Blue Twilight Read Online Free PDF Page A

last night, right?” She eyed the flower he quickly tried to hide behind his back.
    “I know, I know,” he sighed. “I was just so happy after the meeting…” Debra gave Jake the look . The one that said he wasn’t fooling anyone, especially not her. Rubbing the back of his neck, he promised, “I’ll be careful.”
    “You do that. She’s a sweet girl and doesn’t need to be hurt, Jake.”
    Any reply that he could have come up with was forgotten as Lisa emerged from the bakery. She’d pulled her hair down, and the afternoon sun glistened off her long, chestnut strands. He was struck dumb by the site of her.
    Debra simply shook her head and walked away muttering something that sounded like, “Why do I bother?” Giving Lisa’s arm a passing squeeze, she promised to see her in the morning.
    Lisa tucked her hair behind her ear and gave him a small smile. “I’m all set.”

 
     
    Chapter 9
     
    Lisa secretly checked Jake out while they walked to the nearby restaurant. Dressed in dark jeans and a dress shirt, he managed to look cool despite the humidity. His sleeves were rolled to the elbow and showcased his tan, muscled arms. The cowboy hat sitting low on his head did nothing to draw attention away from his sparkling, green eyes or high cheekbones. Mercy. It wasn’t fair one man should look so good. A quick glance down at herself left her feeling less than adequate. Her khakis had small stains scattered about, and her hair was doing a weird wavy thing after being up all morning. Twirling the sunflower in her hand, she nervously wondered what she was doing with someone like him.
    “Penny for your thoughts?”
    Startled, she glanced up at Jake. “What?”
    “You looked like you were thinking about something pretty hard. Is everything okay?”
    With a frown, she pulled her gaze from his and studied her shoes. “Yes, I’m fine.”
    Jake stopped walking and tucked his finger under her chin. He lifted it until she was looking into his emerald eyes. “Have I said or done something wrong?”
    Squinting into the sun, Lisa swallowed hard as she studied Jake’s worried expression. “What? No. Why would you ask that?”
    He shrugged. “I don’t know. I just get the feeling you’re waiting for me to let you down somehow.”
    Lisa was dumbfounded. In a lot of ways, he was right. She did not have a good track record with men. They all hurt her in some way or another. As much as she was beginning to like him, maybe it would just be better if she stopped this now. “Jake, listen, I—”
    “I won’t hurt you.”
    He’d said it so quietly she wasn’t even sure she’d heard it at first. Shutting her eyes, she tried to tell herself it didn’t make a difference. She couldn’t get involved with Jake, or anyone else, for that matter. Touching his hand softly, she said, “I know you want to believe that, and I’m sure you’re a nice guy—”
    “Ouch,” he interrupted, putting his hand over his heart. “Let’s just stop right there. I’m just trying to get to know you, Lisa. I’m not asking you to marry me. Can’t we just have lunch?”
    Blowing her hair out of her face, she considered it. It’s not like anything was going to happen. She pointedly ignored the way her heartbeat sped up at the mention of marriage. One meal. She could handle that…couldn’t she? Before she could second guess herself any more, she agreed with a huff. “Okay, let’s go.”
     
    ***
     
    The hostess sat them at an outside table that overlooked the river. Frowning, Lisa watched as the girl seemed to laugh a little too loud and let her hand linger far too long on Jake’s arm. Not that she cared. She didn’t. When the girl finally disentangled herself from Jake, Lisa watched her walk away with an extra swing in her hips. Hussy. Snorting quietly, she glanced out at the water and tried to calm her crazy, jaded thoughts.
    Jake placed his hat on the table. Giving her his full attention, he said, “So, tell me about your first