His 1-800 Wife Read Online Free Page A

She had to convince him, before he decided against her.
    "Jarrod, I'm sure this will work. It will be much easier with someone I know and trust than with a stranger I meet on the 800 line." She paused. "And it will work for you too. You already told me your mother is just as bad as mine."
    "Aren't there any other men you know who'd make you a better husband?" Jarrod asked.
    "Sure, but they want to be married forever. With you it'll be six months, then we'll be respectably divorced." She crushed her hands together as if she were finished with something. Jarrod's face changed, and she realized how flippant her voice had been. "I didn't mean that the way it sounded," she apologized.
    "Respectably divorced?" he asked. "What does that mean?"
    She took his hands again and spoke softly. "It means we'll be free and friendly. No one will try to get us married again. We can say we've been married and it didn't work out. Then we can do whatever we want without anyone pressuring us again."
    Jarrod sighed. "Have you thought this all the way through?"
    "Of course I have," she stated confidently. "What could possibly go wrong?"
    Jarrod shrugged. He tightened his grip on her hands."Suppose you wake up one morning, say three months from now, and find I'm hopelessly, desper­ately, unconditionally in love with you?"
    Catherine's throat suddenly went dry. Had she heard a crack in his voice? She wasn't sure. Something pulsed within her. Then she laughed. Tentatively at first. "You?" She pulled her hands free. "You, in love with me?" Her laughter intensified.
    Jarrod moved, and the sway made her lose her balance. Catherine sobered, grabbing for something to hold on to. She found his arms reaching for her. "That won't happen," she said, her voice a little breathy. "We've been enemies since the dinosaurs disappeared. It's not likely we'll suddenly change in six months."
    Catherine's confidence faded for a moment. She hadn't thought of Jarrod falling in love with her. He wouldn't. And neither would she. They were friends, despite their rivalry. She'd go out of her way for him, and she knew he'd do the same for her, but friends didn't fall in love. She was friendly with many men, but she'd never fall in love with any of them. She and Jarrod could marry and nothing between them would change.
    Jarrod frowned and started to speak. "Don't refuse right away." She stalled a response she knew was coming. "Why don't you think about it? Let the idea sink in. You can let me know tomorrow."
    "Cathy, I'm not the one who needs to think this over." He stepped directly in front of her, standing so close she could feel his body heat, and she was still holding his arms. It made her warm and a little uncomfortable, even afraid.
    "You need to think about what you're asking, not just of me, but of any man who'd agree to marry and divorce."
    "I have thought it over. It's a perfect scheme. And with you it can really work." Catherine made the mistake of putting her hand farther up his arm. She felt his muscles tense under it. Now she wanted to move it, but it would appear as if she didn't want to touch him. Actually she felt good about touching him. Somehow her mind wanted her hand to move over his arm and up to his shoulder.
    Catherine saw something out of the corner of her eye and started to turn to look.
    "Don't move," Jarrod said. "Audrey is on her way over."
    Catherine smiled. "Why shouldn't I move?"
    "Look at me." She returned her attention to him. His eyes were serious. He squinted slightly. "Do you really think this will work, Cathy?" There was almost no distance between them. Jarrod put his hands on her waist.
    "Of course I do." She answered confidently, but a finger of fear slid over her, along with a ripple that centered around her heart. She came close to shivering even in the heat of the day and the circle of fire that spread through her from the exact point where Jarrod rested his hands.
    "Okay."
    "You'll do it?"
    He nodded. His hands slid around her waist and