Stealing the Groom Read Online Free PDF

I’ll put this on. You see if you can dig up anything else we might be able to add to our feast, and then we can get out of these wet clothes.” He set the cans on the chipped counter and rifled through drawers in search of an opener.
    Not finding one, he moved to the pantry.
    “The pantry has a few other things in here so at least we won’t starve tonight. Found a can opener too. And, hey, I found marshmallows!” Chad held the bag aloft and grinned.
    His grin reminded her of the camping trip they’d taken with her grandfather and his when she’d turned twelve. She and Chad had engaged in a marshmallow fight, then later that night sat snuggled together beneath a blanket while his grandfather told scary tales.
    Thunder growled a warning, low and throaty in the distance.
    Chad frowned. “Looks like we got here in the nick of time. Storm might be getting worse.”
    “Don’t worry, I’ll protect you,” she teased.
    Chad quirked his eyebrows. “Ah, but my pretty, who’ll protect you from me?”
    Amelia scoffed and rolled her eyes. “Right now, when it comes to virtue I’d be willing to bet I’m the safest woman on the planet.”
    Chad emptied the soup into a pot and turned on the burner. “Yep. Safe as the wares of a snowball salesman in Alaska.”
    “In other words, who would want me?” Amelia said, meaning to sound playful, but the tone didn’t come out right. She sounded as if she felt sorry for herself, and she hated that because she didn’t.
    Other than this latest situation with Chad, she was deliriously happy with her life. No ties, no commitments, she could come and go as she pleased, just the way she liked it.
    Chad tossed the empty soup cans into the trash and moved from the stove to close the distance between them. “You do know how beautiful, how amazing you are, don’t you?”
    “You’re just saying that because you’re my friend.” This time she nailed the lightness she’d been going for a moment ago.
    “Of course I’m your friend, so I know better than anyone how awesome you are. But seriously…” He lightly squeezed her hands. “Any guy would want to be with you.”
    “Of course.” She fluttered her eyelashes, using humor to once again keep the emotions at bay. “I’ve got men in every port fighting one another for my hand. So step aside, sir, lest you be trampled by the rushing horde.”
    “ That I would believe.”
    Silence stretched between them and the moment grew more intense. Amelia swallowed hard, unable to tear her gaze away from his. Her brain activity scrambled. She couldn’t string together a complete thought.
    The way he was watching her…
    After all these years was he going to kiss her? Surely not. This was wrong.
    “Amelia…” His voice took on a husky quality and the friendly light in his eyes darkened, changing to confusion.
    She lifted her hands to his arms, reveling in the feel of his biceps. Here was strength she knew she could trust. She should push away. She should. But curiosity had always been her undoing.
    His hands went to her waist, urging her closer.
    “Amelia, I…”
    His head slowly lowered.
    The room disappeared from view. There was only Chad and the sound of soup boiling over.
    Boiling soup?
    Amelia blinked.
    Suddenly Chad released her and stepped back to turn and grab the pan from the burner. He set it in the sink and waved a dish towel around to dispel the odor. His laughter sounded strained. “Let’s try that again, shall we?”
    For a split second, Amelia thought he was referring to the almost-kiss, then realized he was talking about the soup.
    She was relieved.
    She didn’t want anything more than friendship from Chad. That and she wanted him to be happy. She wanted his heart to be safe, and that wouldn’t happen if he followed his plan.
    Because she didn’t care what Chad said about his agreement with Claire. Amelia didn’t believe that the Queen of Mean was going to walk away in six months with a settlement when she could stay