Private Property: a Contemporary Romance Novella Read Free Page A

Before she could repeat herself, he spoke again.  “Let’s sit you up.”
    At least she didn’t have to waste more breath asking again.  He slid his hands underneath her and amidst her grunting protests, managed to maneuver her back into a face-up, reclining position.
    He held out two pills.  “I heated up some soup for you and there’s crackers and water.  You’ll need to eat before you take these.”  He dropped the two tablets on the tray of food he’d placed on the coffee table before her.  “These will subdue the pain.”
    She could use that.  He moved as though he meant to leave.  “How long have I been asleep?”  She rasped out, her mouth suddenly dry.  She cleared her throat, Jared handed her the glass of water, and she gulped half of it down.
    With a resigned sigh, Jared sat down on the couch at her feet.  “A couple of hours.”
    Tabitha bent over and began crumbling crackers into the bowl of chicken noodle soup.  She supposed she should make small talk since he was sitting with her so she searched her brain for a topic.  “I don’t think I’ve ever eaten in semi-darkness before.”
    “I have to preserve the generator’s gas.  The weather is supposed to be rough all weekend.”  He settled into the couch, taking a casual pose with one arm stretched out across the back, one ankle resting on the knee of the other leg.  “May I ask what you were doing out in weather like this?”
    Tabitha stopped eating and stared into her bowl as she answered.  “I had no choice.”
    “You couldn’t have waited for morning?  The rain may not have abated, but it would have been brighter outside.”
    “I have to be in Austin first thing in the morning.  I have no – did you say generator?”  Tabitha hadn’t really given his words much thought.
    “Yes.  The lights and phone have been out for a while .”  He shifted a bit.  “I hate to be the one to break it to you, but I don’t think you’ll be anywhere by morning.”
    Tabitha’s mind began reeling frantically.  It had to be after midnight already.  There was no way to get her car; she couldn’t call anyone to help.  She’d failed again.  Her throat began to tighten and she fought back the tears welling up in her eyes.
    “What was the emergency that had you risking your life out on the road?”  His voice held no compassion for her current disposition.
    “A job.”  She pushed away from the food, after only a few bites, and popped the pills in her mouth.
    “You were out in this for a weekend job?  What job is worth the financial and physical bind you put yourself into?”  He was chastising her like a child.  He made her feel stupid with his direct words, imbecilic, a person incapable of processing rational, intelligent thought.  It tore at some secret, delicate place inside her.
    She had to end this degrading conversation.  “Thank you for all you’ve done, Jared.  I’m tired and should probably get more sleep.”  She feigned a yawn for emphasis.
    Jared studied her, his gaze not quite believing, then stood up.  “You’re right.”  He held out a hand to assist her.  “The guest room is made up.”
    She’d gotten quite comfortable on the couch and saw no reason to leave.  “I’m fine here, really.”
    He sent his eyes in an exaggerated roll.  “No, I need to soak those cushions, you need some decent rest and I’ll be just across the hall if a problem should arise.”
    His demeano r brooked no arguments.  He seemed, once again , to be demanding compliance of a lesser being.  Tabitha should have stood her ground, copped an attitude or shot off a decent comeback, but she wasn’t really the sort by nature.  The only thing she managed as she struggled to her feet was, “Enough with the couch already.”
    She limped past him, sheer force of will keeping her on her feet.  Blinding pain should have brought her to her knees, but seeing the brief stunned look on his face was enough to allow her the