Call It Destiny Read Free Page A

a quick grin.
    Jake stared at her for a long moment and Heather wished suddenly that she could read his thoughts. That polite mask he wore gave little clue to what he was really feeling.
    „And on the negative side?“ he finally asked softly.
    Heather narrowed her eyes. „There are no negatives. At least no major ones come to mind.“
    „Amazing. That certainly makes things simple, doesn’t it?“ But he was smiling again; that wry curve to his hard mouth that he’d favored her with so frequently during the past couple of weeks. She wished it didn’t give her a pang of uncertainty every time she saw it.
    „Very simple,“ she assured him briskly.
    „And have you also worked out a balance sheet for yourself?“
    „Of course.“
    „I’d like to hear the items in the plus column, if you don’t mind.“
    „Why not?“ she said airily. „This marriage will provide me with a husband eminently suitable to my whole family. I will be marrying a man who knows and understands my work and who will share it with me. I am assured by all who know him that I will be getting a husband who has no reputation for violence.“ Heather looked at her escort with amusement. „Mother says you aren’t likely to be a wife beater.“
    „How reassuring for both of us.“
    „Isn’t it? Let’s see, what else will I be getting out of this marriage? Oh, yes. I mustn’t overlook the fact that both parties are going into it with a full understanding of the situation. We needn’t bother with a lot of romantic fiction nor do we have to convince ourselves that we are passionately in love. Our relationship will be allowed to grow naturally, without any undue pressure.“
    „Our relationship sounds like some sort of experimental germ growing in a culture dish.“ But Jake didn’t appear at all perturbed.
    Impulsively Heather leaned forward, her fingertips coming to rest lightly on the sleeve of his summer-weight jacket.
    „I really do have great hopes for this arrangement, Jake. I think everything is going to be perfect.“
    His gray eyes went from her tinted nails to the earnest expression on her face. „I’m not sure about perfect,“ he hedged gently, „but it’s bound to be interesting. Would you care for dessert?“
    Withdrawing her hand, Heather shook her head. „No, thank you.“
    „Then perhaps we should be going. It’s been a long day for you and I imagine you’re tired.“ Jake signaled for the check, which was delivered almost immediately. He handled the details of paying the bill with casual efficiency, and then politely got to his feet and held Heather’s chair.
    She was vividly aware of his presence behind her as they made their way out of the restaurant and into the balmy summer evening. It was nearly the end of August and one of the typical summer thunderstorms had been and gone during the hour and a half Heather and Jake had been in the restaurant. As usual, a great deal of water had been dropped from the skies in a short period of time and the parking lot and the cars glittered with it in the fresh aftermath of the rain. Jake’s white Mercedes had endured the sudden drenching with polite stoicism and Heather slid comfortably into the red leather interior. A small river of water still coursed down the specially designed channel between the parking lot and the street, but the car splashed through it easily. Soon all traces of the heavy storm would disappear and Tucson would once again bake in the heat of August.
    „The rains have seemed heavier than usual this year,“ Heather remarked, more for something to say than any other reason. Jake had been very silent since taking the wheel.
    „Perhaps they just seem heavier to you because you’ve been away from Tucson so long,“ he suggested.
    „Perhaps.“ Heather lapsed back into silence.
    This time it was Jake who broke the quiet. „Is it good to be home, Heather?“
    „Yes,“ she affirmed with satisfaction. „Very good.“
    „Do you regret leaving?“
    With