Every Vow She Breaks by Jannine Gallant Read Free Book Online Page A

having you resuscitate me.”
    With an eye roll and a whistle to her dog, she broke into a jog and never looked back.
    * * * *
    “Do you mind if we stop at the local market before we go back to the campground?” Claire flipped her hair over her shoulder. “I forgot to buy shampoo yesterday when we went to the store, and I need more lunchmeat.”
    “No problem, especially since I’m the one who ate it all. How can you survive on one sandwich?”
    She glanced down. “Do I look malnourished?”
    Jed took his gaze off the road for longer than he should have to study her. “No, you look…healthy.”
    Her cheeks heated. After that mind-blowing kiss, every word out of his mouth sounded like a proposition.
    “How can you make a word like healthy sound sexual?”
    He grinned. “It’s a gift. Just tell me where to go.”
    With an effort, she withheld the comment that sprang to mind. “We don’t turn until we get into town.”
    Following her directions, he made a left at the stop sign in the center of what passed for Shady Bend’s business district, slowed in front of the hardware store when a man in overalls jaywalked across the street and then parked in the lot of Hansen’s General Store. The mom and pop establishment had apparently survived the encroachment of a big chain supermarket built on the highway.
    The car door opened with a squeak, and Claire hopped down. Turning, she dug through her backpack for her wallet before giving Scoop a shove when he pushed between the seats. “You stay here.”
    “Huh?”
    “The dog.”
    Jed smiled as he walked around the hood of the SUV to her side. “Oh. I thought you were barking orders at me.”
    “Not out of the question if you push too hard.”
    His eyes heated. “I promised not to…no matter how tempting you are.”
    “Jed…”
    He held up his hands then dropped them to his sides. “I’ll back off. For now.”
    Elbows brushing, they strolled toward the entrance. A bell over the door dinged as he pushed it open. Inside, narrow aisles were crammed with an array of merchandise, from canned goods to work boots to greeting cards and party supplies.
    Claire looked around and sighed. “I always loved this store. Seems like if you dig deep enough, you’ll find a real treasure hidden under a stack of towels or buried beneath a selection of fall produce.”
    Jed lifted a straw hat decorated with pink ribbons off a shelf and plopped it onto her head. His gaze dropped to her mouth. “The place does have its charm, but do they carry lunchmeat?”
    “There’s a meat counter and deli in the back. At least there used to be.”
    “Is turkey okay?” At her nod, he turned toward the rear of the store. “Then I’ll take care of our lunch needs while you find shampoo in this rabbit warren.”
    “I’ll meet you at the checkout stand in a few minutes.” Removing the hat after he left, she turned—and rammed into a solid chest. The breath left her in a whoosh as big hands grasped her arms.
    A deep voice rumbled in her ear. “I’m sorry. I should know better than to hurry through this place.”
    Claire’s chin snapped upward. The voice hadn’t changed. Neither had the dark, unruly hair or the chocolate-brown eyes. Only the torso she’d slammed against was different, thicker than she remembered. At a guess, Dallas Simms had gained at least fifty pounds since his glory days playing high school football. Old emotions churned, memories of sitting for hours in his car, planning a future….
    “Claire?” His grip loosened as he stepped back. “It is you.” The chest she’d pulled away from rose and fell on an exhaled breath. “Theresa told me you’d be in town.”
    “It’s good to see you, Dallas. You look…good.” She pressed her lips together on the final inanity, feeling like a fool.
    His eyes darkened. “Wow, you look incredible. How long are you staying in the area?”
    “A few more days at least.”
    She edged backward as he advanced to enfold her in a hug. Her