Newlywed Games Read Online Free PDF

her hand whenever he wanted, or caress her cheek. He could test the waters, so to speak, find out if he was right about the nudgings he thought he was getting from the Lord that Meghann was the woman for him.
    If things went the way he thought they would, then this masquerade would just be a preamble to the real thing.
    He had instantly liked Mrs. Livingston with her smiling eyes. And maybe his helping out would go a long way in the young Miss Livingston’s forgetting the incidence with Charmaine at the Christmas party and his quick unavoidable departure.
    His thoughts drifted back to that day. The party had been the perfect opportunity to approach Meghann. Her shift was over and he’d invited her out for dinner. He hadn’t counted on Charmaine Altman showing up, playing her petty games again to trap him. Nor had he anticipated that Meghann would get caught in the crossfire.
    Then George had delivered the bad news of yet another unwanted trip. Only because it was utterly vital for the hotel had Bruce agreed. He lost a prime chance to take Meghann out and spend time with her. And Charmaine couldn’t have timed her little mishap any better if she had known Meghann would open the door at that exact moment.
    He prayed during his flight that Meg would let him explain and would understand. He started to write her a letter several times but knew he had to apologize face-to-face. Between his travel and her extended vacation, he managed to squeeze in a brief apology. It in no way made up for the misunderstanding. She accepted it, but he wasn’t convinced she really believed him. Now three and a half months later, the look on her face still haunted him.
    If only he hadn’t had to rush off on that business trip, things could have been different for them. If only he had found her to explain. If only Charmaine hadn’t shown up, playing her petty little games. If only…if only…
    With the traveling completed and things calm at the hotel, he’d hoped to finally make it up to her. She must think him such a cad. When he saw the look on her face at the airport, he hadn’t thought twice. He’d jumped in, wholeheartedly. She’d gotten herself into a fix, and he would do all he could to help out. It was the right thing to do, wasn’t it?
    Really? The right thing to do? In whose eyes?
    He pushed the thought away with a slight shake of his head. From what he’d picked up, Meg had told her little tale about them for a pretty good reason. The least he could do was go along with it. For now.
    And if at the same time he could get to know her better, and she him, then that was even better. Who knew, by the end of her mother’s visit he might even manage to win Meghann over.
    At least, he hoped so.

Three
     

     
    N ORMALLY , M EGHANN LOOKED FORWARD TO ARRIVING home. Two huge elm trees dwarfed her cozy one bedroom rental cottage, blanketing her yard with shade in the summer but offering very little shade now. The early signs of the new buds were beginning to show. In the fall when everyone else complained of all the leaves to rake, she relished it. From her two elms and even some of the neighbor’s leaves, she had plenty to make a pile big enough to jump in. Azalea and rhododendron bushes along with other higher bushes and shrubbery formed a fence, and she was able to imagine herself in the country except for the traffic noise. It was her mini-sanctuary.
    Today was different. Today her mother and her make-believe husband were both coming home with her. Talk about having your worst nightmare come true.…
    Meghann’s unease grew as she pulled into her gravel driveway. Now what? She parked the car and the trio stepped out.
    “I’ll get the bags while you unlock the door.”
    She nodded at Bruce’s seemingly casual words. The look in his eyes confirmed what she’d thought: He was trying to be as cautious and strategic about this as he could be. He didn’t want to give her away.
    After unlocking the trunk, she went and opened the gate.