Free Call It Destiny by Jayne Ann Krentz Page A

shut. I think he’s still a little wary of you, dear. Just as you are of him. The two of you tread very carefully around each other, don’t you?“
    „In some ways. We’re still getting to know each other, mom.“
    Ruth leaned forward. „If you’d rather wait a few more weeks before you get married, it can be arranged. I must admit, as much as Paul and I wanted this marriage we were both a little surprised when you set the date so quickly.“  
    „Tell everyone on that huge guest list that the wedding’s been postponed?“ Heather gasped in mock shock. „I couldn’t bear that kind of responsibility.“ She gave her mother a quick grin. „Don’t worry. I know what I’m doing. Jake and I have discussed the matter in-depth. I want the wedding over and done while things are relatively slow around the Hacienda. There just won’t be time to arrange everything once the season gets into full swing.“  
    Ruth looked at her searchingly. „But when it comes right down to it, you really haven’t known each other very long, have you? I mean, you’ve met him a few times during the past couple of years when you came to Tucson for holiday visits, but that’s about it.“
    „You and dad both seemed quite certain it would be a perfect match,“ Heather reminded her mother calmly. „Don’t tell me you’re having doubts?“
    „Well, no, it’s just that marriage is such a big step and I want you to be sure, darling.“
    Heather took pity on her worried mother. Smiling reassuringly she reached out to pat her hand. „It’s all right, mom. I know what I’m doing.“
    „You’ve had that rather frightening self-assurance ever since you went away to California all those years ago,“ Ruth sighed. „Other than letting us know you were all right, you wouldn’t even tell us what you were doing until you’d enrolled yourself in college and had a job. That first year when you agreed to come home for Christmas we didn’t know what to expect. But the moment you walked in the door I knew you had grown up overnight. It was scary in a way. And every year after that you seemed to grow stronger and more certain of yourself.“  
    „I didn’t give myself much choice.“
    „No. Perhaps that’s what worried me.“
    Heather shook her head ruefully, able to make light of what had, until now, been the single most traumatic occasion in her life. „After making such a gigantic error in judgment as running off with someone like Rick Monroe, I only had two choices. One was to come crawling home on my knees.“  
    „And the other was to tough it out, pick up the pieces and make your decision work,“ Ruth concluded with a depth of understanding that shook Heather. „That’s exactly what your father would have done if he’d found himself in an untenable situation. That’s the way he reacted when he bought this land. It was out in the middle of nowhere in those days. No one thought a resort of this size and quality could successfully survive. But every time someone told Paul he was making a mistake he became that much more determined to make it work. And it did.“  
    „So will this marriage. After all, how can I go wrong? You and dad both approve, it makes perfect business sense, and the groom is willing.“
    Ruth eyed her daughter. „About the groom….“
    „He’s not willing?“ Heather smiled.
    „Oh, he’s willing. But there’s something you should realize, Heather. He’s a lot like you in some ways. And while I freely admit I think he’ll make you an excellent husband, there are times when I worry that you don’t truly understand exactly what you’re getting into. You know how you and your father used to fight so fiercely.
    Similar temperaments can have that effect on each other.“
    Heather once again smiled her reassurance. „Jake and I understand each other very well on that score. The only thing we could possibly have to argue about is the Hacienda and since I’m, in the last analysis, the boss, that should