Window on Today by Joan Hohl

Author:Joan Hohl [Hohl, Joan]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Romance
ISBN: 9781610846882
Amazon: B008VF58G2
Publisher: Belgrave House
Published: 2012-08-07T16:00:00+00:00

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Chapter 6

“You’ve changed your mind, haven’t you?”

Karla shivered. The chill feathering her arms, raising goose bumps, had nothing to do with the outside temperature, or the fact that she was standing mere inches from the window that took up most of one wall in the living room of Jared’s fantastic house. And fantastic was the only way to describe the house, which appeared to teeter on the very edge of a bluff. Of course, it was too dark for Karla to see what lay beneath the cliff, but Jared had told her the house overlooked Oak Creek and the valley beyond.

Karla could see inside of the house, though, and immediately liked what she saw. The house was open, airy, thoroughly southwestern in design. The walls were smooth, stark white plaster. The exposed ceiling beams were stained a dark walnut. The furniture was casual, comfortable, covered in natural fabrics with bright splashes of earth tones—greens and browns and the occasional dash of pumpkin.

In an odd, inexplicable way, Karla had felt at ease and at home from the minute she’d crossed the threshold. Afraid to question the feeling, she had pushed it to the back of her mind and let her senses absorb the ambience.

Surprisingly, although she had anticipated nervousness, Karla had relaxed and enjoyed both the atmosphere and Jared’s interesting, if slightly strained, conversation. And at his suggestion after they’d finished dinner that they leave the cleaning-up till later, Karla had cradled her delicate wineglass in her hands and strolled to the window, drawn by the darkness beyond. She had been staring into that darkness for some minutes, raking her mind for yet another safe topic of discussion. The abruptness of his question banished her sense of ease, creating tension not only in Karla but in the spacious room that suddenly seemed too small to contain the two of them.

She hadn’t heard Jared come up behind her. She hadn’t seen him, either. Focusing on the wide window, she took note of his reflection; it was so clear she could even read his expression.

Jared was confused, impatient, and beginning to get a little angry.

She had given him reason for the emotions. After her unbridled response to him that morning, Karla could well imagine his expectations for this evening. She had thrown him a curve by acting aloof from the moment she’d opened her door to him, and now Jared was getting ragged around the edges. She couldn’t blame him, but...

Karla’s gaze drifted to her own reflection. She sighed with relief at the lack of expression on her pale face. She had played the role of impersonal but interested guest for over an hour, ever since they’d arrived at his house. Acting the part was starting to tear at her nerves. So was Jared’s behavior. Her eyes skimmed back to his shadowy image in the glass.

Though watching her narrowly, Jared had gone along with her play, giving her the kid-glove treatment ever since she’d whipped by him to exit her apartment. The gloves were wearing a bit thin.

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