Fool for Love Read Online Free PDF Page B

steak and hamburger comes from
cows?"
    "I cried for a week."
    "I remember." Joe reached for
her hand and went still behind her.
    "What?" she asked, turning her
head so she could see him.
    "You took it off."
    "I couldn't stand to look at
it."
    He rubbed the groove the ring had left in
her finger. "You loved that ring."
    "I loved what it stood for even more,
but I guess I was alone in that."
    Joe held her gaze, his heated eyes sending
ripples of sensation darting over her skin. "It's his loss. He had no idea
how lucky he was to have you."
    "Let's not talk about him anymore. I
don't want to think about him."
    "Whatever you want."
    She snuggled deeper into his embrace.
"Could we just stay here for a while?"
    He tightened his hold on her and pressed a
kiss to the top of her head. "Absolutely."
    As they worked in Joe's spacious kitchen to prepare dinner, Janey was struck by
how comfortable he seemed there, as if cooking was more a hobby than a
necessity. She added the discovery to the growing list of things she'd learned
about him in the last two days.
    "I never said how much I like your
house. It's beautiful."
    "Thanks. It was a work-in-progress
for a lot of years. Sometimes I still feel like I should be painting or working
on something, but it's finally done."
    Astounded, Janey gazed around at the
intricate tile backsplash, the granite countertop, the wood floor, the track
lights over the center island. "You built this place yourself ?"
    "Every nail. Took me five
years."
    "Wow." Watching him proficiently
slice and dice vegetables for a salad, Janey realized that even though she'd
known him most of her life, she really didn't know him at all. "I
had no idea." She laughed. "I never gave much thought to where you
lived over here."
    He shrugged. "Building this place
kept me busy and off the streets."
    She took a sip of chardonnay. "Why
haven't you ever gotten married?"
    The hand that had been rapidly chopping
slowed. He glanced at her. "Just never got around to it."
    "You've had no shortage of
candidates," she said with a teasing smile.
    "What's that supposed to mean?"
    "Every time I turn around, you're
dating someone new."
    "I didn't realize you were keeping
score."
    "I'm not, but you know how it is on
the island. People talk."
    "About me?"
    Janey giggled at the face he made.
"Well, you are one of the more eligible bachelors in the area. A handsome,
successful businessman. A captain ."
    "What do they say about me?"
    "Oh, you know, different day,
different girl."
    He put down the knife and wiped his hands
on the towel he'd tossed over his shoulder. "For real?"
    Janey shrugged, caught off guard by his
dismay. "You know how it is over there. They've got nothing better to do
than gossip."
    "And you believe it? That I'm what? A
man-whore?"
    "Whoa, Joe! I never said that!"
    He picked up the platter of marinating
salmon and headed for the deck.
    Unnerved by his reaction, Janey followed
him. "I didn't mean to upset you."
    He put the salmon on the grill and closed
the lid. "You didn't."
    Janey placed her hand on his shoulder,
urging him to turn around. "Yes, I did. Talk to me."
    He turned and rested his hands on his
hips, his posture rigid.
    "Joe?"
    His face twisted into a hard-to-read
expression. "It's just that…"
    "What?"
    "That's not how it is."
    "You don't have to explain anything
to me."
    "I need you to know…"
    "It's none of my business. I
shouldn't have said anything."
    "It is your business!" He ran his
hands through his hair in a gesture of supreme frustration.
    Janey watched him, baffled by the
intensity of his reaction. "How is it my business?"
    "God, Janey," he said softly as
he gripped her shoulders. "How can you not know? Some days I feel as if I
walk around with a neon sign strapped to my back."
    "I don't understand," she said,
unnerved by his torment.
    He released her and moved to the rail that
faced the harbor. Bending, he rested his elbows on the rail.
    Janey went to him and put her hand on his
back. "I'm sorry. I never