Forever His Bride by LISA CHILDS Read Free Book Online Page B

watched the other couple. Brenna’s eyes widened as the oldest McClintock leaned over and kissed Abby.
    “Wow,” she whistled, “no wonder the boys were cold. Hell has just frozen over.”
    Josh pulled Brenna’s soft, curvy body into his arms. “The boys were cold?”
    He closed his eyes on a wave of guilt. He should be focused on them right now, on their disappointment in not getting the new mommy he’d promised them. Instead he was focusing only on Brenna, on how perfectly she fit into his arms, against his body. How his pulse raced and his skin tingled from the slightest contact with her.
    “I warmed them up,” she assured him, “with some dry paper towels and a hug.”
    “Buzz and TJ?” he checked.
    “I haven’t noticed any other miniature versions of you running around here,” she teased.
    “They stood still long enough for you to give them a hug?” he asked, disbelieving. He had to bribe them for hugs.
    “Well, they were cold from their pop fight.”
    He winced. “Pop fight?” No wonder she considered the tuxedo deposits a loss.
    “They were shaking up pop bottles, then spraying them at each other like squirt guns.”
    Josh groaned. “I’m sorry they’ve been so much trouble.”
    “ They’re no trouble at all.”
    “But I am?” Josh asked, surprised by her tone. Did she feel it, too—the attraction, the possibilities between them?

Chapter Four
    Brenna dragged in a breath, scented with Josh’s citrusy aftershave, and shook her head. “You’re no trouble.”
    His arms tightened around her back, pulling her closer so that her breasts pressed against his chest. His heart pounded fast and hard—she could feel the beat of it in sync with hers. He said, “You don’t sound convinced.”
    “That’s not what I meant.”
    “Of course not,” he agreed, easing away slightly. “I’ve been nothing but trouble for you. You worked so hard on the wedding and reception.”
    Brenna glanced toward her friends, all of whom had abandoned their partners on the dance floor. She gave Colleen credit for leaving the best man standing alone. Nick Jameson was obviously trouble, and Colleen had realized it. The girl was stronger than she knew. Pride lifted Brenna’s lips into a smile. Colleen was nearly as much her little sister as she was Molly’s. She had often hung out at the Kelly house growing up, and she still did today.
    And Clayton. The man looked as stunned to have kissed Abby as Brenna had been to witness it. Even though Abby had run away from him, maybe she’d finally stopped fighting her feelings. Mrs. McClintock might get her wish after all.
    “Maybe it’s not turning out so badly,” Brenna said, referring to his earlier comment. Then her breath caught as she thought about how this sounded. “I mean, for everyone else. Obviously it hasn’t worked out for you.”
    “Brenna…” He slid his fingertips along her cheekbone to the curve of her jaw. Her skin tingled everywhere he touched her.
    His eyes darkening as his pupils widened, he murmured, “Maybe it’s not turning out so badly for me, either.” Then he leaned forward, as if he intended to kiss her.
    Her heart pounding wildly, Brenna pulled away. She wanted Josh so badly she must have imagined he felt the attraction, too. And that just wasn’t possible. “I really need to go check on my friends.”
    Abby kissing Clayton. Colleen staring up at Nick Jameson as if she were deeply infatuated. Apparently, Brenna wasn’t the only one who was falling.
    Josh nodded. “I understand. I wish…”
    “What?” She couldn’t stop herself from asking.
    He shook his head. “I wish that I was your friend, too.” The sparkle in his eyes hinted that maybe he would like to be more than her friend. But she had to be imagining that, just as she’d imagined he intended to kiss her. That sparkle must have been a reflection from the strobe light spinning over their heads.
    “We are friends,” she assured him. With his first e-mail, she’d felt