Jayne Ann Krentz Read Free Page A

and trustworthy.”
    â€œNo criminal record?”
    â€œDefinitely no criminal record.” She held up her other hand and continued down the list. “He’ll be dependable, kind, sensitive, and capable of making a commitment. Someone I can talk to. Someone who shares my interests and goals. That’s very important, you know.”
    â€œUh-huh.”
    â€œHe’ll also get along well with my family, love animals, and be very supportive of my career.”
    Rafe lounged back on his elbows. “But other than that, just an ordinary guy?”
    For some inexplicable reason his mockery hurt. “You think I’m asking too much?”
    He smiled faintly. “Get real. The guy you’re looking for doesn’t exist. Or if he does, he’ll have some fatal flaw that you didn’t expect.”
    â€œIs that so?” She narrowed her eyes. “How about your Ms. Right? Got any idea of what she’ll be like?”
    â€œNo. Doubt if there is one. Not that it matters.”
    â€œBecause you’re not interested in a monogamous commitment?” she asked acidly.
    â€œNo, because the men in my family aren’t much good when it comes to marriage. Figure the odds are against me getting lucky.”
    She could hardly argue that point. His grandfather’s four spectacularly failed marriages were common knowledge. Rafe’s father, Sinclair, had had two wives before he had engaged in the tumultuous affair with his model that had produced his sons. The assumption was that if he had not died in the motorcycle accident, Sinclair would have racked up a string of divorces and affairs that would have made Mitchell’s record pale in comparison.
    â€œMarriage should not be viewed as a lottery or a crapshoot,” she said sternly. “It’s a serious step, and it should be treated in a logical, rational manner.”
    â€œYou think it’s that easy?”
    â€œI never said it’s easy. I said it should be approached with intelligence and sound common sense.”
    â€œWhere’s the fun in that?”
    She gritted her teeth. “You’re teasing me again.”
    â€œFace it—we Madisons don’t usually do things that involve common sense. We probably lack that gene.”
    â€œDon’t give me that garbage. I’m serious about this, Rafe. I refuse to believe that you can’t change what you see as your destiny.”
    He slanted her an appraising glance. “You really think I could be the one to break the mold?”
    â€œIf you want to break it badly enough, yes, I really think you can do it.”
    â€œAmazing. Who would have thought a Harte would be such a dreamer?”
    â€œAll right, what are you going to do with your life?”
    â€œWell,” he drawled, “I’ve noticed that the cult and guru businesses are profitable.”
    â€œGet serious. You’ve got your whole life ahead of you. Don’t throw it away. Think about what you want. Make some concrete plans. Develop solid goals and then work toward them.”
    â€œYou don’t think my present career objective is a worthy goal?”
    â€œStaying out of jail is okay as far as it goes. But it’s not enough, Rafe. You know it isn’t enough.”
    â€œMaybe not, but it’s all I’ve got at the moment.” He glanced at his watch. The dial glowed in the moonlight. “I think it’s time that you went home.”
    Automatically she looked at her own watch. “Good grief, it’s after one. It’s going to take at least half an hour to walk home from here. I’ve got to get going.”
    He came up off the rock in a fluid movement. “I’ll walk with you.”
    â€œThat’s not necessary.”
    â€œYes it is. I’m a Madison and you’re a Harte.”
    â€œSo what?”
    â€œSo, if something were to happen to you between here and your place and your folks found out that I was the last