Queen of Hearts Read Online Free PDF Page B

marriage!"
    "So I did. I apologize," he grinned, holding up a hand in mock surrender. "I really didn't intend to get into the financial aspects of the matter. We were discussing age, as I recall!"
    "My rather advanced one," she acknowledged wryly. "No, I believe it was the two year difference between your age and Nat's that was the topic," he corrected quietly. "My brother is still maturing, Janna. He shouldn't be marrying a woman as forceful as yourself. The two years you have on him give you two years more strength of personality and character. He's not really equipped to manage you yet and bring you to heel when you step too far out of line. He'll only know that after a few months he'll be frustrated and resentful of your natural authority. It will lead to disaster!"
    "Thank you very much for that lovely character assessment!" Janna ground out, seething. It didn't help any to realize that Nat's true intended was probably just right for him. Soft, pliable, obliging Lucy would be more than content to let Nat grow into a strong masculine role. And the younger man's obvious desire to protect and care for his future wife was the reason she, Janna, was having to tolerate Adam Halleck tonight! She opened her mouth to finish giving Adam a piece of her mind and then had to close it as the waiter stepped forward to take the order. The interruption gave Janna a chance to think. Why should she bother arguing with Adam? Why not simply try and get through the evening quickly and without any more outbursts? Try to think about Scott Barrett. Perhaps he would wander through the library again tomorrow night when she was on duty. Things were slower at the reference desk during the evening hours. They would have a chance to chat for a few minutes... The image of Scott had no sooner taken shape in her mind than reality matched it. Janna glanced idly across the room while Adam finished ordering the wine and her eyes widened unconsciously at the sight of Scott entering the restaurant. With a woman, she realized in sudden dismay. Of course he would have a girlfriend. After all he was good-looking, charming, and on his way to the top of the academic ladder. She watched as the fair-haired man with the trim, urbane beard and slender build allowed himself and his friend to be escorted to a table a few booths away. He wore a deceptively casual tweed jacket with leather patches on the sleeves that instantly marked him as a member of the academic community. He lacked only a pipe at the moment to complete the picture, but Janna remembered seeing him with one in the past. Now, she thought determinedly, who was he with...
    "Is my brother aware of this tendency of yours to ogle other men when you're out on a date?" Adam asked casually, causing Janna to snap her dark, sleek head around quite suddenly in surprise.
    "I beg your pardon! I was not ogling!"
    "I'm surprised Nat hasn't managed to buy you a ring. The weight of it on your finger might keep your mind on him." Adam leaned back against the upholstery and studied her with a bland look.
    He knows! Janna thought in alarm and then immediately forced herself to calm down. How could he? All she had to do was keep cool and collected.
    "Nat said he told you that he hasn't been able to afford a ring yet. We have an understanding but we haven't made a formal announcement to the world," she reminded him stiffly, trying to recall the few details she and Nat had been able to sketch out when they had evolved the plan.
    "And until this formal announcement is made you're allowed to cast that peculiarly speculative female look on other eligible men?" Adam smiled. The smile wasn't very nice, Janna thought nervously.
    "I just saw someone I know. That's all," she grumbled by way of explanation.
    "Someone sandy-haired, blue-eyed, about six feet and looks as if he plays a lot of tennis?" Adam glanced with evident disinterest in Scott's direction.
    "Yes!" she snapped, goaded.
    "If you were mine and had the distressing habit of