Possessing Eleanor Read Online Free PDF Page A

the most marvelous day wandering leisurely through the art museum. At times, they'd been locked in heated debate over style or theme, and at other times, they'd settled into companionable silences in order to study and appreciate particular works. Pizza and beer afterwards at a local bar had been casual, and they'd chatted easily about a vast array of subjects. At forty-two years old, he'd dated his share of women, but never had he felt such a deep emotional connection so quickly. It was as if they had known each other for months instead of days.
    Eleanor had eagerly accepted his invitation to come back to his house for a nightcap, but now, as they drove through the night, he felt her pulling away from him.
    “Penny for your thoughts?” he asked, turning the car into a neighborhood of spectacular homes.
    “Nice neighborhood.”
    “I'm relatively sure that's not what you've been stewing about the entire trip out here but thanks. I was the contractor for the development.” Pride without arrogance was evident in his tone. Much of his childhood had been spent moving from one rundown dump to the next and wondering if there would be food to eat on any given day. As soon as he was old enough to get a job, Jackson had worked with single-minded purpose to make a better life for himself.
    “Seriously? How many homes are there?”
    “Fifty-three, Eleanor,” he replied as they drove up his winding driveway. “And your attempt to dodge my original question is feeble at best.”
    He parked the car, went around and opened her door and held out his hand. She hesitated, looking first out at the house then down at his outstretched palm. His heart pounded in his chest. What was holding her back? Was she going to change her mind? After what seemed an eternity, she placed her hand in his, and they walked into the house.
    Jackson hung their coats in the foyer closet before guiding Eleanor into the living room. Despite her obvious and as yet unexplained hesitance, it simply felt right to have this woman in his home.
    “How about a brandy?” he asked, heading to the wet bar in the far corner.
    “I'd like that,” she answered quietly.
    He contemplated how to handle her unease as he filled two crystal snifters and decided that getting directly to the root of any problem she was having was the best course of action.
    “Okay, Eleanor...” He handed her a glass of the amber liquid when they'd settled on the oversized couch. “What's going on in that pretty head of yours that has you so wary all of a sudden?”
    “Nothing. I had a wonderful day. Maybe I'm just a bit tired, that's all.” She smiled slightly but never met his eyes. She made a small production of taking a healthy sip of her drink before placing it on the coffee table.
    Jackson leaned across the small distance between them and drew her into a gentle kiss. When he felt her relax in his embrace, he lifted his lips and smiled playfully. “I will happily take you to my bed once you tell me what's bothering you. You're a terrible liar, another fine quality I approve of.” When she slapped him on the arm and harrumphed, he took her hand and kissed each of her fingers. “Come on, spill it.”
    “I was thinking about a conversation I had with my friend Judy.” She toyed with the buttons of his shirt. “She was the one you passed on the way out of my office after we met.”
    “And this conversation was about?”
    “Well, it was just girl talk, a bit about you and me and just, I don't know, regular stuff. Judy's my best friend, and she worries.”
    “So you told her about our evening together.” His voice was quiet and cautious. “What exactly is she, or maybe more precisely, are you worried about?” He didn't like that she wasn't looking at him.
    “Things are moving really quickly with us, and that's not my normal way. Not to mention you are so not like any other man I've ever been with. I guess I'm a bit overwhelmed and confused and...” Her voice trailed off.
    “Then