Read To Protect the Heart of a Brazen Woman [Brazen Sisters 6] (Siren Publishing Classic) for Free Online Page A

blip on her radar, at least that’s what she tried to tell herself. Truthfully , she was glad he hadn’t come around, because she still wasn’t ready to deal with him. She hadn’t decided what she was going to do about her feelings for him. The time was at hand for her to make a choice. There were three ways to handle the situation. She could love him and be alone knowing she’d never have him. Or she could find someone else and still love Jake, which wouldn’t be fair to anyone. Then there was her last resort, making him choose.
    Her sisters had confessed that they’d hoped her leaving town would have made him come to his senses about their relationship, which was one of the reasons Bobbie had taken the job at the B&B. That hadn’t worked out as any of them had planned. Without her in town , Jake obviously felt free to see other women. Not that Bobbie would have ever tried to stop him, because she didn’t have the right.
    She didn’t have to like it though, and Jake was usually circumspect to protect her feelings. The same went for her. She’d gone out with other guys, but always in a “ we’re just friends ” sort of way , and Jake knew it. Please . N o one had come close to making me want them even half as much as I want Jake. She wasn’t sure anyone ever would either, but if she opened herself up to the idea it might happen.
    Bobbie knew she was running out of time to consider everything. He proved that when he showed up at the house demanding to talk to her. She figured there were other things he wanted to talk to her about, besides her dinner with Beau and Charlie. Her brothers-in-law had hinted that he wasn’t happy with her cruising around town with her friends. As if registering for classes and shopping for school supplies could be considered cruising.
    Bobbie wasn’t going listen to the reasons why he thought her new car and her behavior was inappropriate. She pressed down on the gas pedal , loving the feel of the power as her new Jeep climbed the rough , overgrown trail up the back of the mountain to the peak. Right now she had no doubts Jake was driving around town looking for her. If she hadn’t given into all the prodding from her sisters to get rid of her old hand-me - down car and get something more dependable , he would have found her already. If she’d let them talk her into getting a staid sedan or coupe , climbing this path would have been out of the question.
    That’s why she’d done it on her own before she came home. It was her choice , and she didn’t want anyone trying to influence her decision. At times , having five older sisters was the equivalent to having five mothers. One of them always had an opinion about what she should or shouldn’t do. Bobbie respected their input because she knew it came from a place of love. Still , there had been times when she’d wished they’d all back off a little. But now , after being on her own for six weeks , she was glad to have them hovering over her again.
    Jake , on the other hand , had no say in anything she did anymore. In the past , she’d given him the opportunity to think he had some influence on her decisions, but that time had come and gone. During her internship at Georgie’s friend ’ s B&B down in New Hampshire , she had learned a lot of things they could implement that would help them run the lodge and campground more efficiently, but she’d also learned a lot of things about herself she hadn’t known.
    Her sisters had noticed the changes right away. They seemed pleased with her newfound strength and confidence. Not so much with the independent streak she’d embraced. Jake probably wouldn’t like it either, but that wasn’t her problem. She was done trying to please him. Bobbie still loved him, but she truthfully didn’t think that would ever change. She just hoped that she’d shielded enough of her heart for someone else to squeeze in and try to conquer it.
    Bobbie knew she’d gone about as far as she could go in