Love Is the Drug Read Online Free Page A

her mind hadn’t been listening. Until now. Yes, now the reality had truly and totally sunken in. And the uneasy feeling she’d been having since she’d offered the partnership solidified into a hard, painful lump in her stomach.
    What on earth had she been thinking?? She couldn’t be partners with Jason and his dad! How would she ever keep Connie’s secret from them? “Uhhh…uhm, about this partnership thing—I…I think I spoke too hastily.”
    He sat forward, but she rushed on, “I want a quiet little upscale restaurant. You know, white linen tablecloths, maître d’s, the whole package, six-month waiting list—how can that coexist with an outdoorsy sports resort? No, the clientele just wouldn’t fit my prospectus.”
    She sat back and shook her head, but she kept her eyes focused on her finger as it ran down the edge of her glass, leaving a streak through the condensation, which had formed there like a shroud. “No, no,” she said, forcing her eyes back to his again. “I’m sorry,” she sat forward and placed her hand on his wrist. “ truly , I am , but I just can’t see how it could work.” She sat back again, her pounding heart lodged in her throat as she watched his reaction.
    He’d sat back now as well, his arms outstretched, his slightly fisted hands on either side of his plate. The intensity of the look he was giving her made her want to jump right out of her skin.
    When she reached for her glass, her hand fluttered a bit, but she grabbed hold of the thing, brought the straw to her lips, and took a big swallow. Then she bit the straw and turned her head, blindly scanning the bar, just to have something to do and to, hopefully, not look as unnerved as she really was.
    She heard the sound of rubbed vinyl at the same time that she felt the seat under her dip and the table jiggle when Jason sat forward, pulling his outstretched leg in toward him. For the first time in her life she understood the phrase, ‘eyes that drilled into’, because there was an actual pinpoint of pressure on the back of her head where she felt his sights focused.
    “You’re backing out on your offer? ”
    She moistened her suddenly dry lips. “Not backing out, exactly.” And then, with a slight shrug and a sigh, she continued, “Well…yeah. I guess I am.”
    He plopped back, dropping one arm to rest on his thigh. His eyes narrowed, his jaw tightened and his lips thinned for an infinitesimal moment. But it was long enough for Julie to read the look clearly. It said: You’re just like your sister.
    Well, it couldn’t be helped. And even though she was usually vigilant in keeping her promises and fulfilling her obligations, she simply couldn’t see a way around this current dilemma except for her to backpedal.
    “And here I was, ready to do the deal,” he said.
    She ignored the pang of guilt and swiveled on her seat to face him more fully. Resting her forearm along the edge of the table next to her with the other tucked up against her side, she said, “Surely you can see why it just wouldn’t work, though, right?”
    There was a long pause as he studied her. The desire to squirm was almost stronger than she could withstand. He shook his head. “Actually, not at all. I mean, I get your concern, but there’s no reason why the fishing resort—especially the kind my dad and I have in mind—wouldn’t mesh beautifully with your five-star restaurant prospectus. Actually, I think it’ll bring in more clientele. For both operations.”
    Julie looked at him with interest and confusion. “Really? How’s that?”
    “My dad’s and my vision is to create an upscale resort for executives to use, bring their wives, their families, but also, it will be the perfect location for corporate executive retreats.”
    Julie straightened and sat forward a bit. Her ears twitched, perking up with his next words.
    “I had already envisioned including a restaurant on the property. So, you see, it all dovetails perfectly.”
    Julie