Jake's Bride Read Online Free PDF Page A

refrigerator and opened the door, pulling out the milk carton.  "Jake, would you like to stay for a while, maybe for dinner?"
    Jake looked at Christopher and then back at her.  "No.  I have to get back.  I left some work unfinished."  He turned to his son.  "But I'll see you again.  Soon."  He ruffled Christopher's hair.  "We can have milk and cookies together next time.  Okay?"
    Christopher bobbed his head enthusiastically.
    Sara waited for the three-year-old to sit at the table, then she poured him a glass of milk.  "I'll be right at the front door.  Aunt El's in her sewing room.  If you go in there with her, don't touch anything unless she says you can."
    Jake had trouble tearing himself away from Christopher, putting physical distance between them.  After a last long look, he walked to the front door.  Sara stood a few feet from him.
    His voice was gruff with all the unsaid thoughts and feelings churning inside him.  "Are you going back to Wasco?"
    She straightened her shoulders and tilted up her chin, looking directly into his eyes.  "What do you want, Jake?"
    The question she should have asked four years ago intensified the churning in his gut, and he couldn't keep the anger at bay.  "So now you're going to think about that?"
    "I've always thought about what you wanted and didn't want."
    She was lying.  She couldn't have thought about him and still kept Christopher away for so long.  Silence stretched between them until he said in a low tone, "I need time to think.  Just don't go running off without telling me.  Because if you do--"
    She didn't let him finish his warning.  "I won't.  Do you want to spend time with Christopher tomorrow?"
    Could he believe she wouldn't run?  Could he believe she'd stay at least until they made some decisions?  He looked into the kitchen where his son was still drinking his milk.  "I'll call you."
    And with that, Jake stepped onto the porch and closed the door behind him, in more turmoil than he'd experienced in years.

Chapter Two
     
    Jake strode into his office, expecting to be alone.  But Gillian was still there, sitting at her desk, sorting through mail.  "You missed your appointment with Mrs. Johnson.  I took down the information and told her you'd call her."
    "Damn!  I forgot."
    "You don't forget appointments, Jake.  What's going on?"
    Jake walked over to Gillian's son who was sleeping peacefully in the portable playpen.  He couldn't begin to sort out his feelings for himself, let alone tell Gillian about them.  In his mind he saw Christopher as he'd sat playing in the sun.  Pain sliced through him again.
    "Jake?  What's wrong?"  Gillian's voice was worried.
    Though Gillian had psychic powers that helped her find missing persons, she used her intuition more than she used her "gift" to tune into people.  That's why their partnership as private investigators worked so well.  Her intuition matched with his skill, logic and contacts could find almost anybody.  That's what he did now--he found people.  He didn't get in the middle of divorces or track down thieves anymore.
    Gillian was waiting for an answer, and he knew she wouldn't let him evade her.  Of course, that was the down side of their partnership, sometimes she was too intuitive.  "Sara and I...have a history."
    "This room sizzled yesterday with whatever is between the two of you."
    Jake went to the window and stared outside.  "She walked out on our wedding because I didn't want kids.  Today, she told me we have one.  He's three plus a few months and his name is Christopher."  Jake had told few people about his background, but Gillian and her husband Nathan knew about his childhood, Mary Beth and Davie.  He'd never told them about Sara.
    "What are you going to do?"
    He ran his hand through his hair.  "That's the million dollar question.  I just met him.  He's great.  Intelligent, friendly, curious..."
    "His mother probably had a lot to do with that."
    Jake scowled.  "Maybe.