The Bachelor Pact by Rita Herron Read Free Book Online Page B

suggesting I'd sabotage your loan, are you, Maddie?"
    "Well, Jeff, I know Lance and Reid paid you a visit and—"
    His jaw tightened. "I don't want to talk about your brothers."
    "I'm sorry, Jeff."
    He hesitated, once again. "After all we shared, Maddie, you don't really think I'd do something so low as to sabotage a loan for you?" His fingers brushed over her palm gently. "I really thought we'd get married someday, you know."
    Before his family pressured all the spontaneity and life out of him. Maddie took a deep breath, regrets for all they'd shared and lost clogging her throat. "I'm sorry, Jeff, for even implying such a thing. Please forgive me."
    "We could still talk, Maddie." His voice sounded almost desperate. "If you'd just give up this decorating-van idea of yours and help me—"
    Her spine stiffened. "I'm not giving up my dreams, Jeff."
    His eyes softened, and for a moment she thought he was going to come across the desk, take her in his arms and tell her everything was all right the way he had when she'd gotten frustrated in college. But in her heart of hearts, she knew things between them had changed. Then the buzzer sounded again, and his secretary reminded him that the mayor was waiting, and the moment was lost. The emotions she'd seen earlier disappeared.
    When he met her gaze again, he had his serious work face firmly back in place. "Look, I'll see what I can do, Maddie. Do you have anything you can offer for collateral?"
    She fingered the diamond-and-ruby pendant at her breasts, lifted the delicate chain from around her neck and clutched it in her hand. "The only really valuable thing I have is this necklace I inherited from Mom." Surely he wouldn't ask her to sign against the necklace. He knew how much it meant to her.
    His blue eyes darkened as he took the delicate jewel and studied the setting. "All right, have it appraised, and I'll see what I can do."
    Maddie slid out of her chair and stood, gratitude warring with a sudden attack of nerves and a sliver of anger. "You really want me to borrow against Mom's keepsake?"
    His hand closed around the edge of his credenza, his voice gruff. "Middlemyer will expect something as a show of good faith. You're the one who established the new rules now, Maddie. You came to me for a business loan, not a personal favor, that's exactly what you're getting."
    "Right." Maddie's chest tightened. She wanted to prove her independence. Here was her chance.
    Still, the pendant was the only thing she had left of her mother's. Her father had ordered the ruby and diamonds to be fit in an antique setting for her parents' tenth wedding anniversary. Could she put the treasured jewelry up for collateral?
    His eyes narrowed, and she remembered Jeff's comment about marriage; he wanted a businessman's wife, not a businesswoman. She'd issued the ultimatum on TV, but he'd taken control. He'd forced her to choose between him and her dreams. Just as her father had forced her mother to choose.
    Lord, how she hated being at the mercy of a man.
    She wanted her independence, and she'd do anything to achieve it.
    Yes, she'd put the necklace up for collateral. In a way the situation was fitting. Her mother had sacrificed her own dreams to care for her father, to try and help him pursue his goals, but she'd lost her own in the process. Maddie would not repeat those mistakes.
    She'd take money from Jeff but strictly as a business deal. She'd show her brothers and that infuriating Chase Holloway that she wasn't a kid anymore, that she could be a successful businesswoman. But she'd never give up her independence or her dreams for Jeff.
    Or any other man.

Chapter 4

     
    Chase grinned at Daphne, thanking his lucky stars Lance had sent the buxom blonde his way during their Friday afternoon happy hour at the Shrimp Store. The men had met to discuss the problems at the development, mainly the importance of meeting standards and finishing the project on time. One of their backers had warned that if they