And Then He Kissed Me by Teresa Southwick Read Free Book Online

impulsive, foolish decisions.”
    â€œIs that so?”
    Bingo. Third time’s the charm. This line of questioning was getting interesting. She rested her chin on her linked hands and stared at him as she embarked on a fishing expedition. “Your life is perfect. I can’t believe you ever did anything stupid or foolish when you were young.”
    â€œI got married.”
    Nick couldn’t believe he’d said that. But Abby’s eyes grew wide, so he figured he must have.
    â€œYou’re married?”
    â€œNot anymore.” He stared back at her for several moments, waiting for her to laugh, waiting for the pain, anger and humiliation to wash over him.
    â€œAre you going to tell me about it, or just let it hang there?”
    He wasn’t sure why he’d blurted out his secret in the first place. Now that he had, he figured he owed her an explanation. “It was about five years ago, just before we met, when I was opening the restaurant in Phoenix. I hired a woman to hostess. She came highly recommended. For me it was love at first sight.”
    â€œWhat about her?”
    â€œShe was involved with someone. But he walked out on her when she discovered she was pregnant.”

    She frowned. “Jerk.”
    â€œYeah. She confided in me, and I was crazy about her. I wanted to take care of her and the baby. I proposed and she accepted. We got married in Las Vegas.”
    â€œThen what happened?”
    â€œLike the proverbial bad penny, the boyfriend turned up.”
    â€œA day late and a dollar short.”
    â€œSomething like that. But she took him back.” When Abby opened her mouth to protest, he held up his hand. “She felt it would be best to give him a chance, since he was the baby’s father.”
    â€œSo you divorced?”
    He shook his head. He almost wished they had. “It’s worse than that. She had the marriage annulled, as if it had never happened.”
    She stared at him for several moments, absorbing the information. “Good.”
    He stopped twirling his glass and met her gaze. “Good?”
    â€œAbsolutely. If she was too dumb to know what a great guy you are, a guy willing to love her and another man’s baby, then I’m glad she cut you loose. She doesn’t deserve you.”
    â€œI don’t know about—”
    â€œShe did you a favor. And the annulment means you’re free to marry again in the church.”
    He shook his head. “Not me. I’m a confirmed bachelor.”
    â€œSo this is the reason you haven’t proposed to Madison.”
    Wow, she sure didn’t beat around the bush. But she’d nailed it. Madison was right that their relationship
had cooled because of a woman. But it wasn’t Abby.
    â€œDo you blame me? The height of stupidity would be to make the same mistake again,” he said, the words bitter on his tongue. Every time he thought about settling down, memories of that time gave him a sick feeling in his gut. “Golden boy gets shafted. Then she made it as if it never happened.”
    â€œI’m sorry you went through that, Nick.” Abby put her hand over his. “But here’s something to think about. You’ve seen the plaque on my wall—What Doesn’t Kill Me Will Make Me Stronger?”
    He nodded, enjoying the feel of her small hand on his. He wondered if this same gesture he’d made moments before had delivered even half the comfort that she was sending his way now. “And your point is?”
    â€œI’m saving a spot for the companion—When Life Gives You Lemons, Make Lemonade. You’re stronger for having gone through what you did. A weaker man would have curled up and turned his back on women. But you didn’t do that.”
    â€œNo?” Then why did he feel so reluctant to commit? It sure as hell reinforced his conviction to stay a bachelor.
    â€œNo. The experience made you the man you are