Battle Lines. Read Online Free PDF Page B

Perhaps you should learn to test the water first. One day you are going to jump in and you’ll be out of your depth. Now there is a novel idea Jake.” Amanda’s voice rose shrilly.
    “Grow up for heaven sake.” Jake barked at her and Amanda jumped.
    “I always knew that you disliked me. You hated having me around.”
    “No, I never did.” Jake kept his voice down and even.
    “Of course you did. You made your feelings very evident.” She threw at him.
    “No, my darling… That was all you.” He pointed at her, his voice dropping low again.
    “I was left out.” She shouted.
    “Because you left yourself out.”
    “No, it was you. You pushed me out of my own family.”
    “Sweetheart you pushed yourself out.” Amanda shook her head vehemently to deny that fact.
    “No. No. No. It was you.” She said as she stamped her foot. “You did not want me there, that much was obvious. You wanted my parents all to yourself.”
    “Wow… you have a very bad memory.” Jake told her.
    “No. You got greedy Jake. You couldn’t stand the thought of sharing my parents. Tell me did you always have that greedy nature? Is that why your parents dumped you?”
    “You little…” Jake took a step toward her and she shrank back. She had made him angry, she could see that, and she had not meant what she had said.
    She knew it wasn’t true. Knew that he had had a rough life before. His parents had walked out and left. Her parents had taken him in so that he was spared a life through the care system. She had been eight at the time and he had just had his thirteenth birthday.
    “Jake…” She sighed heavily and shook her head, suddenly feeling tired. “I did us all a favour. I left and gave you what you wanted. I thought you of all people would have been happy to see the back of me. Ecstatically glad to get rid of me.”
    She did not mean her cruel words, not really. Deep down she knew that, but whenever Jake was near her she could not help herself. It was a need deep down.
    She had hurt for so long and she wanted him to feel some of that hurt.
    “Don’t be so stupid. If you have a brain, and I know that you do, you should try actually using it.” He told her.
    “How dare you.” She began but he cut her off.
    “I dare because someone has to. I have never disliked you or hated you. That was… It was… We should… never mind what I felt… never mind what I wanted. It is all water under the bridge now. I am sure as adults we can put the past behind us, after all you are my sister.” He goaded her.
    “I am not your… anything… Mr Michelson.” She told him hotly.
    Jake raised one sardonic eyebrow at her. An amused expression tugging at his features. Tugging at the hardened lines making them smoother, warmer.
    He looked inviting now. She could easily have forgotten herself and wrapped herself up in his arms. She dismissed her train of thought instantly and fought hard to stop the shiver run down her spine.
    “Perhaps… I could give you a lift.” He asked her and Amanda felt her heart beating furiously in her chest. That was not a good idea at all she decided.
    “No, I am fine.” She told him firmly. “Thank you anyway.”
    “Or I could call you a cab, Miss Michelson.” He said mimicking her earlier tone.
    The smug bastard. She experienced that overwhelming need to wipe that look clean off his face. Her palms itched at the thought and she squeezed her fingers tight into a ball to stop herself from doing just that.
    “I can get my own cab. And it is Miss Garvie now.” Her chin shot up defiantly. So there, make out of that what you want. She thought childishly.
    “You changed your name.” he stated reflectively. He sounded hurt by that, though she could not understand why. After all, Michelson wasn’t his original last name either. “Pity.” There was a pause as he slowly looked her up and down and Amanda fought hard not to squirm at the intense scrutiny. “Miss Michelson suited you so well. I’ll give you