Read Convince Me (Holton Series #1) for Free Online Page B

dinner with Jake.
    “But what about Steven?” Julie
asked in a shocked voice.
    “What about Steven?” Anna asked
equally shocked.  Julie’s surprise was so unexpected that Anna wasn’t sure
she even understood the question.
    “You told him you didn’t want a
relationship because you needed time to yourself and now you are going out with
someone else?”
    “He told you?” Anna said her voice
rising in anger.  “How dare he!  He had no right repeating what I
told him in private.”
    “Now, Anna,” Julie said in a
soothing tone.  “It wasn’t like that at all.  Steve didn’t tell
me.  He told Andrew and Andrew told me.”
    “And that is supposed to be
better?  Now everyone is talking about my private life.”
    Anna rose from the chair and began
to pace in exasperation.  It upset Anna a great deal to know that Steven,
Julie and Andrew had discussed her.  She knew her past was coloring her
objectivity but Anna hated gossip.  She had heard too many whispers and
unkind comments about her mother and the knowledge that people were talking
about her ignited her anger.
    She turned to see Julie watching
her with concern.  Julie took a deep breath and tried to explain. 
“Anna, you have to understand.  On Tuesday, when Steve came back to the
office he was so upset that we knew something was wrong.  We are all very
close.  Steven doesn’t get angry very often.  Andrew got him to talk
about it and then because I was so concerned he told me.”
    Julie paused.  Anna was still
angry.  She had left Mayville because she was tired of people talking
about her family.  She didn’t like the feeling and hoped it would be
different in Holton where no one knew anything about her.
    “Look, Anna, I guess you should
know,” Julie was saying.  “I’m nosy.  Most people are kind enough to
say I have a very curious steak, but I’m just really nosy.  Anna, please
believe me, we never meant any harm.”
    Anna’s anger began to fade. 
She knew Julie well enough now to see she was telling the truth.  They
were a very close group and if Steven was upset, Andrew and Julie would have
been concerned.  She sighed softly and sat down.
    “Nosy, huh?” she said with a slight
smile.
    “Very,” Julie replied, still a
little cautious.
    “Sorry, Julie,” Anna said
embarrassed.
    “No.” Julie reached across the desk
to grab her hand.  “I’m sorry.  I should have kept my mouth shut but
Anna, Steven is not going to be happy about this.”
    “He doesn’t have to be happy. 
It is none of his business,” Anna replied.
    Julie didn’t look convinced but she
said nothing and left soon after.  Anna tried to keep from feeling
guilty.  It was not unreasonable.  She didn’t owe Steven
anything.  She knew she had the right to date whomever she wanted but Anna
couldn’t quite shake the feeling that she was cheating on Steven.  Why did
she feel guilty?  She had only known the man a couple of weeks.
    It wasn’t the best way to start off
an evening and Anna was a nervous wreck by the time Jake arrived to pick her
up.  It didn’t take long for him to notice and question her.  Anna
decided to tell him a little bit about the situation.  Jake was kind
enough to say he understood and immediately tried to put her at ease by saying
they would simply have dinner as friends.
    Unfortunately, Jake had planned a
very romantic evening.  There was only one good restaurant in town. 
The King’ Court was an upscale establishment with cloth napkins and fine
wine.  As it was a Friday night, the restaurant was crowded and Anna saw
several people she knew.  There was no way that the news of her date would
not reach Steven.  Anna was unable to relax and the rest of the evening
was very awkward.
    “I don’t suppose there is any
reason for me to call you again, is there?” Jake asked when they arrived at her
door.
    “I’m sorry,” Anna said
seriously.  She was sorry.  Jake was a good man and had been the
perfect