Free Propositions by Tania Joyce Page A

what she was saying, but anything to protect her heart from being hurt when he left.
    “I’m not opposed to that idea.” His fingers fumbled nervously with her collar. “So where? … How often, do you think?”
    She tried not to laugh as Nate’s stumbled over his questions as she straightened and tucked her shirt into her skirt.
    “Um, I’m not sure.” She grinned softly at him. “I’ll have to check my calendar and see when I can schedule you in. I work most weekends, late nights, and I start early.”
    “Me too.” A cheeky grin touched the corner of his mouth. “But I’m sure we’ll be able to find some time here and there.”
    His eyes blazed with heat as he looked over her body. He swept in close, wrapping his arms around her waist as he pressed himself firmly up against her. And then he kissed her. His mouth molded to hers perfectly; the taste of his tongue was delicious and made her head spin. She could easily opt for another round … but no, she had a meeting to get attend.
    “So is this what I think it is?” She rested her hands upon his chest. “Sex, with no strings attached?” Jessica could barely believe the words as they left her mouth.
    “I do like the sound of your proposition, Ms Mason. And believe me, I will be looking forward to our next encounter.” His eyes shone with mischief as his gaze dropped to her cleavage.
    “I have to go or I’ll be late for my meeting.”
    “Okay, I won’t keep you any longer,” Nate relented. “Why don’t you come with me to Melbourne next week?”
    “I can’t.” She managed to wriggle free of his hold. “I have some other business to attend to.”
    “Other business? I thought I was your first priority at the moment.” He smirked as he straightened his tie.
    “Your hotel launch is. This other business is personal, so please don’t ask.”
    “Oh. Sounds serious.”
    “Baggage. That’s all.”
    “Are we talking walk-on or trunk cases?”
    “Trunk cases.”
    “And that’s what’s dragging you away from my business?”
    “You don’t let up, do you?” Jessica was hesitant about revealing too much personal information. Would it matter if he knew about her past? She had felt so much better after telling Max and being freed from the burden she’d carried for so long.
    Nate stood there waiting for her to speak.
    She exhaled. “I have a meeting with the father of my son.” Jessica tried to sound nonchalant about the whole situation and act like it wasn’t bothering her, but on the inside she was a quaking mess.
    “You’re meeting with your ex-husband? Why is that so important?” Nate creased his forehead.
    “What? No. Not Graeme. Conner’s biological father’s name is Troy. We were never married. I haven’t seen this guy for twenty years. I’m not particularly looking forward to it either. But please be assured, my personal life never affects my work. The two are entirely separate—no fuzzy gray areas.”
    “Fair enough.”
    She smiled gratefully as Nate walked her to the door.
    He opened it and leaned against the doorjamb. “So I guess I’ll see you after Melbourne.”
    “Until we meet again.” Jessica nudged past him and made her way to the elevator. She glanced back over her shoulder. Nate’s eyes still blazed with desire as he watched her. It made it hard to resist the temptation to return to his arms.
    The elevator arrived; she stepped in and the doors closed behind her.
    She stared at nothing as their proposition replayed through her mind.
    Oh God! What had she got herself into?

Chapter 7
    Bitter winter blanketed everything with frost. Thick fog hung low and snaked along the rolling valleys. It was midmorning when Jessica pulled up her black Audi outside the homestead at Gumtrees Winery. Wrapping her woolen coat and scarf tightly around her neck and shoulders, she stepped out into the crisp mountain air. The smell of burning timber and the sight of smoke curling out of the cabin chimneys were easy reminders of why she