Surrendered Hearts Read Online Free PDF

interest in animals seemed genuine. Maybe she was an actress, but that didn’t mean everything she did was an act. Those tears in her eyes when she talked about losing her dog had to be real.
    Bill frowned and scooped up his first bite of pie, savoring the sweet berries and cool whipped cream.
    He needed to stop worrying about Jennifer Evans. She was not his concern. Wes and Lauren would take care of her.
    But when he looked up, his gaze connected with Jenn’s. For a brief moment he caught a glimpse past the wall she seemed to have put up to keep everyone at a distance. Behind it he saw a frightened young woman with a wounded heart.
    He blinked, breaking the connection. Gripping his coffee cup, he took a big gulp and tried to shake off the painful impression.
    “I took a drive over to West Harmon today and stopped at that shop Julia told me about.” Lauren smiled at Wes. “I think I found the perfect bridesmaid’s dress.”
    Wes lifted his eyebrows and smiled. “Great.”
    Tilley sat down. “What’s it like, dear?”
    “Floor-length, kind of A-line with a natural waist. I didn’t think I wanted a strapless dress, but this has an organza jacket over the top with three-quarter length sleeves. I’ve got a picture of it in my purse.” Lauren left the table and returned a few seconds later. She handed the picture to Tilley.
    Her aunt held it out at arm’s length and squinted. “Oh, it’s pretty. I like the beads on the bodice.” Tilley passed the picture to Wes.
    He took a quick look. “Looks nice, but I thought you wanted blue dresses.” He passed it to Bill.
    Bill glanced at the dress. It looked good to him, but he didn’t know an A-line from a B-line, so he wasn’t sure his opinion mattered. He handed the picture across the table to Jennifer.
    “The owner said she could order it in periwinkle blue for us. She showed me a fabric sample. It looks perfect.” She smiled at Jennifer. “Maybe you could come with me and see how you like it.”
    Jennifer’s gaze darted from the picture to Lauren. “I guess I could.”
    Lauren smiled, her eyes shining. “Well, I hope so, because I want to be sure the dress works for you.”
    Jenn stared at her. “You want me to be in the wedding?”
    “Yes!” Lauren laughed. “I’m sorry. I guess that wasn’t a very nice way to ask you.” She set her fork down. “Wes and I would like you to be my bridesmaid. We don’t have a very big wedding party. My friend, Julia Berkley, is my maid of honor, and Bill is Wes’s best man. And of course Toby will be up there with us, too.”
    The color drained from Jenn’s face. Her hand trembled as she laid her cloth napkin on the table. “Well, I . . . excuse me.” She pushed back her chair and fled to the kitchen.
    Lauren turned to Wes. “I guess I shouldn’t have put her on the spot like that.”
    “Don’t worry. She’ll be okay. She’s probably just worried about the cost of the dress or something.” Wes stared toward the kitchen doorway, a perplexed look on his face.
    Bill stood and snatched the empty pitcher off the table. “Think I’ll get us some more water.”
    Wes and Lauren’s whispered words of concern faded as Bill walked into kitchen. A quick glance around the room told him Jennifer must have escaped to the small bathroom off the kitchen. He refilled the pitcher, then took an ice tray from the freezer and slowly dropped the cubes into the water one at a time.
    The bathroom door opened. Jennifer stepped out.
    “Everything okay?” he asked.
    “Yes, thanks.” Her smile looked forced, and her red eyes and splotchy cheeks told him she’d been crying.
    “What happened out there?” He nodded toward the dining room.
    “Nothing.” She wrapped her arms around herself, but she didn’t walk away. “I guess I’m just . . . feeling a little emotional.”
    He set the ice cube tray on the counter. “How come? You don’t want to be in the wedding?”
    “No, that’s not it. It’s just.  . .” She glanced