What Might Have Been Read Online Free Page B

thought of leaving this place. Yes, she loved it. With every last fiber of her being. It had become for her the happy, bright, loving home that she’d never had growing up. No one here had ever disapproved of her, berated her, belittled her intelligence or her choices. She’d blossomed here at Collier Orchards, finding her own inner strength and purpose in life.
    But there was a part of her that felt life had simply been on hold for the past eight years. She’d stayed here out of obligation and affection for Gran and Pops, knowing that she was all they had. Logan had given her so much; she couldn’t abandon his family when they needed her.
    Despite his heart and drive, Pops had been too worn-out to carry on with the day-to-day operations of the orchard. For a while Logan had done that. When he was gone Ainsley had taken over.
    Now the world was open to her. She’d dreamed of going back to college, finishing the degree she’d abandoned upon finding out she was pregnant. She even had applications sitting on the desk in the office. She’d submitted a couple of long shots, and had meant to fill out the others so many times. But money, time and location were all obstacles she hadn’t been able to overcome.
    Now she could take the chance.
    She could start a new life for herself and maybe forget the loss in this one.
    She didn’t have much. She’d saved a little money overthe years. She had no problems working. She’d find her way. And this time she’d do it on her own.
    Because she could.
    As long as she didn’t commit murder first. A few days, a couple weeks at the most. Surely, she could survive living in the house with Luke for that long.
    The memory of him standing in the doorway to the office flashed across her mind.
    He was tall and lean. There was an edge to him that hadn’t been there the last time she’d seen him. Hard. Lonely. And yet, she knew the softness of the dreamer he’d once been. She wondered if it was still there, beneath the polished stone surface or if the no-holds-barred world of corporate America had beaten it out of him.
    Why did she care?
    Unfortunately, he still intrigued her. She didn’t want him to. And yet, she couldn’t seem to keep her eyes off him. The moment he entered a room she was aware of him in a way that she’d never experienced with anyone else.
    It was disconcerting, and she’d expected more from herself.
    Her resolve would have to be stronger.
    But he’d shown zero interest in her since he’d walked in the door. Well, aside from wanting to make sure she’d stay on until he sold the place.
    And that didn’t bother her at all. The fact that he’d thrown money in her face did. He’d assumed it would take more than her affection for Gran and commonhuman decency to keep her here. She wondered whether his assumption said something about him or her.
    What really bothered her, though, was that while he’d sat on the desk, his tight, suit-clad thigh practically shoved in her face, she’d been trying desperately to ignore her yawning and stretching libido. And he’d been giving her sidelong glances, not to look at her cleavage, but to eyeball the open accounts ledger.
    It was humiliating that she could feel this way. Still. Over Luke.

3
    L UKE STARED AT THE CRACKED ceiling. His head was pillowed on his folded arms, a single sheet draped across his naked body to the waist.
    For about three seconds he’d felt weird sleeping nude with his grandmother two doors down. But this was what he preferred and with summer beginning to set in, he’d quickly remembered how bad the insulation in this old house really was. The ancient and inadequate air conditioner simply couldn’t keep up with the creeping heat.
    Despite the fact that he was jet-lagged beyond belief, he couldn’t sleep. Certainly the temperature wasn’t helping, but it was really the woman next door that was frying