Island Hearts (Jenny's Turn and Stray Lady) Read Online Free PDF Page B

it was harder to sound firm. She’d never seen him look quite so threatening, his cheekbones jutting out sharply under glowering eyes. She remembered suddenly that his Haida ancestors had been warriors feared everywhere on the Pacific coast.  

    “Let go of me, Jake! You’re hurting my arm. You heard what I said.” She sucked in a deep breath. “I’m quitting. I quit.”
    “You can’t quit,” he said flatly. “I won’t let you.”
    “You can’t stop me,” insisted Jenny, with a conviction she couldn’t quite feel.
    He loosened his grip on her arm, but she knew it would tighten again if she made a move. Impatiently, he said, “Let’s get to the point, shall we? What’s your grievance?”
    “Grievance?” She shook her head, confusion showing in her eyes for a moment, then anger. “I’m trying to tell you that I’m quitting – I’ve been trying to tell you all morning, but you won’t stay still long enough for me to get out a word!”
    He grimaced. “You didn’t have any trouble out there just now. You got your message through. I take it this is about your holidays. I honestly don’t know how we can—”
    She stamped her foot in frustration. “ It isn’t the bloody holidays! Oh, partly I suppose it is – and a lot of other things, too. But it makes no difference now. I’m leaving. I’ll get the organizing done for the Eglinton thing – then I’m gone .”
    She’d never seen him so much at a loss before. He’d fallen silent, staring at her as if he didn’t know how to handle this. She pushed down a strong urge to change her mind, tell him it was all a mistake.
    In the next room, Charlotte was phoning the florists with Jake’s love message for Monica. Staying wouldn’t change that.
    She made her voice businesslike. “You were going to the North Shore?”
    “ To hell with the North Shore!” he exploded. “What’s this really about? Someone else offered you a job? How much, Jennifer? How much were you offered? If it’s a raise you’re after—”
    “It’s not money. It’s not another job.”
    “Then what is it , for God’s sake?!” He turned angrily away from her, then spun back, coming too close. She could feel the violence and frustration radiating off his body in waves.
    “Stop shouting at me, Jake!”
    He took a deep breath. Jenny’s hands clenched. She’d never seen him so angry before. His blazing eyes made a lie of the flat calmness in his voice. “Why are you leaving?”
    Lamely, she said, “I’m going away,” then added, “Sailing. With George.”
    “George again?” He glared at her for long seconds, then said, “Fine. Have your fling – your damned holidays! But cut this nonsense about leaving! You can’t leave! ”
    He moved closer. She stepped back, moving around her desk and sinking into her chair. She felt sick, weak from the strain of shouting at Jake and having him shout at her.
    “I’m really going,” she insisted, not looking at him. “I’m not coming back.”
    “Just like that?” He waved an arm, gesturing at her desk, the worktable they often used together. His motion caught her attention and she found herself looking into his eyes, seeing an unexpected vulnerability that was quickly shuttered as he said, “Five years – and you’re just going to leave?”
    Tonelessly, she explained, “I’ve got a month’s holiday starting next week. You promised me that last winter. In January, you said—”
    “I remember what I said, for God’s sake!”
    “ Don’t swear at me! ” she shouted back.
    He didn’t lower his voice as he retorted, “You’re in a temper today, aren’t you, my lady? What’s gotten into you?”
    “Look who’s talking!” She met his blazing eyes head on. “You’re prowling around like an angry bear – roaring like one, too!”
    He paced across the room and back again, demanding, “Are you marrying this George?” He lunged around her desk, grabbing her shoulders and giving a short, rough shake. “ Jennifer,