
kissed his wife on the cheek.
“Sam’s not my plumbing partner and of course we miss
her,” she said and swatted at him. “Now leave me alone. Don’t you see I’m
trying to get these invoices done?”
He lifted his eyebrows to Sam and gave her a crooked
smile. “That’s my wife for you, all love and kisses.” Then he grabbed his
lunch kit and headed for the kitchen in the back.
As soon as he was out of earshot Meg dropped her stack
of invoices onto the desk and turned her sharp eyes on Sam. “Your dad made a
good point,” she said as she tapped her pen on the desk. That was what she
always did when she was thinking. “For the last few weeks you’ve been so
focused on your decorating jobs we’ve hardly seen you. Now all of a sudden you
have the time to spend four days out of a week with us?” Meg cocked her head
to one side. “This is the first time Alvin has come in early enough to catch
you in the office but I’ve been here all week. With you. What gives?”
“Oh, nothing.” Sam shrugged, trying to look casual.
“Don’t give me that,” Meg said with a snort. “You’ve
been moping around
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