Cupcake Cutie (Plus Size Romance 1) Read Online Free PDF Page B

she said she had met another man online.”
    Ella gasped.  “You mean to tell me she was going to leave you and this beautiful place for a man she hadn’t even met in person?”
    “That’s pretty much the size of it.  She had brought her laptop with her from Chicago or New York or some big city.  I never really knew exactly where she hailed from.  Once, she told me she was from all over, from nowhere and everywhere.  Anyway, she spent most of her time on the computer while I was workin’ the ranch. It was durin’ those hours that she had the online affair with the suit—an independently wealthy entrepreneur—who promised her world travels and nonstop excitement.”
    “How horrible! Not the travels and excitement, but that she would take up with this man after marrying you.”
    “Yep.  She really worked a number on me.  She had no sooner broken the news of her departure when a stretch limo pulled into the driveway.  She grabbed her suitcase and ran down the stairs without sayin’ goodbye.  Stunned, I stood at the window with my mouth gapin.’  I watched her jump into the back of that fancy automobile with the suit.  She drove out of my life that day, and I’ve not heard from her since.”
    “Decker, I’m truly sorry.  I can’t imagine how heartbroken you were.  But, I also can’t imagine how you could stay married to this woman for ten years.  Why in the world wouldn’t you immediately file for a divorce?”
    Raking his hands through his thick black hair, he said, “I did, darlin.’  My lawyer drew up the papers, and I signed them.”
    “Then how can you still be married? I don’t understand.”
    “Like I said before, it’s complicated.  A lot of things transpired to make the perfect storm.  For a divorce to be final, both parties have to sign the papers.  Despite my lawyer’s best efforts, he couldn’t track Sheridan down to any specific locale.  She and the suit were travelin’ the world together.  Each time my lawyer found her and sent the papers, she’d already moved on to another location.  After a year of futile chasin,’ he just stopped tryin’ and left it up to me to get it done.”
    “And you couldn’t find her either?”
    “Honestly, I didn’t try.  Around that time Mom got sick and was diagnosed with breast cancer.  I spent all my time helpin’ Dad run the ranch and take care of her.  After five long years of fightin,’ she lost the battle.  When she died, we were crushed.  She had been the center of our world.  The only way I could deal with my grief was to stay busy.  The more I worked, the better off I was.  When workin’ the ranch wasn’t enough to numb the pain, I became a volunteer fireman.  That was four years ago.  Time’s a funny thing, Ella.  One day a man’s wife leaves him, the next thing he knows a decade has passed, and he’s standin’ in the middle of a tack room kissin’ a young, beautiful woman.”
    Ella’s eyes were full of sympathy as she gazed at the sweetest, sexiest man she had ever known.  Her heart hurt for all he had been through.  She reached up and caressed his cheek.  “Earlier, you said you wouldn’t be married for much longer.  What’s changed?”
    He smiled broadly.  “My dad, God bless him, hired a private detective to find Sheridan.  He located her residence in New York yesterday.  Edwin, our family lawyer, flew out to serve her the divorce papers this mornin.’”  Looking at his watch, he said, “Edwin should be back any minute with her John Hancock, and I’ll be a free man.”
    “Oh, Decker! That’s wonderful news.  I’m so happy for you.”
    Sliding his hands around her waist, he pulled her close.  “I’m so happy for us.  I want to court you proper, Ella Skye.  Out in the open.  I want everyone to know that you’re my woman.”
    Her eyes grew wide as saucers.  “ I’m your woman?”
    He leaned his head back and laughed heartily.  “I swear I’m startin’ to think an echo