Forever Wishes (Montana Brides Book 4) by Leeanna Morgan Read Free Book Online

sick of the empty boxes and had found his pint sized friend, creating havoc with him in his bedroom.  
    Lucy glanced toward the hallway. “I know you didn’t get a chance to spend much time with Scott after you left for college, but he’s worked really hard to get where he is today. He’s not unlike you in a lot of ways. You’re both opinionated, stubborn males.” With a small smile she asked, “How was the charity ball last night?”  
    Jake’s head jerked in her direction. His sister cradled her mug, gazing at him with a mischievous gleam in her eyes. He cleared his throat and scowled. “I sold.”
    “Oh dear. That bad?”  
    “No. Not that bad, but I wish you wouldn’t put my name forward for another auction. This is the last time I stand there like a bull at the market being sold to the highest bidder.”  
    He squirmed in his seat as Lucy’s eyes widened a fraction. He knew what she was thinking. At last year’s ball he’d taken the auction in his stride. It wasn’t like him to get fazed by a fundraising date, but he’d had enough. Three years of auctions were enough for any sane man. It was time someone else put their body on the line for a good cause.
    “I’m sure the ladies thought you were more like cotton candy than a bull. So how much did a date with the illustrious Jake Williams, lawyer extraordinaire, go for?”
    “Four thousand dollars.” He couldn’t help the smug note that crept into his voice. He wasn’t going to mention the deal he’d struck with Erin to bid on his behalf. That would ruin the dumbfounded expression on his sister’s face. He crossed his arms across his chest, daring her to laugh.
    “Four thousand bucks? What did you do? Strip naked?”
    Jake hoped Lucy missed the heat he could feel racing up his neck. There’d been a lot of nakedness last night and he’d do it again if he got half the chance.  
    “Your problem, little sister, is that you don’t know quality when you see it. When was the last time you went out to play with the male species?” He wiggled his eyebrows at her. “And a trip to Kids Zone with Ethan doesn’t count.” If that didn’t get her off the charity auction track, nothing else would.  
    Lifting her nose in the air, she said, “For your information, single moms don’t get a chance to get out much. And I’m not that interested in dating anyone.” She paused, smiling at him. “Besides, they’d have to go a long way to top the special men in my life.”

    Hot, dry, heat blasted Erin’s face as she opened the oven door. For the last hour and a half she’d been mixing, cutting, and cooking gingerbread men for tomorrow’s preschool program at the library. They usually had about twenty-six kids turn up with their moms or dads for half an hour of stories and songs.  
    Tomorrow would be an extra special event. The kids would be meeting Carolyn, the new children’s librarian, for the first time. Decorating gingerbread seemed like a great way for the kids to get to know her, and a great way for Carolyn to meet the adults. Knowing the staff at the library, Erin wouldn’t get through the front door without taking extra cookies for everyone. So another few batches had been added to the chaos surrounding her.  
    With a sigh of relief, she slid the last tray into the oven and looked at her once tidy kitchen. It needed to be rezoned a disaster area. Flour, sugar, mixing bowls, and cookies hot from the oven covered every available inch of counter space.  
    Her clothes looked just as messy. Using the back of her hand, she wiped a strand of hair away from her face and tried to brush some of the flour off her t-shirt.  
    The doorbell chimed. With a frown on her face, she glanced across at the oven, then walked down the hallway.  
    “Jake?” Her hand gripped the open door and her pulse bounced out of control.  
    He took his sunglasses off and an uncertain smile slid across his face. “I stayed at my sister’s house last night and thought