Steel Heart (Historical Western Romance) (Longren Family series #2, Chloe and Matthew's story) Read Online Free PDF

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                  And fell into his arms.
                  "Whoa, girl," Matthew said.  He caught my arms and set me neatly back on my feet.
                  "Let go of me," I snapped.  But, of course, he already had.
                  "It's me, Chlo."  As if I'd mistake him for anybody else.
                  "I know it's you."  I looked past him into the hall.  "You and who else?"
                  Matthew closed his eyes briefly.  "From the sound of it, you already know."
                  I did.  I'd seen him.  Him and Violet.  But hearing it, without any attempts at denial, somehow, that was worse.
                  I slapped him.  I'd never done anything like that in my life and, had I ever expected to, I'd have thought it would have been for lying, not for telling me the truth.
                  "How could you?  And why?  Why, after everything that we've been through, after—"
                  "Chloe, it's not what you think."  He had one hand up to his cheek and his eyes were watering.
                  "Of course not.  Of course it isn't.  It never is, is it, Matthew Longren?  Did you think you'd just wait until I fell for you again and—"
                  "—You're talking about Violet."  He kept his voice level.  That just made me angrier.
                  Down the hall, someone opened a door and stuck his head out.  I hadn't known any of the other rooms were occupied.  The hotel wasn't finished, though maybe the carpenters were staying.  Whoever he was, he took one look at us and retreated.
                  "Of course I'm talking about Violet.  Of course it is Violet.  And, of course you—"
                  "—Needed her advice," Matthew said.  He met my eyes, looking far too rational.  "Didn't go looking for her, but a fire brings people out and…"
                  I almost hit him again, my hand flying up of its own accord.  Instead, I jerked back, appetite gone, the desire to see any member of the Longren clan long gone.  Grabbing the door, I swung it, hard.
                  He caught it easily and, when I stepped forward, belligerent, furious, he caught me easily, too, lifting me with his hands just above my elbows, swinging me far too easily off the floor and back into the room, as if we danced some complicated dance.  I caught my breath as he shut the door behind himself, locked it, and pocketed the key.
                  "Give me that!"  I was angry enough to climb out the window except for the snow; angry enough to head back to Gold Hill on foot if that was the only way I could get there tonight.
                  "Chloe, listen to me."
                  He looked serious, calm and determined.  I backed away again, terrified suddenly of what he was going to tell me, the end of the years of advance and retreat.  The end of the dream I'd had.  That, someday, I'd be a Longren woman.  That I'd marry Matt.  That he'd love only me.
                  "Get out."
                  "Sure," he said, agreeable.  Not leaving. 
                  I stomped past him to the door, my boots ringing on the hardwood floors.  "Give me the key."
                  He met my eyes, looking almost as angry as I was.  I held my hand out.  He considered, reached into his pocket, pulled out the key.
                  I took it without saying anything, wrapped my fingers around it, looked away from him and turned back to the door.  The key in the lock, the doorknob spun, I pulled the door open a couple of inches.
                  Matthew's hand came over my shoulder, flat against the door, slamming it shut.  I turned fast and his other hand came up on the other side of my head, boxing me in.  I started to duck out from