Her Baby's Hero by Karen Sandler

Author:Karen Sandler
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Silhouette
Published: 2006-01-15T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter Nine

Marry the girl!

Stunned by Arlene’s crazy pronouncement, Ashley stared openmouthed at the old woman still peering balefully up at Jason. She could only imagine what she’d see in his face if he’d had it turned toward her—impatience, exasperation, irritation. She could barely grasp her own emotions, the muddle all the more alarming because of what it lacked; she felt no horror at the idea of marrying Jason.

Slowly turning his head, he looked back at her over his shoulder. She waited for his flat rejection of Arlene’s lunatic notion. But he said nothing, just studied her, his brown gaze softening in a way she’d never seen before.

A strange little twinge throbbed in the vicinity of her heart. She couldn’t let herself think about it.

Wedging herself between Jason and Arlene, she cast about for a way to defuse the old woman’s bombshell. Remembering that Arlene and her husband just sold the Stop-and-Go market and gas station they’d owned for years, Ashley asked, “How are you and Mort enjoying retirement?”

The old woman shot another glare in Jason’s direction. She was quick enough to recognize a diversion when she heard one. “We keep ourselves busy. Young man who bought the place calls Mort ten times a day.”

As they continued through the line to the barbecue chicken and ribs, Ashley held her ground between the combatants. She could feel Jason’s edginess, crackling like static electricity on a dry summer day.

Nina had staked out a table for them in a corner near the door, about as isolated and quiet a spot as could be found in the noisy room. After helping Ashley into her chair, Jason sat beside her, his gaze roving toward the exit as if seeking an escape route.

“Your food’s getting cold,” Ashley told him several minutes later when his plate still lay untouched.

He didn’t seem to hear her, his focus still outside the boisterous room, as if the darkening night held all the answers for him. She wished she could find a few herself, the first being why the thought of marriage didn’t terrify her the way it should.

It had to be lust. If they were married, there would be sex. If she wanted to, she could satisfy the urges that seemed to be constantly prickling under her skin. They could jump into bed every day of the week. Lust didn’t care about emotions, about love. Despite feeling nothing but respect and a growing affection for Jason, her body would find a way around the awkwardness.

If it wasn’t so completely wrong. Annoyed with the outrageous course of her thoughts, she returned her attention to her food.

Jason finally picked up his fork, although he still didn’t eat. “She’s right.”

Ashley almost choked on a bite of roll. “Excuse me?”

His dark gaze fixed on her. “I should marry you.”

“You shouldn’t,” Ashley said emphatically. “Arlene is nothing but an old busybody who can’t resist poking her nose into everyone else’s business. You can’t give any credence to what she says.”

“It’s the best way to protect you and the babies.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.