The Reluctant Bride (Montana Born Brides) Read Online Free PDF Page A

very nice.
    Why should it be?
    In his eyes, she was playing a game. And she had no way of really making him see that her being lost and confused was just as disheartening from her point of view.
    “ Um…”
    “ What?” He glanced back over his shoulder.
    Yeah, what? Time to take a break. Run again…
    “ Thanks for changing my tire.”
    “ You’re welcome.”
    He didn ’t turn to face her or say another word. She should let it go or stay quiet and make him talk, but she couldn’t.
    “ So you are going to the Barn Dance?”
    “ I am.”
    “ I am too. You know I’m one of the vendors in the Great Wedding Giveaway.”
    “ I do. I read your profile in the online version of the Copper Mountain Courier ,” he said. “You mention your fiancé, but not my name.”
    “ Well, I wasn’t sure--”
    “ That part I figured out. Where do we go from here?” he asked.
    “ Where do you want to go? I would like a chance to really get to know each other. I don’t even know how long you’re back for,” she said.
    “ For good,” he said. “The military is downsizing and I’ve signed up for the Reserves, but I’m also looking for another job. Maybe consulting.”
    Consulting. That wasn’t dangerous and it sounded like a job he could stay in one place and do. She wanted to know more but she was freezing. Her designer heels were gorgeous but not exactly made for standing outside on a cold spring evening.
    “ I want to hear all about it. Want to have lunch together tomorrow?” she asked. “Talk this out some more.”
    “ Okay,” he said. “Where at?”
    “ The Main Street Diner?” she asked. It was close to her shop, and public. So she wouldn’t be tempted to jump across the table and rip his clothes off, or anything. Though, right now, that was all she wanted. She wanted to be in his arms where it was warm—no, that was why she’d left. She had to stand on her own if she was going to be strong enough to stand by his side.
    Monty might not mind riding to the rescue, but she knew he deserved a partner who was strong enough to handle life on her own.
    “If that’s what you want,” he said.
    “ Why are you being so accommodating?” she asked.
    “ You’re kind of in the driver’s seat. You told me you needed time and I’m going to give it to you,” he said, shoving his hands into the pocket of his coat and then walking toward his truck.
    “ Why?”
    “ So I can figure out if I want you back because you hurt my pride, or if I want you back because you’re you.”
    He got into his truck and she stood there for a minute, just staring over at him. Damn him. She hadn’t even considered the fact that he might not want to marry her. It was stupid, she knew that. But really, once she’d made up her mind, she’d just sort of assumed that Monty would be waiting for her.

    Monty got in the cab of his truck and adjusted himself because, despite the cold and his anger, he was still turned on. There was a part of him that felt like now that he’d found her, she was still his wildest dream come true. But he knew she wasn’t.
    She was confused and unsure, and he wanted to push her and take advantage of it. Hell, why shouldn’t he? She’d already agreed to be his wife and now she had cold feet. But he wasn’t that kind of guy. He’d seen what happened to a marriage when a woman felt trapped in it. And he wanted no part of repeating his parents’ mistakes.
    Hell, he ’d made enough of his own without reliving any of theirs.
    So he sat there until he saw her get in her car and turn it on. She signaled and carefully pulled off the shoulder and onto the highway. He followed her. In the silence of his cab, he heard her voice and all the soft things she’d said in her car. How she wasn’t sure if she could stand on her own.
    He got that. He wanted to be the kind of man who could step back and let her find herself. Except he was lost and he’d been counting on her to be his salvation. And, right now, he knew she