Sweet Revenge by Katherine Allred Read Free Book Online Page B

patient?
    His daughter was sitting at the end of the table, her nose buried in one of the books she’d gotten from Jessie. While he approved her interest in reading, he did wish she would occasionally put the books down and get involved with kids her own age.
    “Did you get your room straightened up?” He took an icy soda from the fridge and held it against his face for a second before opening the tab.
    “Uh-huh.” A my didn’t even look up when she answered. “A lso vacuumed and dusted.” Chase pulled out the chair across from her and sat down, studying her bent head. “Got a minute?” She looked up. “I guess.”
    “A re you sure you’re okay with me going to the dance tonight? I can always stay home.”
    “I don’t mind. A unt Ruth rented some movies for us to watch.”
    “Got your overnight bag all packed?”
    “Yes, sir.” She glanced out the window.
    Chase hesitated, rolling the bottom of the soda can in a circle on the table. “You really like Jessie, don’t you?” Her whole face lit up. “Jessie is great. She doesn’t talk to me like I’m just a kid.”
    “Oh, meaning I do?” He smiled at her.
    “Sometimes. But you’re my dad, so I guess you have to. You like Jessie, too, don’t you?” She was suddenly looking a little anxious.
    Trying his best to appear nonchalant, Chase took a drink of soda. “Sure. She’s okay.” A my took a deep breath in relief, then suddenly held it as she looked out the window. “Wow.” She expelled the air in a whoosh.
    “What?” Chase leaned over to see what had caused the exclamation. It was a car, pulling to a stop in Jessie’s drive. Not just any car, either. It was a shiny black sports car. He couldn’t be sure, but from here it looked like a Jaguar.

    Even as the driver exited the car, Jessie flew out the back door and launched herself at him. The stranger caught her, lifted her feet from the ground and spun her in a circle before kissing her soundly. Furthermore, not only was she not protesting, she seemed to be returning the sentiments.
    Every organ in Chase’s body clenched with anger. If he’d touched the soda can at that instant the contents would have boiled away to steam. His reaction was gut level, primitive in a way he’d never experienced before. A low growl rumbled in his chest as he assessed the enemy, the male who was intruding on his personal territory.
    He barely noticed the puzzled look A my shot him before she turned back to the window.
    The man was only a few inches taller than Jessie, but well-muscled, his size exactly proportioned for his height. Obviously of Hispanic descent, his dark hair waved down to his shoulders. He had the classic features that some women seemed to find irresistible, the kind that belonged on a movie screen.
    Unconsciously, Chase’s lips curled back to expose his teeth, his entire being focused on the arm casually draped around Jessie’s shoulders as the couple turned toward her house.
    “Dad, are you okay?” A my was staring at him again.
    “I’m fine.” He ground the words out.
    “You look you’re going to bite something,” she commented. “A nd you were growling.” Chase forced himself away from the window, wondering when he’d stood and moved around the table. “I was not growling.”
    “Yes you were. I heard you.”
    “I’m just hungry. I missed lunch.”
    “Want me to make you a sandwich?”
    “I’ll do it.” Food was the last thing he wanted, but he had to do something with the adrenaline spurting through his body. He didn’t realize his hands were fisted until he reached for the bread, and even after he’d relaxed them he still mangled the first slice out of the loaf.
    Why the hell hadn’t it occurred to him that she might be in a relationship with someone? He glowered at the peanut butter he was spreading. Because he hadn’t wanted to think about it, damn it, and he still didn’t. But it was stupid to think a woman like Jessie wouldn’t have been snapped up long before