Lady's Choice Read Online Free PDF Page B

Travis had led her to the outside seating area.
    Morning sun poured warmly through the decorative wooden lattice overhead, dappling the white tables and French cafe-style chairs.
    "They mean well, you know," Juliana said easily as she sat down across from Travis.
    "I know they do but I feel like I'm in a goldfish bowl every time I go into the shop. Do you tell them everything?"
    "No, of course not," Juliana assured him quickly. "But they've been sort of monitoring our relationship right from the start. They were there that first day when you walked in and ordered a cup of coffee, remember? They knew how I felt about you at the beginning. They guessed right away this morning that something terrible had happened."
    Travis sighed and leaned back in the small chair. It creaked under his weight. "You're a full-grown woman, Juliana. Not a starry-eyed teenager. You'd think by now you would have learned to be a little less, well, less obvious about your personal feelings."
    "I'm a very straightforward person, Travis." Juliana grew more serious as some of her initial euphoria subsided. "People always know where they stand with me and I like to know where I stand with them.
    Life is easier that way. Keeps the stress level down a little."
    "You're an odd combination of ingredients, you know that?"
    "You mean, for a woman?" she asked dryly.
    "For anyone, male or female. When it comes to business you're as shrewd a small-businessperson as I've ever met. The success you've made out of Charisma speaks for itself."
    "But?"

    Travis's mouth kicked up at the corner and his eyes glinted. "But when it comes to a lot of other things, you're a little outrageous. No, that's putting it mildly. You're more like a keg of dynamite. I can't always predict when and how you'll go off. And you always do it loudly."
    She shrugged. "You don't know me as well as you think. And I obviously don't know you as well as I thought I did or I wouldn't have put my foot in my mouth the way I did this morning. But that's okay.
    We've got plenty of time to learn all we need to know about each other, don't we?"
    Travis studied her for a long moment. 'I'm not going to make any promises, Juliana. I want that clear this time right from the start."
    "Are you one of those men who can't make a commitment? If so, just say it straight out because I really don't want to waste any time messing around with a male who's uneducable."
    "Damn it, I'm one of those men who won't be rushed into anything, including a commitment. And I just want that fact on the table before we try this relationship again. Knowing that, are you still willing to give me my month?"
    Juliana thought about it but not for long. "Sure. Why not? I'm willing to take a risk or two if the prize is worth it."
    Travis shook his head in silent wonder. "So reck-
    "Only when I'm going after something important."
    "I guess I should be flattered that you consider me a worthwhile prize."
    "That remains to be seen. At this point, you're just a potentially worthwhile prize."
    "Yeah. Well, as long as we're dealing in warnings, I guess I ought to inform you that you've had yours.
    No promises from me, Juliana, implied or otherwise. No commitments. We take things a day at a time.
    I won't be pushed into anything."
    "I've had my warning," she agreed smoothly. "But you haven't had yours."
    His brows rose. "What warning is that?"
    "Since you are unable to see your way clear to make a commitment, I am unable to see my way clear to go to bed with you until we've resolved all the issues between us."
    Travis's eyes narrowed coldly. "I didn't think you were the kind of woman who used sex to get what you want."
    "I'm not. Just as you're not the kind of man who could be manipulated with sex." She smiled brilliantly.
    "Therefore, I wouldn't dream of trying to hold you that way."
    "Very thoughtful of you," he muttered.
    "By not going to bed with you I will leave your brain free of hormonal clutter," she added. "You'll be able to think much