Promise Me Forever Read Online Free PDF Page B

“It’s true.”
    “Then I’m thinking that you’re living in the wrong place, because fellas would be lining up to call you darlin’ back in Texas.”
    “Truly?”
    “I’m not one to lie.”
    “Since when?” Lauren asked.
    The anger, hot and furious, roiled through him, and it was all he could do to keep it harnessed, as he slid his gaze back over to her. “Did you want tostart counting off false words spoken—in front of your company? If so, I’d be only too happy to oblige.”
    She looked as though he’d fired a bullet into her heart, but he wasn’t about to apologize or take the words back. She was the one who hadn’t kept the promise they’d made.
    “Tom!”
    The familiar cultured voice echoed between the walls. Tom came to his feet, hand outstretched, as the Earl of Ravenleigh crossed the room. He didn’t look much different from when Tom had seen him last. A few more wrinkles across his brow. His hair might be graying a bit on the sides, but it was barely noticeable against the reddish blond strands that were combed back.
    The man shook his hand, his light blue eyes twinkling. “It’s good to see you, lad.”
    “You, too, sir.”
    “I had no idea you were planning a trip to our side of the world. You should have sent word, so I could have made arrangements to meet you. Do you need a place to stay?”
    “No, sir, that’s taken care of.”
    “Excellent.” He turned to address the women in the room. “Ladies, excuse my interruption.”
    “Not at all, my lord,” Lady Blythe said. “It’s always a plea sure to see you.”
    “An equal plea sure to have you in our home.” He gave his attention to his stepdaughter. “Lauren,please notify Cook that we’ll have a guest for dinner. You will stay for dinner, won’t you, Tom?”
    “Yes, sir.”
    “Splendid.” He clapped Tom on the arm. “Join me in the library, so we can talk for a bit and have some refreshment. I want to hear about all your adventures, and I want a firsthand accounting of how my brother and his friends are doing in that hellish place you call Texas. Letters leave much unsaid.”
    Tom nodded to the women. “Ladies, it was my plea sure to make your acquaintance.”
    Lady Blythe looked as though he’d issued her a personal compliment, her smile wide, her eyes back to blinking quickly.
    Tom tipped his head slightly toward the girl who had left him behind. “Lauren.”
    Then he followed the earl out of the room, wondering how Lauren truly felt about his staying for dinner.
     
    “You simply must tell us everything!”
    “However did you meet him?”
    “Who is he exactly? If he’s not the earl…”
    “Are all cowboys so handsome?”
    “Is it possible he’s Sachse? He didn’t exactly deny it.”
    “Well, he didn’t confirm it either.”
    “He was so intriguing. Regardless of who he is, we must see that he is invited to an upcoming ball.”
    “I daresay I shall speak with my mother posthaste about the possibility…”
    Lauren was dizzy with the circle of comments and questions, could barely take in who was saying what. They didn’t seem to be truly seeking answers, until Lady Blythe pointedly asked, “Lauren, you obviously have a history with this man. How did it feel to see him again?”
    Suffocating silence suddenly dropped down on her, and Lauren couldn’t tell them the truth. He did what he’d always done: confused her, excited her, infuriated her. All these years, she thought she’d gotten over him, thought she’d forgotten about him as easily as he’d forgotten about her. All it had taken was seeing him again to stir the memories and unwanted emotions back to life. How could she possibly answer their questions?
    She’d risen to her feet when her stepfather had made his appearance. Now she turned her attention away from the door and finally faced her guests, hoping that she successfully masked all the emotions reeling through her. She’d had years to practice for this moment.
    “Ladies, I don’t