The Tycoon's Bought Fiancée Read Online Free PDF

in this lifetime. Or any other, for that matter.”
    Stephanie tried not to smile. “There’s nothing wrong with Mrs. Blum.”
    â€œShe dances on her husband’s feet,” David said, “and she outweighs the both of us.” Stephanie laughed. His smile tilted, and his gaze dropped to her mouth. “You have a nice laugh, Stephanie.”
    â€œMr. Chambers…”
    â€œDavid. Surely we’ve insulted each other enough to be on a first-name basis.”
    â€œDavid, maybe we did get off on the wrong foot, but—”
    â€œSo did Mrs. Blum.”
    She smiled again, and his heart lifted. She really did have a nice smile.
    â€œLet’s just forget it, shall we?”
    â€œI’d like that, very much—especially since it was all my fault.”
    â€œThat’s kind of you, David, but, well, I was to blame, too. I—I saw the way you were looking at me in the church, you know, when you went to shut the doors, and—and I thought…” She took a deep breath. “All I’m trying to say is that I didn’t mean to be so—so—”
    â€œImpolite?” he asked innocently. “Judgmental? Is that the word you’re looking for?”
    Laughter glinted in her eyes.
    â€œYou’re pushing your luck,” she said. “Putting words in my mouth that way.”
    He thought of what he’d like to do with that mouth, how badly he wanted to taste it, and cleared his throat.
    â€œAh,” he said, shaking his head sadly, “and here I thought the widow Willingham was about to offer a full apology for her behavior. So much for the mystique of Southern good manners.”
    â€œMy manners are usually impeccable. And how can you be so certain I’m from the South?”
    He chuckled. “‘An’ how can you be so suhtain Ah’m from th’South?’” he said.
    Stephanie tried not to smile, but it was impossible. “I’m glad my accent amuses you, Mr. Chambers.”
    â€œI promise you, Mrs. Willingham, I’m not laughing at you. Matter of fact, I like your drawl. It’s very feminine.”
    â€œIf you’re waiting for me to say I like the sound of your Montana twang, Mr. Chambers—”
    â€œMontana?” David slapped his hand over his heart. “Good God, woman, you do know how to wound a man. I’m from Wyoming.”
    â€œOh.”
    â€œOh? Is that all you can say, after you accuse me of being from a state where the cows outnumber the people three to one?” He grinned. “At least, in Wyoming, we only have one critter that walks upright for every two point something that moos.”
    Stephanie laughed politely. “My apologies.”
    â€œApologies accepted. And, just for the record, I have no accent.”
    Her smile was warm and open this time. He had an accent; she was sure he knew it as well as she did. His voice was low and husky; it reminded her of high mountains and wide open spaces, of a place where the night sky would be bright with stars and the grassy meadows would roll endlessly toward the horizon….
    â€œGotcha,” he said softly.
    Stephanie blinked. “What?”
    â€œYou smiled,” David said with a little smile of his own. “Really smiled. And I agree.”
    â€œAgree about what?” she said in total confusion.
    â€œThat we got off to the wrong start.”
    She considered the possibility. Perhaps they had. He seemed a nice enough man, this friend of Annie’s. There was no denying his good looks, and he had a sense of humor, too. Not that she was interested in him. Not that she’d ever be interested in any man. Still, that was no reason not to be polite. Pleasant, even. This was just one day out of her life. One afternoon. And what had he done, when you came down to it? Looked at her, that was all. Just looked at her, and even though she hated it, she was accustomed to it.
    Men had always looked at her,