Handpicked Husband (Love Inspired Historical) by Winnie Griggs Read Free Book Online Page A

keep him off balance.
    He nodded. “There are copies for each of us. Everyone has signed them but you.”
    She would sign the contracts, all right. But Adam was sadly mistaken if he thought she would give in without a fight. Her take-no-prisoners campaign was just beginning.
    * * *
     
    Adam didn’t like the battle-ready expression Regina wore as she signed the papers. She’d seen something in the contract to raise her spirits, and that didn’t bode well for the judge’s plans. But what had she seen?
    He’d have to take a closer look when he had a moment.
    She handed the packet to him, holding one copy back for herself. Her fingers brushed against his—not drawing-room-smooth skin but feminine nonetheless.
    “I imagine your friends have had enough time to stretch their legs.” She slid her copy into her dress pocket. “Shall I call them back?”
    “Call them?” Surely they’d traveled too far for a simple hail?
    With a schoolgirl grin, she placed two fingers between her lips and let out a piercing whistle, immediately followed by a second blast.
    He winced at the shrill sound. “Are you in the habit of calling your people as if they were dogs?”
    In the blink of an eye the schoolgirl transformed into an indignant woman. The heat in her cheeks complimented her dragon’s eyes.
    “I do not treat people like animals.” She waved a hand. “We tend to scatter when we’re out here. The whistles are signals we’ve worked out to get each other’s attention.”
    She took a deep breath and her expression lost its high emotion. “Mrs. Peavy knows two whistles means she’s wanted back at the cabin, and Mr. Peavy and Jack know they can ignore the call.”
    As if to support her words, two answering blasts came from the distance.
    “There,” she said, “that’s Mrs. Peavy signaling she heard me.” Dusting her skirt, she flounced down the steps. And promptly tripped on her hem.
    Adam reacted on instinct, catching her before she could land at his feet. With his arms around her, their gazes locked. Her eyes widened and she gave a breathy little gasp that shot through him. Suddenly the world shrank around them as if they were figures in a water globe, the very air swirling around them.
    He’d almost forgotten what it was like to hold a woman—to feel her softness, to breathe in her subtle fragrance, to watch the rosy flush of emotion bathe her cheeks.
    An unexpected urge to tighten his embrace, to protect her, to kiss her, took hold of him. Not that he would do so—that would be madness.
    But what would she do if he tried?

Chapter Four
     
    S harp barking shattered the glass of their water globe, bringing Adam back to earth with a crash.
    Regina started and the color in her cheeks deepened.
    He turned away, as much to regain his own composure as to allow her to regain hers.
    What was wrong with him? She was the judge’s granddaughter and he was supposed to be looking out for her interests, not taking advantage of her. Even if he’d been interested in pursuing her—which he wasn’t—his whole reason for being here was to make sure she married one of the other men.
    “Are you going to signal for Jack and Mr. Peavy also?” The question came out more sharply than he’d intended and he moderated his tone. “I’m sure the men would like to get to know the boy as well. After all, the one who wins your favor won’t just be gaining you as a wife, but also a son.”
    “Not yet.” The steel was back in her voice. “I need to reach an understanding with you all on a few things before I bring Jack into this.”
    Adam didn’t care for her tone. Did she think she was running this show?
    Then he gave a mental shrug. She was probably as disconcerted by what had just happened as he was. Besides, he was merely an observer and enforcer. The three suitors would be the ones required to deal with her bossy ways.
    And regardless of her posturing, she couldn’t get around the judge’s terms. She could toy with them all