The Kissing Stars Read Online Free PDF

again, either.”
    He might as well have plunged a pitchfork through her heart, so badly did his words hurt.
    On watery knees, she sank back into her seat. Neither of them spoke for a time. The laughter of passing fair-goers sounded harsh to Tess’s ears. Her thoughts were in turmoil. All these years she’d wondered. All these years she’d entertained one scenario after another, instigated a search a time or two, finally deciding her husband was dead. Never once had she guessed her father told Gabe they were divorced. Never once had she considered he might have changed—no, rejected—the Cameron name.
    Another thought struck Tess and her eyes widened. Gabe hadn’t mentioned another woman, but what if…
    She felt as though a noose slowly tightened around her neck when she repeated the question he had asked her earlier. “Did you marry again, Gabe?”
    He glanced away from her, his lips flattening in a grim line. “No.”
    Thank God . A wave of relief washed over Tess as she waited for him to elaborate. He didn’t.
    From just beyond the fairgrounds to the south came the peal of a church bell counting off the hour. In fifteen minutes she was due to begin her speech. She drew a deep breath, braced herself, then said, “Gabe, my father banished me from the ranch two weeks after the fire. He died six months after that. I never saw him or spoke with him again. I never signed divorce papers.”
    His head whipped around “What?”
    Tess licked her lips. “As far as I know, you and I are still married.”
    He sat back heavily in his chair. “The hell you say.”
    Half a minute ticked by in silence before he said, “I can’t believe your father would lie about this. Why would he? What was the purpose?” Before she could summon a reply, he narrowed his eyes and added, “Wait a minute. Your father kicked you out? Why?”
    Tess glanced away. She couldn’t answer his question. Not without thinking it all through. Too much was at stake. “Did you ever look for me, Gabe?”
    “Look for you? Why would I? You divorced me, or at least, that’s what I thought.”
    Emotion rumbled up inside her, threatening to overwhelm. What should she tell him? What would he do when he learned the rest of it?
    Maybe she’d never tell him. What purpose would it serve at this late date? Tess swallowed hard. She needed some time to think about this. Everything was happening too fast.
    Standing she affected an unconcerned air, even though on the inside she was trembling. “I’ve got to go. I’ll be late for my speech.”
    “But we’re not finished,” Gabe protested. “You can’t leave now. There are things I need to know.”
    Tess suddenly ached with weariness. Emotional upheaval purely wore a woman down. “You’re not the only person in my world now, Gabe. I don’t have time at the moment. There is too much to tell. Too many questions.”
    “Then you’ll meet me after your talk,” Gabe demanded, scowling.
    Tess thought of her plans to catch the evening train, and Twinkle’s hunch that something was wrong at home. If she could figure out what to say to him, she’d have a little time to spare for a talk. “I’ll meet you at the swine barn in two hours. That’s the best I can do.”
    “I’ll be there.”
    She started to walk away then, but good manners and a surprising reluctance to part from him had her pausing long enough to say, “Thank you for the lemonade.”
    “Sure. Anytime.”
    “Well, good-bye, Gabe.”
    As she walked past him, he reached out, grabbed her hand, and pulled her toward him saying, “That reminds me.”
    Before she realized his intent, he dipped his head and his lips captured hers. He tasted of lemons and sugar, and Tess wanted to weep at the sweetness of his kiss. It ended entirely too soon.
    “I’ve always regretted not kissing you good-bye,” Gabe said in a low, rough voice. “Figured I might as well make up for it. Of course, that wasn’t good-bye, but a see-you-later kiss. Two hours at the