A Daring Proposal by Sandra S. Kerns Read Free Book Online

Chaney had been drinking, she would have spit it across the table. “H-h-here?”
    No, Jed Sampson could not move back to Crescent. That would be too much.
    “Yes, here. Where else would I move back to?”
    Chaney swallowed. This could not be happening. She thought her life couldn’t get worse when she was rea dy to propose to Billy Bradley.
    “Why?” she asked, cursing the squeak in her voice. She cleared her throat and tried again. “I mean, you couldn’t get out of here fast enough. Why would you want to come back?”
    ***
    Jed heard the nervousness in her voice. He’d seen her pulse jump in her throat when he first mentioned his plans. Maybe she didn’t hate him as much as she wanted him to believe.
    And maybe I’m living in a dream world.
    That was a distinct possibility, he thought. When he had walked into the Low Down and seen Chaney with Billy, he had done a double take. As had the rest of the people at the bar from their comments. Problem was they all just let their tongues wag about it. Jed saw a problem. There was no way in a sane universe Chaney McBride and Billy Bradley would ever go out together. But that wasn’t the current topic. He needed to focus.
    “Nothing in particular. I’ve been thinking about it for a while.” Your father dying helped a lot in making it a possibility he wanted to say, but kept it to himself. There wasn’t a doubt in his mind that McBride kept his part in Jed’s unexpected disappearance a secret.
    “The people here are good, with the exception of a few,” he added seeing Chaney look over to where Billy was already pawing another woman at the bar. “I’m thinking about opening up a shop.”
    “What kind of shop?”
    “Handmade furniture, woodworking, and restoration.”
    “You still do that?”
    Pleased that she remembered, he smiled and nodded. He wondered if she still had the cowgirl he’d carved for her. No, she probably threw it in the fire years ago.
    “Yeah,” he said, stretching his legs out under the table. “I had an offer to sell the one I have back east. Coming out to the wedding gave me the idea I might just do that.”
    He watched Chaney pick up the pieces of napkin she’d dropped and start shredding the shreds. He covered her hands with one of his. Hers instantly stilled. “You don’t care for the idea?”
    She pulled her hands away. “Why would I care what you do?”
    “You hate me, remember?”
    “Don’t worry, I haven’t forgotten.”
    “So it wouldn’t bother you if I moved back?” As the question left his lips, Jed knew her answer mattered more to him than it should. His uncle’s words of a week ago rang in his head. Go for it.
    “Nope,” Chaney replied without looking at him.
    Jed didn’t believe her. If her present behavior was any indication, his presence bothered her. It bothered her a lot.
    “Well, nothing is settled yet.” He heard her release a loud breath. “But I’m pretty set on the notion.”
    He almost laughed as her posture stiffened again. He had always been able to read Chaney. From the time he first came to town and she followed him and Steve around, he knew exactly how she felt about everything. Unfortunately, knowing she didn’t like the idea of him moving back didn’t make him feel better. The thought that she might not hate him as much as he believed had been short lived. Oh, she was aware of him. There could even still be chemistry between them. He knew that didn’t mean she would have anything to do with him.
    “I’m sure Steve will be thrilled.”
    “I hope so,” he said, wanting to drop the subject. “Now, about Billy.”
    “Drop it, Jed. Billy was a bad idea. If I wasn’t so--never mind.”
    “Weren’t so what, Chaney?”
    She was silent a long time. So long, Jed thought she was giving him the silent treatment again. Then she turned in the seat so she was more or less facing him. He could almost see the proverbial wheels turning behind her beautiful eyes.
    “Is your dare still