The Widow and the Wastrel Read Online Free Page A

impression would be just as strong.
    It was difficult to work with her usual efficiency in the kitchen while his eyes watched her every move. Elizabeth forced herself to concentrate on what she was doing.
    She glanced to where he sat straddling a kitchen chair to ask, "Do you want your omelette plain or with cheese or ham?"
    "Plain is fine," led answered.
    He waited until she had served his omelette and toast before making further conversation. "Where's your daughter?" he asked.
    "In town with Rebecca. She has a piano lesson shortly after noon."
    "Does she play as well as her mother?"
    The question flustered Elizabeth. For an instant she found it difficult to assimilate that Jed was referring to her.
    "Amy is just a beginner." She reached for the coffee pot to pour herself a cup, uncaring of the hotness of the day's temperature. "She's only been taking lessons for a little over a year. But she's quite good."
    "Does she look like you?"
    Elizabeth didn't turn to the table immediately, but took her time adding a spoonful of sugar to the dark liquid. "No, she takes after her father."
    "That's a pity," Jed responded dryly.
    "Why have you come back?" Her green eyes warily met the sliding glance of his.
    "Do I have to have a reason?"
    "Yes," she breathed, letting him hold her gaze for what seemed an interminably long time before he returned his attention to the plate on the table. "I can't believe you came back simply because this was your home."
    "Don't discount the pull of your childhood home. You can pull the roots out, but you always leave some behind," Jed replied.
    "Is that why you've come?" she asked, still not accepting the slightly ambiguous answer he'd come up with.
    "That's why I've come here," he agreed. "But I think I returned to the States for a breath of civilization."
    "When will you be leaving?"
    "Maybe tomorrow. Maybe never," he shrugged, white teeth flashing as he bit into the slice of toast.
    "I don't understand why you've come back now." She brushed the raven hair away from her face, a tiny frown creasing her forehead.
    "You probably don't even know why I left, do you?" The hard mouth moved into a wry smile.
    "I know you argued with your parents," Elizabeth hedged.
    Jed pushed the empty plate towards the center of the table. "All the time I was growing up it was one argument after another. Foolishly I kept believing that I could make my parents understand that all I wanted was to live my own life. When you and Jeremy became engaged, I'd been kicked out of three law schools. My father gave me the news that night that he had used his influence and money to get me accepted into another. He refused to accept that I didn't want to be a lawyer, that I wanted no part of the family business. A couple of days later I left."
    "I see," she murmured.
    "I doubt it." His voice was coated with bitter mockery. It brought her head up sharply. "Truthfully I didn't expect to find you here when I came back."
    "Where did you think I'd be?" Elizabeth laughed shortly in confusion.
    "Married. You're a beautiful woman." It was a statement more than a compliment. "I can't believe there haven't been offers."
    "I haven't dated all that much since Jeremy died, and not with anyone on a regular basis." Elizabeth turned her back on him, seeking to change the subject. "Would you like some coffee?"
    "Please." When she set the cup before him, Jed asked, "Why have you avoided seeing anyone regularly?"
    "I haven't avoided it," she answered sharply, responding to the hint of mockery in his tone. "I simply haven't had a great deal of free time. A person doesn't when they have children."
    "Free time can be arranged if the desire is great enough," he observed. "Wasn't Jerry able to arouse a great enough desire?"
    His jeering question jerked her chin up. "We were very happy together," Elizabeth stated with a frigid anger. "Which is probably why I haven't been interested in anyone else."
    "Do you enjoy being the beautiful Carrel widow, challenging the men