Journey of the Bride Read Online Free PDF Page A

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    “ I don ’ t want a wife, ” he said, snapping her out of her fantasy and back into reality.
     
    “ Why the hell not? ”
     
    Both men stared at her, as if they ’ d never heard a woman curse before. Maybe they hadn ’ t. Even Paul ’ s wife hadn ’ t struck Courtney as the kind of woman who cursed when she was angry. Courtney wasn ’ t even that angry yet. She was frustrated, but not angry. She ’ d been warned that Brandon would act this way. In fact, she ’ d expected worse. This was going rather well compared to what she ’ d imagined. She was just ready for it to be over.
     
    “ His last fianc é ditched him, ” Paul answered after several moments of silence passed.
     
    Courtney stared at Brandon in horror. He ’ d been engaged before? That was news to her.
     
    “ Shut it, Paul, ” Brandon snarled.
     
    “ She deserves to know, ” Paul snapped in return. “ If you want to tell her, be my guest, but one of us needs to tell her. ”
     
    Brandon turned away with another curse, running his hands through his dark hair. Paul waited, silent. Courtney waited for either to explain.
     
    “ Paul ’ s right, ” Brandon told her, turning back to them. His eyes held hers as he stalked closer. For a moment, she had the urge to flee, but she fought it and stood her ground, waiting until he came to her. He stood just before her. “ I was engaged about three years ago. Her name was Emma Phillips. Pretty lass, although I ’ d mark that you ’ re prettier now. I was in love with her, but I wasn ’ t good enough for her in the end. She took off with another fellow without so much as a goodbye. ”
     
    For several moments, silence filled the room. Brandon turned away from the two, hooking his thumbs in the loops of his jeans and looking down the hall.
     
    “ You didn ’ t love her, ” Courtney said in a low voice several minutes later.
     
    Both men ’ s attention snapped back to her, but her eyes were only on Brandon. He looked at her as if she ’ d said that the sky was green. “ What makes you say that? ” His words were cautious, as if he expected a snake to pop out of the brush and bite him.
     
    “ If you loved her, you would have gone after her, ” Courtney said. “ If you loved her, you would have fought for her. You may have lost. She may have turned you away, but at least you would have tried. At least you would have shown her you wanted to make it work. ”
     
    He stared at her for several moments. She waited, wondering what he would say to her. After a while, he narrowed his eyes at her and then turned his attention to Paul. “ I take it those papers I signed the other day were marriage papers, not hiring contracts? ”
     
    Paul gave him a sheepish grin, but he didn ’ t seem to regret anything. He seemed proud of himself in fact. “ You have to admit she ’ s not a bad catch, Brandon. ”
     
    Brandon ’ s gaze returned to Courtney for a moment, but then he looked at Paul. “ Show the men where they ’ ll be bunking at night and then let them know I ’ ll be out in a few minutes, ” he said.
     
    Paul winked at him. “ Sure thing boss. ” He left without needing to be told again.
     
    Alone, Brandon stalked toward Courtney and tipped her chin up. His mouth brushed hers in a chaste kiss.
     
    “ Don ’ t tell me that ’ s the best you ’ ve got, ” Courtney said when he pulled away.
     
    He frowned at her. “ You ’ re going to be the death of me, aren ’ t you? ” he asked.
     
    “ I ’ ll try not to be. Now give me a real kiss. ”
     
    “ A real kiss huh? ” he asked. Then his mouth lowered on hers, drawing her to him. He wrapped his arms around her, pulling her tight against him. Her hands slid up over his chest and up into his hair. Her fingers curled into his hair, refusing to let him go as his tongue tangled with hers. She clung to him, desperate for his touch, his taste. He filled her senses, drowning her in his masculinity.
     
    A hearty moan