A Rainbow in Paradise by Susan Aylworth Read Free Book Online Page A

the
woodwork. When all the paint had dried, she could clean the carpets
and count one room done. Even the idea exhausted her.
    She touched the rag on her head, making sure
it fully covered her hair, hair she had washed sparkling clean that
morning in preparation for Logan's arrival. Eden wondered: If she
were a betting woman, would her money be on Logan showing up? Or on
him wimping out?
    She smiled then, laughing at herself. Of all
the words she had ever applied to Logan Redhorse—and she'd thought
of all kinds in recent weeks—"wimp" had never been one of them. Face it, girl , she told herself, you hardly know the man,
though heaven only knows how much you'd like to. Some echo in
her conscience assured her that, whatever she didn't know, she
wouldn't mind learning.
    But dreaming of Logan Redhorse wasn't getting
the room painted. Eden sighed and struggled stiffly to her feet. It
was going to be a long day, and sitting here would only make it
longer. Still, even as she turned her thoughts back to her
appointed task, some longing in her heart reached out to him,
begging him to keep his promise, to come to see her this one last
time. She knew now that some unspoken "commitment" was making him
reluctant to see her and that apparently there was nothing she
could do about it. That didn't keep her from wanting to see Logan
again, even if all she got from the experience was another memory
to add to a small and rather exclusive collection. "Come to me,
Logan," she whispered aloud, willing him to feel her longing and
match it with his own.
    * * * * *
    For the fourth time in the last ten minutes,
Logan walked down the tool aisle in the hardware store, sure he
must be looking for something. Courage , he told himself, only I don't think they sell that here. Charm, maybe ? He'd
definitely need something to make him welcome when he arrived at
Eden's house.
    What was he going to say to her, anyway?
Could he possibly tell her the truth? I can't marry you, Eden,
but I can't resist being around you, so I thought I'd drop in for a
little while just to bask in your presence and smell your hair, and
maybe talk you into kissing me again before I ride off into the
sunset. How's that sound ? It didn't sound so good to him. He
couldn't imagine that it would to her, either, especially not on a
day like the one she had planned.
    Painting. Hey Redhorse, the lady is
painting ! Why hadn't he thought of that before? Passing up the
plumber's helpers, he hurried to the paint aisle and picked up a
couple of paint pads, a roller, a stir stick, two paper hats, and a
package of brushes in assorted sizes. In his limited experience, he
couldn't recall a single paint project where a pair of extra hands
wasn't welcome. Pleased with his inspiration, he checked his watch,
noticed it was almost one, and then made plans for another stop
along the way. He would make himself welcome. Maybe he could even
earn a kiss, and not end up feeling like a heel for taking it. He
smiled. Perhaps he wasn't such a tl"id after all.
    * * * * *
    When she heard the car door close outside,
Eden stifled the impulse to run to the window. She'd been running
to the window all morning and all it had gotten her so far was
further behind in her work. Then she heard footsteps on the front
walk and realized this car door was closing at her house.
Hurrying into the front hallway, she slipped the rag from her hair
and used the front mirror and the brush she'd left near it to tidy
up. Noticing the dirty blotch on her right cheek, she licked a
finger and rubbed at the spot. The doorbell rang and she gave
herself a quick inspection. What she saw wasn't great, but it would
have to do. She opened the door.
    "Hi," Logan said, holding up a brown bag from
a Holbrook drive-through. "I brought lunch."
    She hadn't thought of lunch, but now that the
thought occurred to her mind, her stomach concurred. "That sounds
great. Anybody who brings food is welcome here." She held the door
for him, then noticed as he