Begin Again: Short stories from the heart Read Online Free PDF

though the thought of touching her now repulsed him.
    Sam forced herself to look at him. Jack towered over her, his expression dark, menacing, unforgiving. “Jack, I can explain.” She struggled to sit up, pulling her clothes into place.
    “I’ll bet you can,” he bit out. “Now I understand why you got the project. It’s called nepotism.” He rifled a hand through his hair and cursed again. “It was all a plan, wasn’t it? One big rotten scheme and I was the prize.”
    “No! It wasn’t that way.”
    “Wasn’t it?” His eyes narrowed. She shook her head. He moved closer. His expression grew fiercer. “Then tell me, how exactly was it?”
    She had to make him understand. “Richard Deeling is my uncle. He’s the reason I’m an architect. When he contacted me to head up this project, I was thrilled. It was a major challenge, one I wanted badly. I couldn’t tell anyone who I was or I’d never be taken seriously. I needed my work to stand on its own, and owning up to Uncle Richard would have damaged my credibility.”
    “And lying wouldn’t?”
    “No one was supposed to find out.”
    Jack raised a dark brow. “Oh?”
    “You weren’t supposed to happen, not where I was concerned. I was here to do a job. No involvement, no strings. Just like always.” She swiped at a tear. “Then I met you. Obviously, Uncle Richard had other plans. I confronted him after the night at the club and he admitted as much. His health is failing and he wants to retire.”
    “He’s looking for his successor,” Jack spat out.
    Sam shrugged. “Something like that, only he wants to keep it in the family.”
    “So, why not you? You’re already in the family.”
    “He doesn’t think I have the skill level yet. He told me he wanted you.”
    Jack laughed, a harsh short sound that held no humor. “Oh, really? And Richard Deeling always gets what he wants, doesn’t he? I suppose he thinks I should be flattered.”
    That comment hurt but Sam refused to let him see how much. She watched him pace the room and wished she were back in New York, hundreds of miles away.
    “So, I marry the ice-princess, get the company, and live happily ever after.” His laughter this time was filled with bitterness and resentment.
    Ice-princess. The name jabbed her heart. “I … I don’t know.” But if she thought about it, she did know. That’s exactly what Uncle Richard would want.
    Jack shoved his hands in his pockets and stared at her. “Sorry, but I prefer to choose my own bride. And though it’s been fun”—he shot a long glance toward the empty spot on the sofa—“I won’t marry you. Not even for good old Uncle Richard.”
    He turned and began walking away, out of her apartment, out of her life. “I love you,” she said softly as the pain of loss seeped through her.
    Jack paused but didn’t turn around. “Did Uncle Richard tell you to say that, too?” Then he opened the door and was gone.
    ***
    Jack arrived at Richard Deeling’s doorstep the next morning, resignation in hand. Damn those two for trying to manipulate him. And hadn’t Samantha Whitcomb been a willing little accomplice with her breathy sighs and sexy body? The thought of how he’d been played sickened him. Who knew how far things would have gone before he figured out the truth? He was damn lucky Richard called when he did or Jack would be regretting a lot more than being duped.
    “I went too far this time and for that I apologize.” Richard Deeling lifted his coffee cup and studied Jack. “You remind me so much of myself at your age. By God, I just wanted to turn the company over to someone with backbone who would do the right thing and carry on the company name with quality and dignity.” He sighed. “I really am sorry. I had no business meddling.”
    “I’m sure you weren’t the only one involved in this little scheme.” Jack refused to say her name as though not saying it would erase her from his memory.
    Richard looked genuinely startled. “Are