Want You Back Read Online Free PDF Page A

in Ater would have cause to talk about her or to doubt she was other than what she seemed to be. Happy. Well-adjusted. Content
    Odd how the thought had her clenching her teeth. Monica burst out die door as soon as Jenny pulled into the parking lot. She yanked open the car door as Jenny killed the engine. “Howard’s here,” she hissed. “Waiting in your office.”
    Jenny glanced at the sensible black sedan that How ard drove. “Good.” Swallowing, she forced a smile. “Great. I wanted to talk to him anyway.”
    “He’s upset,” Monica warned.
    “Seriously?” Jenny felt a surge of hope. She’d never seen Howard evince any sort of anger. He was always so ... reasonable.
    “Wait.” Monica grabbed her arm. “Before you go inside, I have to know. “What did Jake say?”
    Jenny forced herself to stay calm. “We had a very um, agreeable meeting,” she said brightly. “He insists that he means what he says, so I guess it won’t hurt anything to do his bookkeeping.”
    Monica regarded her with suspicion. “What did he do, ply you with alcohol or something?”
         Jenny laughed, glad that at least here she didn’t have to pretend. “Okay, okay. I decided that I wasn’t going to let Jake ruin my life. The past is past, right?” With a doubtful expression, Monica nodded.
    “So, if he can put it behind him, I should be able to also, right?”
    Again Monica bobbed her head.
    “I’ve decided I will be friendly to Jake. Distant, of course, but civil, in a professional sort of way. I could use the business. And if—I mean, when—the other businesses open, I will have even more clients.”
    ‘ ‘You are absolutely right! ” As Jenny had known she would, Monica embraced the idea with enthusiasm. Throwing her arms around Jenny, Monica hugged her tightly.
    “I’m so proud of you!”
    Jenny felt a twinge of guilt, which she instantly banished. She could do this, she knew she could. She would do this. She was over Jake, totally and completely. Nothing he did or didn’t do would have the power to hurt her ever again.
    “Thanks.” Extricating herself from Monica’s per fumed embrace, Jenny self-consciously smoothed down her skirt. Howard didn’t like it if she appeared wrinkled or ruffled in any way.
    “You look fine.” Monica gave her a tiny push. “Go get ’em, tiger. I put him in your office. I’ll hold your calls.”
    Curious to see what Howard would be like in a rage, Jenny quickened her steps.
    “Jennifer.” He met her in the reception area. As usual, Howard seemed put out, as if he were wasting valuable time by simply being there.
    She went to him, accepting the feathery kiss he placed on her cheek and dropping one of her own on the side of his face. Just once she wished he would hug her, put out his arms and embrace her tightly. But Howard viewed physical displays of affection as unseemly and always worried about what people would think.
    “Something amuses you?” Howard’s dry tone made her realize she’d been smiling.
    Remembering that Monica had said he was angry, Jenny sobered. As far as she could tell, Howard acted exactly like he always did. If there was anger there, she couldn’t see it But Howard had never been one for showing emotion.
    Motioning to a chair, Jenny went behind her desk and sat She steepled her hands in front of her, won dering why she felt like she was dealing with a client rather than a man who wanted to become her hus band. So far she’d managed to turn him down and, except for her small white lie when she’d told Jake that Howard was her fiancé , Jenny couldn’t imagine being married to Howard. Ever.
    Even though Howard was all she wanted in a man. Steady, secure. Howard would never propose mar riage after knowing her a mere month. Howard would never run off and leave his bride at the altar, either.
    Aghast that she was comparing the two, even if only in her mind, Jenny took a deep breath. Howard sat across from her, silently watching her. She wondered