The Billionaire Playboy Read Online Free Page A

long eyelashes. What would her eyes look like glazed
over with desire? Would the green flecks be more pronounced? Would the hazel
darken?
    Focus Jake. You’re not here looking for a woman . “It smells
delicious in here.” Jake hoped to distract himself from the woman in front of
him with some small talk.
    Reaching for a
roll of tape, she tore off a long piece and placed it on his arm. Unable to
tear his eyes away, Jake watched her every movement. Her hands were slender
with long fingers and short neatly trimmed nails. She wore no rings or nail
polish, and with no warning the image of her hands on the rest of his body
entered his mind.
    “Thanks to our
generator we'll all have a hot meal tonight. Ma made enough beef stew to feed a
carrier.”
    Charlie's voice
drew him back to the kitchen. Disgusted with himself, he pulled his arm away. Most
of the time he had better control than this. Fantasizing about a beautiful
woman while sitting in her family’s kitchen wasn't something he normally did.
    “Sounds good. Thanks
for taking care of my arm. I can finish up from here.”
    Without
commenting she handed him the roll of tape and began to clean up the other
supplies on the table. She tackled the task just like she seemed to do
everything else, efficiently. He wondered if she was like that by nature or
because of her Naval training.
    “Are you
stationed in Virginia?” Jake tore off one last strip of tape and placed the
roll back in the first aid kit. “I noticed a car in the parking lot with
Virginia plates,” he said when she threw him a questioning look.
    “Norfolk. At
least for now.”
    Jake leaned back
in his chair oddly pleased that the cold tone she'd used with him earlier in
the day seemed to be thawing out a little. “I'm in Alexandria. Are they
planning to transfer you to another base?”
    Charlie studied
him without saying a word. For a moment it appeared as if she was going to tell
him it was none of his business.
    “My time is up
soon. I don't know if I 'm going to re-up or not.”
    “Tough one.”
Jake hoped he sounded sincere. If he was in her shoes he'd re-up in a heartbeat.
    She didn't
answer but rather shrugged as she washed her hands in the kitchen sink. “Try to
keep that clean and dry. I'll check it tomorrow. Supper is being served in the
dining room whenever you're ready.” With her final statement she dried her
hands and disappeared through the swinging door.
    Jake stayed
seated for several minutes. The picture of her tall lithe body was branded on
his mind. She didn't seem to know the kind of effect she had on men. Under
different circumstances he would pursue her with no questions asked, but now
wasn't the time or place. Not to mention the fact that she seemed to be
indifferent to him.
    When his stomach
growled in protest, Jake stood and pushed his thoughts of Charlotte out of his
mind. He hadn't eaten anything other than energy bars since breakfast and the
freshly baked biscuits he smelled were calling his name.
     
    ***
     
    When Jake's
alarm went off the next morning at the crack of dawn, his initial instinct was
to hit the snooze button, roll over and go back to sleep. Mornings were not his
best time of day, especially this early in the morning, but when he glimpsed
the ruffled canopy over his head he remembered where he was and more
importantly why he was there.
    Grabbing some
jeans out of his duffel bag, he pulled them on before searching for a clean
t-shirt. Since he'd showered just before hitting the sack the night before, it
seemed unnecessary to take another one now. Besides, after the day he expected
to have, he knew he would need one later anyway.
    Downstairs he
followed the voices to the dining room where Maureen O'Brien had set out
cereal, muffins and bagels for breakfast. Jake skipped both and zoned in on the
coffee where Charlie stood pouring herself a large mug.
    “You're up early.
I took you as more of a night person,” she said sparing him a quick glance.
    Jake watched