Forces of Nature Read Online Free PDF Page A

the wind blow through her silky hair.
    Pressing the gas, Douglas opened the engine up, sending the speedometer over one hundred miles per hour. The excitement of speeding down the road made him tingle, much like good sex would. But who had time for a sex life? Douglas couldn’t find a woman who was actually interested in him and not his bank account—another problem in making himself Welco’s face.
    But Crystal didn’t seem like the gold-digging type. Quickly Douglas put the brakes on his thoughts. She might not be a gold digger, but she was the enemy. Sexy as hell, but his enemy nonetheless.
    The next day, Douglas found out just how much trouble Crystal could be. He picked up the morning newspaper from his front doorstep and the headline jumped out at him. “Woman challenges Welco growth.”
    Sitting down on the top step, Douglas read the story intently. He wasn’t surprised to see Deloris’s name on the byline.

    If community activist Crystal Hughes has her way, Welco Industries will not expand its development into west Duval County. Hughes, who owns Hughes Farm, said she received a letter from the company offering her $1.5 million for the hundred acres of land outside Reeseville.
    â€œHughes Farm is more than just a farm,” she said. “When no one else in town wanted to let Starlight House build, I let them in. The crops that I grow out here feed hundreds of homeless people and allow the girls to help other people, which speeds their healing.”
    Hughes Farm is a historic part of west Duval County. According to records from the county clerk’s office, the Hughes Farm has been in operation since 1918. While it is not a working farm, more than thirty low income families live in houses on the property.
    â€œA farm is a nurturing place. That is what Hughes Farm is all about. We’re helping families grow, we’re helping the girls at the Starlight House flourish,” said Hughes.
    Douglas Wellington III, president and CEO of Welco Industries, said, “And if this business park doesn’t go up, fifteen hundred people don’t have jobs. Twenty delinquents having a home or thousands of families putting food on their table; which is best for Reeseville?”

    Crumpling the paper, Douglas tossed it into the recycling bin on the edge of his porch. Standing, he cursed himself for speaking to Deloris because he knew she’d twist his words, like she always did. As he walked into his house, the phone rang. He didn’t need to look at the caller ID display to know it was the office. Of course the board saw the paper and if Douglas knew anything about those old men, he knew they were not amused. Grabbing the phone, he barked hello.
    â€œMr. Wellington, this is Amy. The board has called an emergency meeting and they’re here waiting for you.”
    He rolled his eyes to the ceiling and sighed. “Tell them I’ll be there in fifteen minutes.” Douglas hung up the phone and plopped down on the sofa. His temples throbbed relentlessly and he hadn’t even had his first cup of coffee. Realizing that the longer he kept the board waiting the harder things were going to be, Douglas pulled himself up, showered, dressed quickly, and headed to the office, ready to take his lumps. Somehow, he was going to have to convince Crystal Hughes to sell him that farm—especially if he planned to keep his job as CEO.

Chapter 3
    Crystal placed her newspaper on the table as she reached for her cup of organic, fair trade coffee. Satisfied that she had made some waves, she knew her work had just gotten started. Sipping the strong coffee, she closed her eyes and saw Douglas Wellington’s face. His slate gray eyes haunted her. Why did he have to be so damned fine? He should’ve looked like the monster in her head instead of the man of her dreams. And what a dream she’d had about him last night, his hands all over her body, touching her in places she