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He shook his head. “I wouldn’t say that. You’re the type of woman who should be married.”
Unsettled by his tender statement, she frowned. “Why, because I’m helpless? Do you think I need a man to take care of me?”
He picked up his coffee cup and smiled at her. “No, because you’re warm and passionate. You have a lot of love to give to the right man. A jerk like Grayson St. James didn’t deserve you.”
His words of admiration surprised her. Seven years ago, he’d thrown her offer of a night of passion back in her face.
“You could have fooled me. Last time we had this conversation, you wasted no time letting me know I was less than desirable.”
He shook his head. “You were still jailbait, and I worked for your old man. Anyway, the only reason you made a play for me was to get back at your father.”
She felt herself blush. It wasn’t true. She’d had a secret crush on him back then. It all came to a head when Jake pulled her out of an after-graduation beach party. She’d been furious at still being treated like a wayward schoolgirl.
In an instant, she’d decided bedding Jake Ramsey was the perfect way to assert her independence and had reached up to kiss him. She could still recall his shock. He froze in her embrace. Then his mouth had softened under hers, and his arms came around her to draw her to him. He’d pressed her against his erection for an instant, giving her unmistakable proof of her effect on him. Then he’d pushed her away.
She could still recall his words.Don’t tease me, Sunshine. I’m a man. Not one of those little boys you fool around with.
The next day, much to her father’s disapproval, she’d moved out.
Embarrassed at dredging up the past, Samantha changed the subject. “About our sleeping arrangements... I think it would work better if I slept in the loft. That way, your early rising won’t wake me.” She stretched and stifled a groan. Her back ached from a night spent on the lumpy couch.
“No.”
She was startled by his abrupt denial. His teasing mood had evaporated. It seemed she’d crossed some line. Trying to mend the rift, she said, “I’d be willing to pay for inconveniencing you.”
His hard mouth kicked up into a mysterious half-smile. “I doubt it. Not the kind of payment I’d want.”
Did Jake want her? It would be an earthshaking revelation. She couldn’t handle a man like him. Not here, not now. All her instincts for self-preservation told her to ignore his statement. She would appeal to his chivalrous side. After all, he’d been quite agreeable this morning.
“It’s just that the sofa is hard on my back. Do you remember my old back injury from when I fell off a ski lift when I was sixteen? Well, it’s been bothering me lately.” She smiled sweetly, all but batting her eyes at him. “The gentlemanly thing to do would be to let me have the more comfortable sleeping arrangements.”
A mocking smile played on his lips. “I’m not a gentleman, or have you forgotten?”
She stiffened her spine, leveling a cool gaze his way. So, he wanted to play games. Well, she didn’t want to play.
“No, I haven’t forgotten.” She got up from the table and deliberately turned her back on him. “I’m going to shower, get dressed, and go into town for supplies. I’ll keep to myself for the rest of my stay.”
“I’d wait a while if I were you.”
She frowned and turned to snap at him. “Don’t tell me what to do, Ramsey. I make my own decisions.”
He shrugged. “Suit yourself.”
Walking into the bathroom, she turned on the shower adjusting the temperature. Shrugging out of her pajamas, she hopped into the shower. A second later, the spray turned from hot to icy. She let out a high-pitched shriek of surprise as needles of cold water pounded on her head.
“I told you to wait,” Jake called from the kitchen. “The water heater is on the fritz.”
She swore a blue streak. He’d let her freeze to teach her a lesson. Jake Ramsey was a hard-hearted jerk. Then she remembered the quilt he must have covered her with last night, and sighed.
He had her in total confusion. Maybe that was what he wanted. Just what kind of game was he playing here? Irritated, she rummaged through her bag for her supplements. She’d need them to get through this. Pulling out the bottles, she lined them up on the bottom row of the medicine cabinet, shoving his toothbrush and aspirin to the side.
She walked out of the bathroom ten minutes later, chilled but fully dressed. Thankfully, he was nowhere in sight.
She stopped by the loft ladder, peered up, and listened. There was no noise from above. He had probably gone outside. Why didn’t he want her up there? What was he trying to hide? Her duty as the owner’s daughter was to ensure he didn’t have the loft covered with empty beer cans and girlie magazines. She eyed the ladder warily. She put her qualms about climbing the ladder to rest. She could do this. It was the perfect moment to find out what he was doing.
But what would she say if he was up there? I thought I’d take you up on your offer to have a fling? He’d probably love that, given his surprising come-on this morning. If she was going to do this, she had to be quick. It was a good thing her fear of heights was a thing of the past.
She reached for the ladder and cautiously started to climb. At the top, she stopped to peer around. The loft was neat as a pin. There were no beer cans or girlie magazines in sight. She noticed some items he must have brought with him, a laptop and a telescope on a tripod. How odd. Who was he watching with the telescope?
