Free Tangled Hearts by Barbara McMahon

suggested.
    Jake came in and dumped a pile of bedding on one of the chairs. Sitting down beside her, he reached for his cup.
    “This is nice. I don’t have a fireplace in my house. That’s one thing I really regret about it,” she murmured, sipping from her cup.
    “Cutting enough wood to last the winter can be a pain, but I think it’s worth it every time I come,” he said.
    They sat quietly for a while, sipping coffee, watching the fire.
    When Brianna finished hers, she placed the empty cup down on the floor. When she sat back up, Jake reached for her hand, threading his fingers through hers, resting their linked hands on his thigh. He continued to sip his coffee silently.
    Brianna leaned back on the sofa, her only anchor to reality was her touch with Jake. Idly she daydreamed. She was full, warm, happy. For the first time in a long long time, she felt totally content.
    “Tell me about your house.” Jake broke the silence. “When did you buy it?”
    “I bought it about eighteen months ago. As I said, I signed up for the part-time job at the air base and had enough money. I can use the tax break.”
    “I used to see you riding your bike sometimes if I was near the campus,” he said lazily.
    Turning her head on the back of the cushion, she looked at him. “When?” She hadn’t seen him in two years. Yet he’d seen her?
    “In the spring. One time during the summer.”
    “That’s one advantage of the town house, its location. I can ride my bike to the college in nice weather. Even walk if I want to. I didn’t see you.”
    “Unmarked car. I thought you’d be married by now.”
    Startled, she sat up and shook her head.
    “Why would you think such a thing?” She pulled her hand away from his and sat on the edge of the sofa, looking at him.
    Had her feelings for him been so nebulous to him that he thought she’d gone on to another man as soon as he was out of the picture? Had she seemed too intent for marriage? Was that the reason he’d pulled back?
    He shrugged. “Just did.”
    Brianna tried to remember if she’d ever done anything to give him the feeling she was desperate for marriage. Two years ago, she’d only been twenty-four. Granted, she'd talked a lot about some of her friends who were getting married. Surely Jake hadn’t thought she was trying to pin him down to popping the question.
    Although if he’d asked her, she’d have accepted in a New York minute.
    “I have no plans to marry,” she said.
    He put his cup on the floor, and turned to face her.
    “That’s not the way I heard it.” Even now he could feel the anger rise. Josh had been blunt and frank. Jake had known even then that Josh was right. But it still hurt.
    “I might marry one day. But I have no plans at the present. No prospects. I'm building my career.” She didn’t want to talk about marriage when the only one she had ever considered marrying didn’t want her.
    “You had plans two years ago,” he persisted.
    Now she thought she'd die of embarrassment. How had he learned of her foolish daydreams? Had she given herself away? For weeks she had dreamed of making a life with Jake. Had he known all along?
    Rising, she scooped up the two cups and headed for the kitchen. “A lot of things have changed since then. I don’t think my future plans concern you. Don’t worry that I’ll pester you once you find whoever's breaking into my place. I’ve managed fine on my own and will continue to do so.”
    She stormed into the kitchen, placing the cups in the sink with exaggerated care, afraid she might turn and smash them against the wall, so great was her embarrassment and frustration.
    She should have called Sandy and insisted on staying with her. She knew she was playing with fire in coming with Jake, but she hadn’t been able to resist. She hadn't expected him to bring up her foolish daydreams about marriage. She thought she had been the only one to know.
    “Brie…” He followed her into the kitchen.
    Glancing over her