Call It Destiny Read Free

he had about her and was putting it through the computer he called a brain. „You’re right,“ he finally said. „Our being married won’t make the slightest bit of difference in how the Hacienda Strand is run. More wine?“
    Heather brushed aside an odd sensation of unease and smiled her most charming smile. „Thank you.“ She held out her glass, her eyes softening above the rim as she relaxed again. „I have great hopes for this marriage, actually,“ she confided lightly. „It’s based on all the right things. We have the unifying interest of the hotel, for example. In the past few years I’ve come to realize just how sound an idea it is for husbands and wives to be able to share their work interests. Such ties seem much more durable than bonds based on romantic fluff, don’t you think? I’ve witnessed several divorces in which the man left his wife to marry his secretary simply because the work he had shared with the ‘
    other woman’ had built a stronger relationship than the marriage he had shared with his wife.“
    Jake gave her an odd glance. „In other words, you feel we have a basis for companionship?“
    „Exactly.“ Heather took another sip of wine and reflected on the subject she herself had brought up. „This marriage will also be very comfortable in a lot of other ways. My parents love you.“
    „That’s important to you?“
    „It wasn’t when I was eighteen but now, yes, it’s more important. It will just make things so much easier.“
    „When your father told me he had suggested the idea of us getting married, I half expected to hear you’d gone through the roof. Based on what I’d been told of your character I assumed a more or less arranged marriage would bring out all the old spirit of rebellion. I told Paul he’d made one hell of a mistake. That’s when he informed me that you were a changed woman.“
    „You sound as if you don’t believe in the change,“ she returned, mildly irritated by his skepticism. She’d seen traces of it frequently during the two weeks she’d been back in Tucson on a permanent basis, but tonight it seemed more pronounced. „I assure you I’m not the wild child who left here all those years ago. What’s the matter, Jake?“ she added, unable to resist the small taunt. „Worried that you’ll find yourself married to a first-class shrew?“
    „I’m sure my only problem at the moment is that I’ve got a case of wedding jitters,“ Jake said, refusing to rise to the bait. But he wasn’t looking at her as he spoke. He was focusing intently on the last of his bread.
    For some reason the fact that he wasn’t meeting her eyes bothered Heather. She didn’t know Jake well, but she had been around him often enough in the past couple of weeks, spent enough time with him during the past eighteen months or so on her occasional visits home, to learn his mannerisms. He was usually very direct.
    „Somehow you don’t seem the type to get jitters,“ she murmured. „But I think you might have a few genuine reservations about marrying me. That’s only logical. You’re a financial wizard, however, so why not look at this whole proposition the way you’d look at a Hacienda Strand spread sheet? On the plus side you will be marrying the boss.
    That’s always been considered a bright thing to do. You’ll be cementing your position in my family and in the family business. You have my word the marriage will not be a volatile affair. I’m really quite a placid individual these days. I’m a hard worker, diplomatic with guests and staff, and I honor my word. I can guarantee there will be no embarrassing public brawls or arguments. There won’t be any private ones, either, for that matter. I’m healthy, reasonably intelligent, tidy and punctual. I don’t lose my temper anymore the way I did when I was younger, and I’m always willing to listen to all sides of an issue before I make up my mind. I’ve been told I’m a very good boss,“ she concluded with