Penalty Clause Read Free Page A

door caused fantasies to race through his mind.
     

Chapter Three
    It was no surprise that an hour later Andrew found himself standing at the upstairs window in the carriage house. He looked out onto the Walsh’s property, thinking about Jill. He didn’t actually expect to see her, but when he thought about what he was doing, he kicked himself for acting like such an adolescent jerk. Andrew was just about to turn away when a light spilled out onto the backyard. Then, her back door opened and a large brown dog ran out into the yard, barking and jumping in the snow. Jill followed, wrapped in a blanket. Andrew stepped back a few inches to avoid being seen but he couldn’t help watching just a moment longer when Jill looked up at the stars.
    Jill was more beautiful than ever. Looking down on her, Andrew could see she was still incredibly sexy. If she was even half as sweet and kind-hearted as he remembered, Andrew couldn’t imagine how her husband let her get away. Her ex must be a first class idiot.
    There were a few small snowflakes falling and when Jill raised her chin to catch the snowflakes on her tongue, Andrew let out a low groan. Shaking his head at himself, he walked into his bathroom, turned on the shower , stripped down, and doused himself with cold water. He had a feeling it wouldn’t work, but he had to try to wash away the sight of snowflakes melting on Jill Walsh’s tongue.
    ***
    Jill was content to be back in her grandparents’ home. Since the morning ten months ago when Jake announced he loved someone else and wanted a divorce, she’d felt lost and anchorless. It was good to be in a place filled with happy memories. Jill didn’t have many friends in the area since she had only visited her grandparents during the summers and hadn’t been here in years, but she figured she’d get out and meet people. She’d make friends eventually and feel more settled.
    Girlfriends. Only girlfriends. Jill didn’t need any men in her life at this point. She’d been completely blindsided when Jake said he wasn’t happy. She had believed in their love, their marriage, and their commitment to one another. At this point, Jill couldn’t imagine letting herself trust that way again. After all, even if she thought she was in love, how could Jill trust in another person’s feelings, in the strength of their commitment to one another after the colossal mess of her marriage?
    She couldn’t. It was just that simple. Jill couldn’t trust like that ever again. What she was feeling right now hurt too much to risk going through this again.
    Jill frowned, knowing it would be sad to live without love in her life, but she just didn’t see any way to let herself take that kind of chance. Okay, so maybe she’d have to let up on the girlfriends-only thing. She’d just keep anything that did happen with a guy completely casual. Yeah. A good no-strings-attached fling every once in a while wouldn’t hurt. But that would be it.
    She opened the back door and stepped out into the backyard. Jill watched Rev, her chocolate Labradoodle race off to chase snowflakes. That dog was always happy, no matter what he was doing, and his happiness managed to bring a smile to Jill’s face.
    Jill looked up at the night sky. She was probably ready for a good fling to help erase the sting of her husband’s betrayal. It was odd, really, the way she felt after the divorce. Jill was still confident in so many ways. She knew she was smart, and for the most part, still felt attractive. She knew she was a good friend, had a good sense of humor and that she was a talented photographer. She knew and believed all those things.
    Even so, there was still a nagging sense of…inadequacy. A feeling that maybe she should have been able to keep her husband from straying.
    Jill’s parents had been together for fifty-two years and were still happily married. They’d built a strong and loving marriage that lasted. Why couldn’t Jill? Jill wondered what was wrong