Read Trouble in High Heels for Free Online Page A

kind of impact this may have on a future real marriage.”
    Lori felt her stomach twist. “I may not want to get married.”
    “What if you do? What if you have children?”
    She bit her lip hard. He didn’t know what he was talking about. He obviously didn’t know that she probably couldn’t ever have children because of the terrible horseback riding accident. “I don’t think I’m cut out for motherhood,” she managed in an airy voice, ignoring the stabbing sensation inside her.
    He gave her a long, considering glance, as if he were weighing his opinion of her. His gaze swept to the pad of paper, and Lori experienced that old, familiar feeling of not measuring up.
    She felt naked and vulnerable, but not for long. Self-righteous anger burned to the surface. She clenched her fingers into a fist to keep from throwing something at him.
    “No children,” he said. “Does that mean no sex?”
    The question took her off guard. The whole discussion unnerved her, but Jackson ’s tone was deep and rich, edged with a tinge of huskiness that teased something inside her. She met his dark gaze and felt an odd tugging sensation in her belly. She wondered what kind of lover he would be. Passionate, she decided. Whether a little rough or a little tender, he would be passionate when he made love to a woman. She wondered how he chose his lovers.
    Lori caught herself. What was she thinking?
    He was so anal he probably had some sort of numerical rating system and checklist.
    “I already told you this is supposed to be a business arrangement,” she said.
    “So is it okay if this guy gets taken care of on an extracurricular basis, or does the poor sap have to sign a chastity agreement?” He paused. “For that matter, what about you?”
    “No, he doesn’t have to sign a chastity agreement,” she said, feeling more huffy by the moment. “He just needs to be discreet.”
    “Discreet as in down the street, out of town, or out of the country?”
    Lori frowned. “I’m sure we can work out the details later.”
    Jackson shook his head. “You can get in a lot of trouble not taking care of details.”
    “Spoken just like an accountant,” she muttered under her breath.
    “I heard you,” he said. “Just remember, you asked an
accountant to find your husband for you.”
    Lori bit her tongue to keep from sticking it out at him. “Okay. Discreet means in a different city and not in view of the press.”
    “For you, too.”
    She looked at him in confusion. “What do you mean, me, too?”
    “You’ll be discreet, too, by going to a different city when you have your affairs.”
    Lori wrinkled her nose. “You make it sound slimy.”
    He lifted an eyebrow but said nothing. Aloud, anyway. His expression said he thought the whole thing was slimy. Lori couldn’t stand his censure another moment. “I’m not slimy.”
    “I didn’t say you were.”
    “You might as well have.” She pointed at his face. “Your eyebrow said it.”
    His lips twitched in amusement. “I didn’t know eyebrows could talk.”
    “Well, yours can,” she said, her hands on her hips.
    “I don’t think you’re slimy. I think you’re desperate. Desperate people do stupid things.”
    Her anger kicked up another notch. “I’m not stupid, either.”
    “I didn’t say-”
    “Close enough,” she said, cutting him off. “You know, you don’t understand because you’re a guy and you don’t know what it’s like to be female when your father was a wonderful man but he was also sexist, chauvinistic, and controlling.” She sighed. “This is my way of taking control of my life.”
    He shrugged. “As long as you’re sure living on a budget wouldn’t be easier than getting a husband.”
    “I have people counting on me. You obviously don’t understand. You must be free as a bird with no responsibilities, don’t have to answer to anyone…”
    She blinked, and he was looming over her. Her heart slammed in her chest at the dark expression on his