Call It Destiny
that in his whole life Jake had never met a woman who would have exerted herself that much on his behalf.
Usually women were rather anxious to be rid of him. Everyone from his mother through that string of foster mothers had made it clear he was not a particularly lovable person. The women he had known as lovers, including his ex-wife, had found him interesting for a while, at least in bed, but somehow the relationships had progressed little beyond that point.
The complaints from ex-lovers often centered around the fact that he worked too hard and that his conversation tended to be limited to the subject of hotels and the hotel business. The few short-term relationships in which he’d become involved tended to disintegrate rapidly when sex and the subject of hotel finances were no longer enough to hold them together. Jake was rarely able to tell whether it was the women who began to withdraw first or he. He’d decided he was fated to go through life with only fleeting contacts and no sense of permanency.
Then he had accepted the position of financial consultant to Paul Strand and his life had undergone a major change. Paul, unlike other people he had assisted, was genuinely grateful for his expertise, rather than resentful of it. Neither Paul nor Ruth ever grew tired of conversation that centered on the hotel-resort industry, and his own growing interest in the future of the Hacienda Strand had endeared him to the Strands.
When the discussion had turned to the long-term future of the Hacienda, Heather’s name had come up with increasing frequency. Paul’s decision to retire had also been made known. Jake had been aware he was being gently manipulated but it was in a direction he realized he wanted to go. When Heather had proven amenable everything seemed to be falling neatly into place.
He and Heather really were going to be partners. Jake reluctantly eased himself away from her deliciously limp body, adjusted the dusty blankets around her and got to his feet.
Naked, he spent a few minutes arranging the wet clothing in front of the fire and then he stepped out into the night to try to gauge the flow of the pounding stream. It seemed to him that the rain was lessening and the canyon waters didn’t appear to be climbing. He’d set his mental clock to check it again in an hour or so.
Then he walked back into the cabin and slid gratefully down onto the cushions. With deep satisfaction he pulled his partner into his arms and allowed himself to doze.
Heather woke the next morning with the sense of something having changed in her environment. It took her a moment before she realized the rain was still coming down, although not in such heavy quantities. It wasn’t the weather that had changed, then. She opened her eyes and noted that the fire had died out during the night. But that wasn’t what seemed different, either.
When she became aware of Jake’s heavy leg tangled with hers she knew why she had a sense of everything being different this morning. She and Jake were together and in love.
„Good morning.“
His lazy, sleep-thickened greeting made Heather stir and turn languidly in his arms until she lay facing him on the narrow makeshift bed.
„Good morning,“ she whispered throatily, surveying him with contentment. „Did I remember to tell you last night that I loved you?“ Her eyes reflected her happiness.
Jake’s mouth twisted in his familiar half smile. „You did. But feel free to keep saying it. I like to hear it.“ He stroked her bare shoulder with his palm.
„I love you, Jake.“
He stared at her for a long searching moment and then without a word, leaned over to kiss her softened mouth. She responded happily, her face glowing as he raised his head again. She waited for the answering declaration of love.
„Heather, I want you to know that I’ll always take care of you. I’ll make sure you have everything you ever need and I’ll protect you. You’ll have no cause to regret marrying me, honey.“
She laughed warmly up at him, twining her arms around his neck. Her eyes gleamed. „I only hope you’ll never have cause to regret marrying me. But I must warn you that people have occasionally complained about my behavior in the past.“
„But no one’s had occasion to see what a really terrific wife you’re going to be,“ he pointed out, turning onto his back so that she lay across his chest.
„True. No doubt I have undiscovered talents in that field.“
„No doubt.“
Weitere Kostenlose Bücher