Betrayed by Love Read Online Free PDF Page A

Even as he sat finishing his beer he knew he hadn’t heard the last from her. Jen was nothing if not persistent. But it would be a cold day in hell before he allowed her to set him up on a blind date.

    After Jen left, I stared down at the outfit, then sank onto the side of the bed to decide what to do. I found it difficult to accept the fact that she wanted and expected me to not only flirt with Jarrod, but to actually try to arouse him. But she had clearly been serious. Or she wouldn’t have bothered to pick out my outfit.
    So what was I supposed to do? Realizing I’d lost track of time, I decided it was time to get dressed or I’d be making a late, grand, sexy entrance. Sighing, I rose and picked the dress up and moved over to the vanity mirror. Held in front of my body, it looked good. How would Jarrod react when he saw me in this?
    Turning away from the mirror, I decided there was only one way to find out. Forty minutes later, I left the guest bedroom. Standing at the top of the stairs and looking down into the dimly lit foyer, I heard the faint strains of smooth jazz drifting from the living room.
    I hesitated and then made my way down the stairs. Outside the open living room door, I paused to take a deep breath and glance down at myself. Here goes nothing.
    I walked into the dimly lit living room. Jen, seated on the loveseat sipping a drink, stared at me in surprise.
    Jarrod, dressed in a pair of dark dress pants with a short–sleeved shirt, stood at the window. He turned. He cast a quick look over my outfit before he raised his lids.
    Our gazes met and locked.
    I saw relief in his eyes.
    Some of my tension melted away. My shoulders relaxed. Although I knew Jen was disappointed, I knew I’d done the right thing. Clearly Jarrod had not been looking forward to my slinking into the room trying to arouse him. As for Jen, she’d probably thank me later—as Jarrod had already done with his eyes.
    Jarrod smiled. “There you are, Lin. Would you like a drink?”
    I cast a quick look at Jen who was staring at me as if she felt betrayed. Imagine that. A woman who felt betrayed because her friend didn’t come on to her man. I nodded. “I’d like bottled water if you have it.”
    He nodded and moved over to the bar along one wall of the living room.
    I moved into the room and sat beside Jen.
    She stared at the comfortable silk sweat suit I wore. “What happened to the dress I picked out for you?”
    I spoke in a low voice. “I’m not going to try to arouse your husband, Jen.”
    “Why not? You think you can take him from me?”
    I blinked at the anger I heard in her voice. She spoke almost as if I had a habit of taking or trying to take her men from her. As if I would—even if I’d been able to. Recalling her many past hurts, I schooled myself to speak in a calm voice that concealed by growing resentment. “No, I don’t think I can take him from you.”
    “Good. Because you can’t. I hope you know that.”
    We stared at each other in a stilted silence. I think I was a breath away from asking her if she were doing crack when she abruptly shook her head and sucked in a quick breath. “I’m sorry, Lin! I had no reason to talk to you like that.”
    “No you didn’t,” I told her coldly.
    “I’m sorry,” she said again.
    I didn’t respond. For some things a simple I’m sorry just didn’t get the job done.
    She reached over to give me a quick hug.
    I relented and we embraced, releasing each other as Jarrod crossed the room with my drink.
    After I’d taken a few sips of my bottled water, we moved to the dining room. The large room was lit by candlelight as well. Despite the hug Jen and I had exchanged, dinner was an uncomfortable meal. Jen was a great cook, but I was a little too pissed at what I viewed as her attempt to use me. She seemed resentful, which left Jarrod practically talking to himself.
    During the long meal, I frequently looked up to find both Jen and Jarrod looking at me. Then I’d realize