Unsuitable by Doreen Owens Malek Read Free Book Online Page A

to turn around but her wheels spun uselessly. She gave up, turning her hands out in resignation.
    “Your tires are stuck in the mud,” Jason yelled to her. “Get in the van; it has better traction.”
    Carrie did as he said, grabbing her purse and locking the car door as she hurried to join him. He took her arm and practically carried her along with him, handing her into the passenger side of the van and then running around to the driver’s side. He got in, turned the van around, and headed back toward the ranch.
    “I guess we’ll have to come back for my car later,” Carrie said to him as he peered through the curtain of gray, pelting rain.
    He turned to look at her. “I don’t think so,” he replied, his eyes unreadable. “This is going to go on for hours. You’ll have to spend the night.”

 
    Chapter 3
     
    Carrie didn’t answer for a moment, her mind a whirl of conflicting thoughts. Jason continued to pilot the van through the storm, absorbed by the task.
    “I suppose you have the room,” she finally said, wincing as the words left her mouth. His house was gigantic; he had room for the Russian army.
    He glanced at her quickly and looked back at the road. “Of course. There’s a guest room across the hall from Johnny’s bedroom. You can stay there. It’s very comfortable.”
    “I’m sure it is,” Carrie agreed rapidly. Did he think she was worried about sleeping in a pup tent on the porch?
    “Is there someone you have to call?” he asked, as he pulled in front of the house.
    “What?” Carrie said, turning and facing him.
    “Someone who’ll be expecting you back?” he clarified, his voice neutral.
    Was he asking her if there was a man waiting for her at her apartment? Hadn’t they covered that ground?
    “I have to report for work in the morning, that’s all,” Carrie replied. “I hope all of this will be over by then.”
    He nodded. “I’m going to let you off here. I have to put this in the garage and check on the horses. I’ll be right inside.”
    “Okay.” Carrie opened her door and vaulted into the pelting rain, slamming the door behind her and running headlong for the house. She was drenched in seconds despite the raincoat. She left a puddle as she put the wet slicker in the mudroom off the kitchen. Then she returned and sat at the table, combing her damp hair back with her fingers.
    I won’t think about it, she told herself. I won’t think about him sleeping across the hall. I won’t think about the way he looked without his shirt, or about the fact that he definitely won’t be wearing one in bed. Or much of anything else. Then she realized that she was thinking about it and groaned aloud.
    Carrie rose and went down the hall to Johnny’s room, where the door was closed. She listened but could hear nothing. Was it possible he was asleep already?
    She knocked softly. “Johnny? John, it’s Miss Maxwell.”
    “Come on in,” came the response.
    Carrie entered to find Johnny reading a British soccer magazine. He put it down when he saw her.
    “Hi,” he said. “I thought you went home.”
    “I tried to,” Carrie answered ruefully. “The storm is very bad; it washed out the footbridge. I’ll have to stay the night.”
    He sat up straighter, interested. “Great. We can play cards. I’m tired of playing with Dad; he always lets me win.”
    “You may find I’m not so generous,” Carrie replied archly.
    “Good. I need some real competition for a change.”
    They both heard the front door bang and Johnny said, “Will you tell my dad I want to talk to him? I have to know how the horses are doing.”
    He sounded so mature that he reminded her of his father. “I’ll tell him,” she said and left, finding Jason in the kitchen, where he was toweling his hair.
    “Got a little wet,” he announced as he saw her.
    “John wants to talk to you about the horses,” Carrie told him.
    “The horses are doing better than I am,” Jason grumbled, unbuttoning his damp shirt. He