Lady's Choice Read Online Free PDF Page A

he had been too bemused by events to think at all until Juliana had breezed into the bedroom with her chic little art deco teapot and started making marriage plans. That had brought Travis back to reality with a thud.
    Juliana was taking over, threatening his plans for vengeance. After all the planning and hunting and patience he'd been obliged to exert during the past few years, Travis was not about to lose control of the situation now.
    He rubbed the back of his neck and switched on the Buick's ignition. He should have seen it coming, he told himself. Juliana had fallen in love with him sometime during the past three weeks. He'd known that for cer tain last night when she had given herself freely, without any reservations. That was the way she did things. And if he was honest with himself, he had to admit he had taken everything she had to give.
    He had to keep reminding himself that she was a Grant, Travis thought as he headed back toward his apartment. And he would be damned if he would let any Grant give him an ultimatum.
    One month to figure out he loved her? One month to come to his senses? Who did she think she was?
    Before the month was out he was going to have reaped his revenge on all the Grants.
    He would be lucky to have a week with her, at the most.
    Because when the manure hit the fan, as it surely would very soon, everyone would have to choose sides. Travis didn't need to be told which side Juliana would choose. Her choice was preordained by the fact that she was a Grant. Travis faced this reality with stoic acceptance. He was used to being the outsider, to being the one not chosen.
    But all he could think about as he drove back down the winding road into town was that last night had been something else. The memory of it would haunt him as long as he lived and he knew it. He could still feel the imprint of her nails in his back. Juliana Grant was the kind of woman who left her mark on a man.
    Suddenly the prospect of stealing even one more week with her was more than he could resist.

    * * *
"Hey, how was the big date, Juliana?"
    "Saw you having dinner down at The Treasure House last night. You two looked so involved I didn't want to interrupt. Thought maybe the man was about to pop the big question."
    "How about it, boss, you wearing a ring this morning?"
    Juliana glowered fiercely at the expectant faces of her staff as she came to a halt in front of the long gray counter. "Don't the two of you have anything better to do this morning than stand around asking personal questions?''
    "Uh-oh." Sandy Oakes, her gelled hair sleeked back behind her ears to show off the three sets of earring she was wearing, eyed her co-worker. "Looks like all is not well with our supreme leader this morning. Best go grind a little coffee, Matt."
    Matt Linton, whose hair was even shorter than Sandy's and who wore only one earring, frowned in sudden concern. "Hey, we were just teasing. Is everything okay, Juliana?"
    "Everything is just fine. Absolutely peachy. Fabulous." Juliana hurled her oversized leather tote into her cubbyhole of an office and then reached for one of the watermelon red aprons that bore the Charisma logo. "I couldn't be happier if I had just found out I had won the lottery. Satisfied? Now get busy. The morning rush will be starting in a few minutes. Sandy, why aren't those biscotti in the display case?"
    "The bakery just delivered them five minutes ago," Sandy explained in soothing tones. "I'll have them out in a sec." She slid a speculative glance at her boss as she arranged the biscotti in a glass case near the cash register.
    "Matt, try to look useful. The counter needs straightening. And where's the cinnamon shaker?"
    "Ouch." Matt shook his hand as if it had just been bitten by a savage dog.
    Juliana groaned. "Look, I apologize for being snappish this morning. But the truth is, I am not in a good mood."
    "Funnily enough we could tell that right off," Sandy said. "I take it the turkey didn't ask you to marry him