The Christmas Bargain Read Online Free PDF Page B

waitress, Melanie LaRoux, came to his table. As she sidled up next to him, her eyes glittered with familiarity.
    “Mornin’ Luke, honey,” she said, giving him a warm smile. “I missed you yesterday morning. Heard you had breakfast with the pastor.”
    “Yes, I did,” Luke said in a clipped tone, wondering best how to break Melanie’s heart.
    “Somethin’ the matter, sugar?” Melanie asked, a hurt look crossing her features as her full, rosy lips formed into a becoming pout. Luke absently wondered if she perfected the placement of her lips by practicing in front of a mirror.
    Courting Melanie on and off for several years, Luke was never willing to make a commitment even though she was definitely hunting a husband. She’d get mad and tell him to never speak to her again, then after a few weeks, she’d beg him to take her on a picnic or to the skating rink or for a ride in his carriage. He never considered marrying her, but Melanie was determined to change his mind.
    Working in her parents’ restaurant as a waitress along with her two sisters, all three girls were beautiful blonds with big blue eyes. As the eldest, Melanie was the one who had caught Luke’s eye even if she never managed to capture his heart.
    Petite and buxom, Melanie was a flirt of immense proportions. She knew she was pretty, turning the heads of many young men in town. Using that knowledge to her advantage every opportunity she could, she was a skilled manipulator. She was also high-strung with a wicked temper.
    It was one thing to be seen with the prettiest girl in town on his arm and something altogether different to make her his wife. Luke had never felt Melanie was suitable wife material. Between her temper and coy behavior, something always held him back whenever he considered offering her a promise of commitment. She reminded him all too well of his own mother.
    Now he was going to have to tell her about his upcoming nuptials and he had a feeling the conversation was not going to go well. That was why his stomach hurt and his jaw was beginning to ache from being clenched tightly.
    “Nothing’s the matter,” Luke said, deciding to wait until the restaurant cleared out after breakfast before talking to Melanie. “I’m just hungry.”
    Placing a small hand on his arm, she beamed at Luke. “You came to the right place to fix that problem, honey. You want your usual for breakfast?”
    “Yes, please,” Luke said, swallowing back a sigh, watching Melanie sashay back to the kitchen with his order. She was easy on the eyes, for certain, and completely unlike his wife-to-be.
    Philamena looked like a strong wind would blow her down and that hideous dress did nothing but bring to mind a big burlap sack.
    After breakfast yesterday at the parsonage, he had purposely stayed away. Knowing he intimidated Philamena, Luke didn’t want to frighten her entirely with his presence. He supposed it would take time and gentleness to overcome her fears and help her realize not all men were drunken louts.
    Luke prided himself on being able to break any horse with a gentle hand. He decided Philamena couldn’t be much different. It was a challenge he was preparing himself to take on and Luke didn’t set his hand to anything unless he knew the outcome would be successful.
    Melanie soon returned with his breakfast, placing it before him with a beguiling smile. Luke ate without even tasting the smoky bacon or crisply fried potatoes. After a second cup of steaming coffee, he knew he had to tell her the truth. If he didn’t, she’d likely hear a rumor before the day was over, since Abby mentioned  she was planning to take Philamena to the mercantile to purchase necessities today.
    Giving George Bruner, the store owner, instructions to put whatever the women wanted on his tab before he came to the restaurant for breakfast, Luke hoped Philamena was enjoying her time with the bubbly Abby. If anyone could draw her out of her shell, Abby was the woman for the