Paradise Wild Read Free Page A

blood, even though very little of it still remained in her. His dislike for Ranelle extended to her children, and to Jared in particular because of the boy’s pride in his heritage. Though Rodney and Edmond were reconciled after Ranelle’s death, Edmond would still have nothing to do with her children. Jared and Malia returned Edmond’s animosity.
    Now, however, Jared was an equal partner with Edmond in the loan company, and was forced to associate with him. Each of them made an effort to put up a good front. In fact, Jared took particular pleasure in sometimes being overly friendly, knowing how this rankled his churlish uncle.
    The secretary in Edmond’s outer office smiled brightly when Jared came in. Jane Dearing was an unmarried young woman, recently arrived from New York. She had a special interest in Jared Burkett. Jared’s rugged, dark handsomeness made heads turn. His gray-blue eyes contrasted startlingly with his black hair. Jared was very tall, six feet two inches, with a firm, athletic body. Jane was envious of Dayna Callan, the woman he most frequently escorted about the city. So were a great many women. Dayna and Jared had been friends since childhood, and it was assumed that they would marry eventually. But the women of the city were not ready to give up on Jared. Jane Dearing wasn’t either.
    “Mr. Burkett,” Jane’s blue eyes sparkled. “It’s such a pleasure to see you.”
    Her interest was obvious and Jared smiled uncomfortably. “Is my uncle in, Miss Dearing?”
    “Yes, but he is with Mr. Carlstead right now. Thepoor man came to see him about an extension on his loan. His tobacco crop wasn’t very good this year, I’m afraid.”
    Jared frowned. Lloyd Carlstead was a good sort, a Swede with a large family of youngsters and a plump, kind-hearted wife. Their small farm barely supported them, but it was on prime land near the city, land Jared knew his uncle would be interested in. Edmond probably would foreclose.
    It was well-known that the Burketts did not see eye to eye on running the company. But Jared had relinquished the responsibility of management to Edmond, since his interests were elsewhere. And it did no good to argue for the individual Edmond caused to go bankrupt, for he would always end the argument with, “Either devote your time fully to this company, sell out to me, or abide by my decisions!”
    Soon, Lloyd Carlstead rushed out of Edmond’s office, his hands clenched, his face beet-red. He passed Jared without even seeing him and ran down the outer stairs to the street. Jared gritted his teeth. The poor man was probably ruined, and all because he had had the poor judgement to come to Edmond Burkett for a loan.
    But Jared could not fight someone else’s battles today. He needed his uncle’s cooperation now, and perhaps some of his money—though he would not ask for it. He hoped Lloyd Carlstead would find help elsewhere.
    “I’ll just go on in, Miss Dearing,” Jared said lightly. “No need to announce me.”
    “Certainly, Mr. Burkett. I’m sure your uncle will be delighted to see you.”
    Jared smiled at that. Miss Dearing really did try too hard. He really should take her out to dinner some night, let her find out just how hopeless it was to pleasehim. Then she would turn tail and run. It would be the best thing for her.
    Jared strolled casually into his uncle’s cool office and closed the door. With windows open wide on both sides of the large room and fans revolving continuously overhead, it really was a pleasant room. Edmond liked to display his wealth, and he did that in his office. Surprisingly, the plush furniture and thick carpeting did not take away from the cool effect.
    “How’s business, Uncle?” Jared began. Edmond’s self-satisfied smirk was his answer.
    “Good, good. And I hear you’re not doing too badly yourself,” Edmond said expansively, and motioned Jared to one of the chairs across from his desk. “The contract you won for that new hotel in