To Tame the Hunter Read Online Free PDF

is in,” John Fletcher announced grandly. „Louise changed her
    mind last night. We’ll be leaving at four o’clock tomorrow afternoon.“
    „Tahiti! What about your condominium at the ski resort in Utah? I thought you and Louise always went
    skiing in the winter. It’s one of those time-share arrangements, isn’t it? If you don’t use the two weeks you’
    re scheduled for, you won’t be able to get back into the condo until your turn comes up next year.“
    „Which brings up the reason for this call,“ John Fletcher retorted with a chuckle. Selena automatically
    smiled in response. She was fond of John and Louise Fletcher. A middle-aged couple of independent
    means, they thoroughly enjoyed the good life their money could buy.
    Artistic Endeavors had been but one of many flights of fancy the Fletchers had indulged. It would have
    doubtless been sold two years ago when the novelty of running the business and mingling with the artistic
    clientele had worn off, except that they had recently hired a new manager for the store.
    The new manager had thrown herself into the work with the enthusiastic desperation of a woman
    recovering from a nasty divorce. Selena had arrived in Pasadena from San Diego, where she had left
    behind a job in an art gallery and an ex-husband who had succumbed to the wiles of another woman. She
    had been more than a little grateful for the promise of a new career in a new town, and her hard work had
    paid off. Within six months Artistic Endeavors had nearly doubled its income.
    The problem, of course, was that its owners didn’t really need the money. By that time, however, they
    had realized how much the store was coming to mean to Selena and a bargain was struck. They would
    continue to hold on to the business until such time as their new manager could afford to buy it from them.
    With any luck and with the generous salary they provided her, Selena expected to be able to manage the
    purchase in another few months.
    „Okay, I’m listening,“ she said into the receiver. „What’s the reason for the call? Did you want me to
    organize a bon voyage party down at the docks for you?“ She’d done mat as a surprise for one of the
    Fletchers’ many trips and they had loved it Virtually all the store’s regular customers had shown up at
    shipside, and the wide variety of unpredictable artistic talent in the group had made for a unique farewell.
    Incredibly decorated banners, streamers, and some fairly wild music had dominated the normally sedate
    Long Beach docks that day.
    „Not this time, unfortunately,“ John sighed wistfully. „We’re flying. What I’m calling about is to see if
    you want to make use of those two weeks at the condo in Utah.“
    „Me!“ Selena gasped, startled. „I don’t even ski, John!“
    „Mingle with the crowd sipping hot toddies in the lodge and no one will ever know that you didn’t spend
    all day falling down a snow-covered hill!“
    „What about the store? I couldn’t just leave it!“
    „Don’t be ridiculous. You have to learn to start acting like an owner someday. What are you going to do
    after the place is yours? Never take a vacation?“ he scoffed. „Besides, you know Alison and the others can
    manage for a couple of weeks. You’re the one who trained them!“
    „Fledgling entrepreneurs aren’t supposed to indulge themselves in lengthy vacations,“ Selena pointed out
    on a note of laughter.
    „Only inefficient ones can’t afford to do it,“ John corrected staunchly. „At any rate, this is California, not
    New England. The work ethic is different out here.“
    „I know,“ she conceded lightly. „Playing is as important as working. I really appreciate the offer, John,
    but you’ve taken me by surprise. Give me a few hours to think about it, okay? Is there anyone else who
    might want to go?“
    „With you, you mean?“ he asked suggestively.
    „No! I mean instead of me! Someone who skis, for instance!“
    „I’m sure if I stood