Unforeseen Danger Read Online Free Page B

that first day he saw her, standing out from the girls crowded around her like a rose among dandelions.   She’d taken his breath away.  
    Stop it! he commanded himself.   Jake wished for a moment that he was like Nikki.   He wished that he could access that little internal recorder in his brain and erase that memory and so many others from his head, leaving it empty of the thought of her.
    Jake knew that he wasn’t being exactly fair with his assessment of her at the moment, but he was powerless against the pain and anger that surged within him.  
    It hurt to wonder how many times she had lain in his bed thinking of another man.
    Jake tried to shut his thoughts down.   He didn’t want to feel sorry for Nikki and he didn’t want to understand her.   Not now.   Forcing himself to think of her parents, he tried to fuel his anger against them.   Nikki had remarked one time that they only had her to balance out their Christmas card photo.   She joked that there was something suspicious about politicians with no children, so Sara had been forced to keep up appearances.   Jake realized sadly that she might’ve been right.   He wished that he’d had the presence of mind to mention Nikki’s mystery passenger to Sara.
    That would’ve set all of her alarm bells off.   The merest hint of a scandal would’ve brought Sara back to the States as fast as her broom would carry her.
    Jake sighed, knowing he couldn’t shuffle Nikki off on them, even if by some slim chance they offered to take her in.   As vulnerable as Nikki was right now, it would be heartless of him.   He hoped that she’d get her memory back soon, so they could get the divorce and get on with their lives.
    Separately.
    His stomach rumbled and he realized he hadn’t eaten anything except for a couple of candy bars.   As Jake headed back to the elevators, he caught a glimpse of a familiar redhead stepping inside.
    “Elaine, hold up!” he called.   Immediately she stuck out a manicured hand to stop the door.
    He jogged to catch up and slipped inside the elevator.   His stepsister was struggling with a huge pot of yellow mums, and Jake took them from her.
    She gave him a quick peck on the cheek and a worried look.   “Hey, guy.   How are you holding up?”
    “I’m okay,” Jake said.   “But I’m starving.”
    “Let’s go get something to eat, then.”   Elaine reached to push the lobby button, but Jake caught her hand.
    “I have to tell Nikki where I’m going.”   He nodded at the flowers.   “Nice of you, considering…”
    “Yeah, well, I’m really here for you.”   She gave Jake a skeptical look.   “So is it true, she doesn’t remember anything ?”
    “Nope.   Nothing.”
    Elaine tucked a lock of hair behind her ear and grinned.   “Well, God knows, she hates me enough that seeing my face might bring it all back to her.”
    Jake chuckled.   “As entertaining as that might be, I don’t think so.   Believe it or not, I think I might’ve bumped you from Nikki’s most hated list just before the accident.   If seeing me didn’t bring back our last fight—”
    “What happened?”  
    “I told Nikki that I wanted a divorce.   We had a big blowout and she admitted she cheated on me.”
    “Oh, Jake!”   Elaine hugged him.   When she leaned back, her brown eyes were hard with anger.   “Nikki’s a selfish little witch.   I can’t believe she would do that to you.   I never thought that she was right for you, but I always thought she loved you, as much as Nikki was capable of loving anyone—”
    “Elaine—” Jake interrupted, but she cut him off with a sharp look.
    “No, Jake.   You’ve always defended her, no matter how much she’s hurt you, but she doesn’t deserve you.   I’m sorry that it had to come to this, but now you can divorce her.”
    Jake hesitated and she gasped, “Oh, Jake!   Please tell me you’re going to divorce her.   Don’t let your sympathy get you hurt even