Propositions by Tania Joyce Read Free Book Online Page A

cascading sound of the rocky creek calmed her mind. After much reflection, cursing herself and analyzing everything, Jessica put the incidents from the past few days to rest. She would just apologize to Nate and then they could go on as if nothing had happened. But why did Max’s comment, ‘Just have a fling’, keep humming in her mind?
    She couldn’t, could she? No, that’s ridiculous! She flicked the thought away. Somers was a big account for her agency. She couldn’t afford to screw this up.
    After her ride, Jessica was about to pick up her saddle and bridle off the ground when a shadow passed across her face.
    “Well, well. Fancy seeing you grace these pastures, Jessica Mason. What’s it been? Twenty years?” Without looking up, somewhere in the back of her mind she knew that voice. She struggled to sift through her memories. That voice. Where did she know it from? It was a little deeper. Mature. Yet somehow so familiar.
    Jessica glanced up. The bright midday sun silhouetted the figure before her eyes adjusted. The air shot out of her lungs. Her heart lurched. Her body trembled all over with shock. She dropped her riding gear and took a step backward. Was she seeing a ghost? What cruel trick was her mind playing?
    Not overly tall, with a stocky frame, his skin was leathered by the sun. But the Akubra hat couldn’t hide those eyes. Those stunning sapphire eyes were as blue as a cloudless summer’s day. No one in the world had eyes like this. No one else but her son. Not even Nate’s could compare. These had haunted her every day of her life.
    “Troy?” The whispered name managed to slip past her lips, her throat too dry to make more of an audible sound. “Troy Smith?”
    “Yes. It’s me.” He smiled. “What on earth are you doing here?”
    “I come out here all the time for some R and R. But what are you doing here?” Jessica took another step back from him. Her heartbeat pounded and her head rattled like a roller-coaster.
    “I started working here a few weeks ago.”
    “What?” Jessica gasped. She tried to move but her body was not responding. Troy, of all people, stood before her. Why him? Why?
    “I’ve gotta go.” Jessica dug down deep inside, pulling on all her inner strength to move. She grabbed her gear, pushed past him and headed to the barn.
    “Wait. Do you want to catch up for a beer? For old time’s sake?”
    “Old times. Old times. You’ve got to be kidding, right?” Jessica tried to breathe normally. In. Out. In. Out. But her head was wheeling out of control.
    “Jess?”
    She could feel him watching her storm off. It made her quicken her pace.
    The wind was picking up and storm clouds were starting to build in the west. She raced back to her cabin, packed her bags, threw them in her car and sped off, leaving a trail of dust behind her.
    Halfway home, Jessica’s hands shook as she searched on her phone for Max’s number and hit the call button. “Max, code red, code red. Please don’t ask any questions right now. Just please meet me at my house in an hour. I need to talk to you now more than ever. Shit. Shit. Shit,” Jessica hollered down the Bluetooth phone connection. She raced toward the city, trying to beat the storm that looked like it was about to unleash its force upon the earth. Her body was still trembling. Her brain still trying to process who she’d just seen.
    “Jess? What’s happened? Is it Nate?”
    “Worse than Nate. Please come over?”
    “Jessica?” Max’s voice was full of worry. “You’re freaking me out. I’m on my way. See you soon.”
    * * *
    At her house, Jessica’s shaky hands managed to pour a full-bodied red wine into an oversized glass. With her fingers wrapped firmly around the glass, she nestled down onto the couch and watched the unsettled harbor waters in the distance. Wind rattled the windows and tossed trees viciously about as the late afternoon turned dark and gloomy. Rain began to splash down. She stared out the window at the