A Headstrong Woman(98)
“Jonathon, are you okay?” Anna asked as Jonathon entered the house unannounced and looking as angry a bull at branding.
“Where’s your sister?”
“She’s getting ready why?” Anna asked with a frown.
“What’s your sister’s full name?” he demanded.
“Alexandria Camille Morris, why?”
That explained the name she had given the thug on the train he mused before remembering the incriminating piece of paper in his hand. “Did you know about this?” Jonathon handed Anna the ad and watched her face pale.
“Please, Jonathon…. don’t let her do this?” she pleaded.
“I don’t plan to,” he assured her.
“Jonathon… do you care for my sister?” she was watching him closely.
Jonathon glanced at her and hesitated. “Can we discuss this later?”
“A simple yes or no will do,” Anna’s eyes when they met his were firm; she expected an answer.
“Yes.”
“That explains it; I had noticed,” Anna paused, her expression pained but accepting. “Please stop her, Jonathon, however you have to. You’re the only one who can.”
Jonathon nodded at her and continued to the bottom of the stairs. “Alexandria Camille Morris, get down here!” he yelled.
Alexandria was still struggling with one boot as she started down the stairs.
“What do you think you’re doing?” he demanded.
“Trying to get dressed,” she answered with a frown.
“I was referring to this,” he thrust the ad at her.
Alexandria glanced at it and bit her lower lip. “Where did you get that?”
“Alexandria, this is crazy!” he snapped at her.
“What am I supposed to do? Let Simon win?” her own tone was angry.
Jonathon grabbed her by the arm and hauled her into her office; he slammed the door behind them. “Alexandria, this isn’t a game!” Jonathon snapped at her.
“Jonathon, I should have warned you about this. I am determined to keep this place. I won’t let Simon win!” her chin came into the air. She hadn’t warned him though because she had known he wasn’t going to be happy with her decision. “Wait a minute, where did you say you got the ad?”
“From a short, whiney, bald man.”
“What? There’s a man here to see me?”
“Was, Rusty saw him off the property,” he informed her and watched her eyes widen.
“You had no right…”
“Does our friendship mean anything to you, Alexandria?” Jonathon demanded.
Alexandria stopped short and frowned.
“You know it does,” she said softly.
“Then hear me out. You have no idea what kind of man will respond to this ad, Alexandria. Drunks, cheats, wife beaters, the last thing I want is to see you at the mercy of an abusive husband and to find myself in jail for trying to protect you.”
“Jonathon, I’ve given this a lot of thought and I intend to see it through,” Alexandria’s chin came up again.
“Do you want a stranger coming in here and taking over? Do you want a stranger in your bed; around Lilly?” Jonathon demanded.
“I wanted to run my ranch and be left alone but that’s not happening!” she yelled at him.
“So instead you’re going to bring a stranger into your home and bed; I see how that helps!”
“Would you stop saying that?” Alexandria pleaded as tears came to her eyes. She wanted to slap her hands over her ears.
“What? You don’t want to be reminded that someone you don’t know would have the right to touch you at will?” his tone was harsh.
“Stop! This is not your decision to make!”
“You prefer to make it with your eyes closed, is that it?”
“I don’t have a choice!” Alexandria’s tears spilled over. She could take a lot of people’s criticism but not Jonathon’s.
“There’s always a choice, Alexandria.”
“Well I don’t see one,” she insisted. “I’m tired of struggling, I want a family, I want… I don’t have a choice. I can’t marry Tristan or Lane and besides, I don’t want any messy emotions involved…I…”
“Marry me,” Jonathon watched her eyes widen as she made an odd noise at the back of her throat and suddenly collapsed into the desk chair behind her. Sheer shock seemed to have dried her eyes. “If you are so determined to do this; then marry me. I’d like a family too, Alexandria, and I already love Lilly; I’ll be good to both of you.”