Read Favorite Places (A TroubleMaker Novel, #2) for Free Online

any annulment.”
    “You exploiting,
conniving son-of-a—”
    “And that brings
us to the second part of my worthwhile deal,” he said, ignoring her outrage. “If
you agree to my proposal, not only will I sign the papers in three weeks, but I
will also match your inheritance. Whatever Aunt Lulu has left you, I’ll double
it.”
    “How do you know
you can afford it? You don’t even know how much it is.”
    “Don’t worry
about that. I’m good for it.”
    “What does this
Mr. Caplin have that you want so bad? Why are you so willing to go to such
lengths to impress the man?”
    “That’s none of
your concern, sweetheart.” He reached over and pushed the call bell. “We have
two weeks to iron out all the details and to get to know each other. Right now,
if you’re feeling better, we need to get you the hell out of here.”
    “Can I help you?”
a woman’s voice came through the intercom. “My wife is hungry, can she get
something to eat?”
    “Sure. I’ll send
a nurse in,” the voice responded.
    Jessina looked
over at Chase. “Why did you tell the hospital you’re my husband?”
    He tilted his
head and gazed at her thoughtfully. “Do have health insurance?”
    She rolled her
eyes, crossed her arms over her chest, and turned away from him.
    “Exactly.” He
tapped her under the chin until she looked up at him. “Don’t worry. They’ll
bill me.”
    “I don’t want
them to bill you. I refuse to have basically a stranger, paying for my—” she
began to argue, but his finger slipped up from her chin to her mouth to hush her.
The trouble was, Jessina wasn’t about to be hushed by any man. “Stop it!” Her
hand shot out at him. “And back up! Remember this, Mr. Lennox?” She circled her
finger around in front of her. “This is my space.”
    He didn’t move.
Chase stood there staring at her, as though trying to figure her out.
    The longer he did
so, the more everything closed in around her. She rubbed her hands together, a
habit she’d picked up that calmed her nerves sometimes when people got too
close. What would have helped so much more was if he’d move back a few feet. But
he didn’t seem willing to do that. The rubbing intensified as she glanced down
and realized she was wearing a baggy, backless hospital gown. “Where the hell
are my clothes?”
    Turning to the
small closet, he slowly responded, “In there.”
    “Oh.” She pulled
the sheet up, praying he’d back away before she submitted to the brewing panic
attack. She needed some space!
    He looked at her
hands as she clutched the sheet, which was just beneath her breasts. His eyes
hooded and lifted a little.
    Noting the
attention, her breasts swelled beneath the thin hospital gown, and her nipples
hardened. She suddenly felt naked. “Who took them off?”
    “What?” His eyes
snapped back to hers, then darkened. “Your clothes?”
    “Yes! Yes! My
damn clothes. Who took them off?”
    A grin peeled
back from his delicious mouth. “Why me, your husband, of course, but don’t
worry. I didn’t look at or touch you inappropriately.”
    “You?” Every
look from the man was inappropriate. She could only assume every touch would be
too.
    He lifted his
hand and moved it toward her, shutting down any possible reaction on her part.
Jessina couldn’t speak or move for that matter as he placed a finger on her
shoulder.
    “I didn’t touch
you inappropriately here.” His finger slid down to her arm. Her flesh rippled
with goose bumps. “Or here.” He drew a line to her wrist, the track of his
finger leaving a heated trail. “And definitely not here.” Watching her beneath
heavy lids, his large hand drifted over her stomach. Her belly tightened.
    Shamefully, she
wanted him to continue with his little venture.
    “When I removed
your clothes, I didn’t look here.” He raised his hand but left the tips of his
fingers to dangle on the sheet that was covering her. They started to move
south. Everything inside of her moved with that