Free Price of Surrender by Unknown

„Don’t forget, tomorrow night.“
    „How could I forget?“
    „We’ll go to Chinatown…!“
    „How about dinner here, instead?“ She hadn’t meant to make the offer but somehow it slipped out before she could
    think. She wanted him in her home, wanted him lending his solid, dark presence to the light, graceful apartment „I’ll
    bring the wine,“ he offered at once, as if afraid she might back out if he gave her a chance to think.
    She nodded.
    „Good night, Adena.“
    „Good night, Holt.“
    The door closed firmly behind him, leaving Max and Adena alone. As if both were momentarily entranced, dog and
    woman continued staring silently at the closed door.
    „He thinks he can buy me, Max.“
    The dog lifted his muzzle inquiringly, coming toward her as if to offer comfort and security. She reached down and
    scratched his ears affectionately. „I have to teach him mat some things can’t be bought, dog. Some things have to be
    given freely. Do you think he’s capable of learning that lesson?“
    Max’s dark eyes peered earnestly up at her through a long fringe of silvery lashes.
    „You like him, don’t you?“ Adena smiled. „Something tells me you’ve already made your decision. It’s probably
    just that you’re so happy to see Jeff gone!“
    It was strange how the initial uneasiness she had experienced over being able to respond to another man so soon
    after breaking off the relationship with Jeff had disappeared. Jeff had been all wrong for her, Adena told herself as she
    trailed bemusedly through the apartment, turning off lights. Perhaps she had known that deep down. Perhaps that was
    what had made it so simple to break up with Jeff over a business issue like the payoffs. Would she be able to walk
    away from a man like Holt so easily if she were to discover that he didn’t meet her standards of integrity?
    But that was a ridiculous notion, Adena scolded herself as she undressed and slipped into a champagne-colored
    nightgown. She’d only spent three evenings with the man and the first couple could hardly be described as totally
    amicable!
    There was no denying they had learned a great deal about each other during those evenings, though. Adena’s
    mouth tightened ruefully. And she certainly had learned enough to know Holt Sinclair wasn’t the sort of man with
    whom she should be getting involved. Unless… unless he could learn to love eventually; learn to trust in another’s
    love… learn that one didn’t buy a relationship with another human being – at least not a real and lasting relationship!
    It wouldn’t surprise her to find out Holt had quite successfully bought several relationships in the past Did he
    realize they were the wrong kind? Could he be made to realize that fact?
    Adena snuggled into the pillow, analyzing the evening, thinking of the conversation which had run the gamut from
    teasing banter to a serious discussion of where she had sent her resumes.
    That reminded her, she’d better think about following up on a few of those job inquiries. One didn’t get a good
    position without a great deal of proper groundwork. She didn’t want to have to take just anything that came along.
    Briefly she remembered her earlier thoughts of taking a small vacation and heading toward the gold country of the
    Sierra Nevada Mountains. Somehow that idea didn’t beckon as strongly as it had at first She wasn’t certain what she
    had with Holt Sinclair, but she knew now she didn’t want to abandon it. Not yet With a deep yawn, Max padded softly
    into the bedroom and settled down on the carpet at the foot of the bed. Adena smiled to herself.
    „I hope you know what I’m doing, Max, because I’m not at all certain that I do!“
    Max stirred comfortably but gave no other response. Adena knew him well enough to know his very lack of
    concern was answer enough. She remembered how the dog had growled at Jeff every time he had come to the
    apartment, and she wondered how Max had known from the