The Tycoon's Defiant Southern Belle by Elizabeth Lennox Read Free Book Online

what she was trying to
     accomplish but he was also equally impressed when she had to deviate from the old
     styles.  Either for comfort or practicality, or even some sort of electrical or plumbing
     issue, Jade had managed to adjust the rooms so they would be more efficient and comfortable
     to use while still maintaining the integrity of the era. 
    The house actually looked worse now than it had when he’d originally bought the structure,
     but he could also see where the plans were going. 
    They’d come full circle and were now back in the kitchen when she he glanced down
     at her watch and gasped.  “I have to go,” she said and started stuffing papers and
     plans into her large, leather bag that had been scattered over the plywood that was
     being used as kitchen counters until the granite arrived.  Granite was being used
     instead of the previous tiles simply because it was a better material.  According
     to Jade, food and germs built up in the grout between the tiles.  So she’d selected
     granite instead since it would be easier to clean up. 
    “Have dinner with me tonight,” he said. 
    Her eyes flashed up to his face as shock and longing whipped through her at his invitation. 
     But she pushed that feeling down and quickly shook her head.  “I can’t do dinner tonight,”
     she countered.  “I have plans.”
    He raised an eyebrow.  “With your boyfriend?” he asked.
    Jade’s hand stopped stuffing papers and she bit her lip.  “Yes.  Dave is meeting me
     for dinner.”
    “And you’re going to tell him that your relationship is over with him, right?”
    Jade looked up at him, the worry in her eyes once again.  “Angelo, you really terrify
     me.  I don’t want to break up with Dave.  I’m more…”
    “Comfortable with him.”  He moved closer, his hand reaching out and touching her cheek. 
     “And is comfortable really what you want?”
    Initially her head turned towards his touch and she briefly closed her eyes.  But
     then she realized what she was doing and pulled away.  Shaking her head, she grabbed
     her bag and slung it over her shoulder.  “I have to go,” she said and hurried out
     of the house. 

Chapter 4
     
    Over the next week, Jade found herself in Angelo’s company almost constantly.  She
     would have suspected that he’d planned it that way, but there was really no way she
     could blame him for several of the occurrences. 
    Thursday evening, she was sitting in an Italian restaurant with Dave, listening to
     him drone on about work, complaining about his boss or the new management that was
     put in place over the past few weeks.  According to Dave, they were all idiots that
     were going to bring the company to bankruptcy. 
    She didn’t mention that she knew the man who had bought out his company.  Nor did
     she tell him what she knew of Angelo’s business strategy, why he’d bought one company
     or another.  She didn’t want to betray Angelo’s trust, thinking their dinner conversations
     had been private and she had no reason to betray that trust to Dave.  But it became
     harder to be patient with his complaints, knowing why Angelo had done one thing that
     made sense, while listening to Dave complain about that decision. 
    She wasn’t really interested, but she felt bad for Dave.  He had a difficult boss
     who was pushing him to get tasks accomplished more efficiently.  As an accountant,
     they had to “close the books” every month which required a great deal of tedious activities,
     according to Dave.  He was griping about the monthly schedule and all the overtime
     he had been putting in lately while Jade tried to listen, but she was more focused
     on the cheesy pasta and the delicious, crusty bread with the garlic infused olive
     oil in front of her. 
    So when his boss and Angelo came into the restaurant that night, he quickly halted
     his complaining and switched into charming mode.  Jade hadn’t figured out what was
     happening