Bittersweet Surrender Read Online Free

brain. Slowly, her eyes focused and she realized C. J. and Rita were gone and she was still standing in the entryway, staring after them. If she had held her arms out, patrons might have used her as a coatrack.
    â€œOh sure, I’m fine. Just fine.”
    â€œFine?”
    â€œFine.”
    He studied her and she quickly turned toward the office before he could question her. He knew her far too well. Lucky for her, a technician called after him about the clogged sink, and Carly was able to wiggle free from the third degree he was sure to give her.
    Closing the office door, she paced. Jake Mitchell was moving back to Spring Creek. Why hadn’t he told her? Was he trying to surprise her?
    She took a turn around the room. This was her own fault. She never should have sent him that old picture. The one without the extra twenty-five pounds, wrinkles, and cellulite. The one where she still had—oh, what did it matter now?
    What’s done is done .
    Her footsteps thumped across the hardwood as she wondered what he would think of her now. He went to the gym five times a week. What kind of person did that?
    And what was she doing writing to him?
    As she reached the opposite wall, the reality of it all came crashing around her and she sucked in air. “What am I going to do?”
    â€œAbout what?”
    Scott’s voice startled her, and she whirled around.
    His face showed concern. “Carly, what is it?” He crossed the distance between them and grabbed her as she stood in a trancelike state. “Carly?”
    She swallowed. “Jake Mitchell is moving back to town.”
    He blinked. “Jake Mitchell?” He thought a moment. “Is that the guy C. J. used to hang out with in high school?”
    â€œHe’s the one.”
    â€œThe one you had a crush on?”
    â€œUh-huh.”
    Releasing her, he shrugged and walked over to his desk. “That’s it? So what’s the big deal?” Picking up his letter opener, he sliced through the top of an envelope.
    â€œWe’ve been e-mailing each other.”
    Scott stopped a moment, looked at her, then went back to his envelope, pulling out the contents. “I see.”
    Not quite the reaction she was going for. “That’s it? That’s all you’ve got to say?”
    He sorted through the last of his mail. “What do you want me to say?”
    She walked over to her desk, plopped down, and gave him a blank stare. “An offer to help me move to Alaska comes to mind.”
    â€œSo what if he’s moving back to town. If you’ve been writing to each other, it seems to me you’d be glad.”
    â€œShows what you know.” She shoved her chin into her hand and groaned.
    â€œOh, come on. It can’t be that bad.” He continued to sort through paperwork, and she fought the urge to thump his fingers with a ruler. He was obviously missing the seriousness of this situation.
    â€œTwenty-five pounds, Scott, does that mean nothing to you?” Wild horses normally couldn’t drag that out of her, but Scott was like a brother—the wise one who always got Ivy and Carly out of the messes in which they often found themselves. “I need help.”
    â€œOh.” Scott rubbed thoughtfully at the stubble on his face. “You’re being too hard on yourself.”
    â€œDon’t give me the you-look-fine-the-way-you-are speech. I have to lose weight.”
    â€œIt’s the chocolate.”
    â€œHuh?”
    â€œYou need to stay away from chocolate.”
    Horror ripped through her veins at the very idea. “Yeah, like that’s gonna happen.”
    He calmly walked over and slid open the bottom drawer of her desk. The candy drawer. The space with an assortment of chocolate, from little round candies to expensive truffles. As he reached inside, Carly’s hand clamped onto his arm in a deadly vise.
    â€œDon’t do it, Scott.”
    His fingers continued to reach for