Page 48 of The Playboy Meets His Match
“Yeah, but if he won’t inherit, then why did he kill?”
Jason shrugged and headed for his pickup. “That’s what we have to figure out. See you.”
“Hey, Jason, wait up,” Keith called and jogged across the lot to catch up with Jason.
“Does Meredith need work?” he asked.
“She’s a freelance programmer.”
“She must be damned good at what she does. I could use someone like her in my business. I’d like to talk to her about a job.”
“Get in line and give her a call. You know my number.”
“Get in line?”
“Rob wants her to do something for him. Go ahead, call her.”
“I will. Thanks.”
“I’ll tell her that you’ll call.”
“Great. See you later.” Keith turned to go to his car and Jason slid into his pickup, forgetting about Keith instantly as his thoughts turned to Merry.
He didn’t want her to confront Dorian ever, but he would leave the decision to her because Rob’s plan didn’t sound like it would put Merry in jeopardy.
As Jason drove along Main, he thought about her. He wanted to get her a ring. He wanted to buy her everything, wanted to give her the world. He was in love, and it was scary and marvelous and amazing. When could they marry?
This was May, and if he could have his way, they’d get married next week, but Merry had a big family and he did, too, so he suspected a wedding would be a major event. Could he get her to stay at his ranch until then? He wanted her with him constantly. He was more amazed at himself than his friends were. He had never, ever expected to be in love, never known he could feel like this about a woman. He was dazzled, unable to concentrate on anything else very long before she filled his thoughts. He loved her and he wanted to marry her—the sooner the better.
Jason drove to a jewelry store, and an hour an a half later he drove out of town with a ring in his pocket, roses beside him and a bubbling eagerness to see her again.
As he raced home, Jason glanced out the window and realized he had passed the road to his house. He groaned, swung in a U-turn and headed home.
“Woman, you better marry me before I lose it completely,” he grumbled, knowing now it would be ten minutes longer before he would see her.
Merry lolled in a tub of sudsy water while she contemplated her future. She had to make decisions, because, since arriving in Royal, Texas, her life had changed completely. She needed to move out of Jason’s house, get back to work and go on with her life.
Three more days. She would give Jason three more days and then she had to pack and go. She didn’t think she would be in any danger if she moved back to Dallas. She lived in a gated apartment that was as secure as the one that she had rented here in Royal seemed to be. Right now, for tonight, she didn’t want to think about leaving Jason, and she put it out of mind. The time would come soon enough.
She finished bathing, dried her hair and dressed carefully in a blue sundress with a halter top and full skirt. She slipped into sandals and looped and pinned her hair on top of her head.
Wayward tendrils escaped to curl around her face and she left them, making a face at them in her reflection in the mirror.
It seemed like forever before she heard Jason’s pickup, and this time she did go out to meet him, flying into his arms. He caught her up, kissing her hard and long as he carried her into the house and kicked the door shut. He set down the vase of roses and turned to Merry.
“It’s been an eternity,” he said in a breathless voice and pulled her into his embrace.
An hour later Jason held Merry close against him. “I’ll cook steaks unless you’d prefer I’d take you to town to Claire’s again.”
“Actually, the steaks right here sound like a deal.”
“Steaks it is. Let’s shower first.”
She moaned softly and hugged him. “If we shower together, there won’t be any steaks for hours.”
“How hungry are you?”
She gave him a sultry, heated look that made him groan. He stood and scooped her into his arms and carried her to the bathroom and it was another hour before they were seated in the kitchen over thick, sizzling steaks and baked potatoes covered with melted butter and sprinkled with chives.
