Heart of Mine (Bandit Creek) by Michelle Beattie Read Free Book Online Page A

bothers you."
    "I've had people talking about me my whole life, Jake. It was you I was concerned about."
    His first instinct was to say she should have thought of the gossip before she and her father trapped him into marriage; but he firmly set such judgments aside. What was done was done. He was through looking back and was determined to move forward. Starting tonight.
    "It's not the first time I've been talked about, either." Which was the truth. Between his lack of interest in getting married and his inheritance, he'd given the folks of Bandit Creek more than enough to chew on over the years.
    Laura leaned forward and dropped her voice. He found himself inclining toward her. "I always figured their lives must be even more boring than mine if I was the best they could come up with to talk about."
    Laughter burst from his lips. Rather than shy away or look mortified by the extra attention he'd drawn to them, Laura chuckled right alongside him. It was, he realized, the first time he'd seen his wife smile, and it stole his breath. Tawny eyes sparkled behind lashes the same russet color as her hair. A small dimple appeared in her right cheek. Lights from the wall sconces cast a gentle shimmer over her skin. Not for the first time Jake caught himself wanting to touch that skin, to see if it was as smooth as it appeared. He'd been teased by her nearness that day he'd fetched her from town. It was nothing compared to what he felt now. Jake pulled at his tie. It wasn't normally this hot in the restaurant at this time of year.
    "Would you like the wine now?"
    Thank God , Jake thought as the server appeared with a chilled bottle. Maybe the coldness of the alcohol--kept that way by the abundance of icy mountain water--would bring down his suddenly feverish temperature.
    "Laura?"
    "Oh, yes, please."
    Charmed that she seemed so thrilled with his choice, Jake turned to the man. "Yes, Andrew. Wine would be perfect."
    After the wine was poured and they'd ordered their food, Jake took hold of his glass and held it across the white tablecloth.
    Laura hesitated only a moment then lifted her glass to his. No matter their less-than-auspicious beginning, they toasted to friendship. Jake watched her raise the glass to her mouth. Felt his belly tighten as her lips parted and she took a dainty sip.
    Her eyes widened in surprise. "It's very good."
    "You've never had wine before?"
    "No." She set down her glass, turned it gently within her hands. "There was never enough money for something as fancy as wine." Ducking her head she added, "Or eating in restaurants."
    He'd known, of course, that she was on the poorer side, but he'd never really understood just what that entailed. The simple things he'd taken for granted such as having a glass of wine, eating out with his uncle or granddad, had been as out of reach for Laura as the peaks of Crow and Turtle Mountain. Again it spoke of her character that she didn't complain about it, she simply stated a fact. He'd never known Laura before. He'd seen her about town, knew she was Hugh's daughter and had judged her accordingly. It was humbling to learn how wrong he'd been. Humbling and rewarding. Being attracted to his wife was a good thing, but far better that he actually liked her.
    "Granddad says there's a horse in the stables you favor?"
    "A Paint. I saw him that day you…"
    "The day I all but dragged you out of town?"
    "Well," she grinned, "I wasn't going to phrase it so harshly."
    "I apologize for that. I was surprised you'd gone back to work and I didn't like the way it would reflect on me."
    Dismay tugged her mouth into a frown. "I never meant it as an insult," she hurried to assuage. "I'm simply accustomed to working and never gave it a moment's thought."
    "I realize that now. If I had at the time, I wouldn't have embarrassed you in front of your employer."
    "It wasn't the first time I've been embarrassed either."
    Perhaps not, but he wasn't proud that he'd added to the number. Their food arrived,