Full Bloom

Morrell. There's a new strength in you that wasn't there two years ago."
    "Assertiveness training," she announced proudly. "I took some classes."
    Jacob's eyes reflected his amusement. "I think it's more likely you've finally come into your own. Seeing you now after all this time makes me realize that I was wrong when I thought you needed someone softer and more easygoing than me. You need someone as strong or stronger than you are."
    "If I'm so tough and strong, then it follows that I no longer need you or anyone else trying to run my life for me," Emily parried.
    Jacob grinned. "You may be a lot stronger than you once were, but that doesn't mean you aren't still a little naive. Parts of you may have changed, Emily, but not everything. Not the basics. You're still very soft and sweet under that new veneer. The fact that someone like Morrell could come so close to using you proves that when it comes to judging people you're still innocent in a lot of ways. It's nothing to be ashamed of."
    "Good, because I'm not feeling particularly ashamed." That was a lie. She was furious with herself for having been fool enough to get involved with Damon Morrell on even a limited basis. But she was not about to admit that to this man or to her family.
    "Emily…"
    "I think it's time you left. Good luck finding a hotel." She stepped out from under his hands and tried once more to force the door closed.
    "I'll need to use your phone to make a reservation and call a cab," Jacob said calmly. He was already moving through the door and into her living room.
    Emily gave an exclamation of disgust and stalked into
the
living room behind him. Imperiously she pointed toward the red phone that was sitting on a white lacquer table near the window. "There's the phone. Call. I'd like you out of here as soon as possible. It's quite late and I need my sleep."
    He looked up as he dialed a number out of the phone book. "I'll be on my way as soon as possible. Wouldn't want to overstay my welcome."
    "You've already done that."
    "But just so you'll be prepared, I should warn you I'll be back soon."
    "Without an invitation?"
    He lifted one shoulder negligently. "With or without. I think you're going to need a little protection for a while. I promised your family I'd look after you."
    "Protection!"
    But he wasn't paying her any attention. He was too busy conversing with a hotel registration desk. Emily folded her arms and glared at him. He looked very solid and disconcertingly masculine standing in the middle of her white-on-white living room.
    It was a room she had poured a great deal of time and attention into creating. On the surface it was very modern and very sophisticated with its white carpet, white leather couch, glass-and-white lacquer tables and white leather-and-chrome chairs. But there was color everywhere, in the endless bouquets of flowers that filled the place, and the natural beauty of the exquisite blooms made a mockery of the superficial sophistication of the apartment. It was a home that was completely different from the old-fashioned elegance of her parents' house.
    Jacob finished his conversation with the hotel and then he called a cab. When he finally set down the receiver again, Emily was waiting to pounce.
    "What did you mean by that crack about my needing protection?"
    He stood with his feet slightly braced, regarding her with a speculative gaze. "Morrell is not going to be pleased when you tell him you won't be seeing him anymore. He won't like having his plans changed so drastically by a woman he thinks he's got in the palm of his hand. He'll probably assume he can change your mind by putting pressure on you. You're a tempting little fish, and he's not going to let you off the hook easily. He's liable to become difficult."
    "He might or might not become difficult if I decided not to see him again. You, on the other hand, already are being difficult. If I have to choose, I'll take Damon's brand of being awkward, whatever that turns out to be. Basically he's a gentleman. I'm sure I'll be able to handle him. That's assuming I decide to end the relationship in the first place."
    "You'll end it," Jacob said gently. "You're angry about the way your family and I handled the news this evening, but in the end you'll do what's best. Just do it quickly, Emily. The longer you put it off, the more difficult it's going to be. You heard what your father said earlier. Ravenscroft is preparing a bid against Morrell's firm on the Fowler project