Heartland by Sherryl Woods Read Free Book Online

remark came out sounding more disgruntled than she would have liked. Steven grinned.
    â€œThat’s not the only reason I’m coming by, as you perfectly well know. Lara, can’t we go to the park, sit down under a tree and talk this through? I feel ridiculous having this conversation in the middle of a sidewalk. It’s hotter than blazes out here, and you look as though you’re ready to bolt at the first opportunity.”
    â€œI am. I think we’ve already said quite enough for one day.”
    He rolled his eyes. “Obviously reasoning with you is the wrong tactic.” He grabbed her hand and started off down the street. Lara had to run to keep up with him.
    â€œI’m not going with you,” she muttered, even though she knew how ridiculous the protest sounded when she quite clearly was going with him. He headed straight for a hundred-year-old oak tree in the park, its massive trunk the perfect backrest, its leaves providing welcome shade.
    â€œSit.”
    â€œI’m not some puppy you can order around,” she replied mutinously.
    He shrugged. “Fine. I’ll sit.”
    He lowered himself to the ground, leaned back against the tree and crossed his outstretched legs at the ankle. Since he was still holding tight to her hand, Lara was left bending awkwardly over him. She scowled at him, then sat, staying as far away as his firm handclasp would allow.
    â€œTalk,” he suggested.
    Her jaw set stubbornly. “You’re the one who wanted to talk.”
    â€œOkay. I’ll put the words in your mouth. Correct me if I get any of this wrong. You’re still upset because of what happened eleven years ago. You’re convinced that I betrayed you.”
    â€œYou did.”
    â€œI didn’t.” When she started to protest, he held up his hand. “I can see why you’d think that, but I did what I thought was best.”
    â€œOh, for heaven’s sakes, Steven,” she said impatiently. “You keep saying that. How could it have been for the best to walk out on me without a word? I was in love with you. We were planning a future together. Or was I the only one doing the planning?”
    He sucked in a deep breath and rubbed a thumb across her knuckles. When he finally answered, his voice was so quiet she had to lean closer to hear it. “No, Lara, you weren’t the only one making plans. I wanted to be with you more than I’d ever wanted anything in my life.”
    Tears sprang to her eyes. Her heart felt as though it were breaking all over again. “Then why didn’t you stay?”
    He sighed heavily, and his expression grew thoughtful as Lara waited for his response. “There were so many reasons, starting with the fact that I wasn’t much of a prize back then.”
    â€œI thought you were.”
    â€œYou saw what I wanted you to see. Did you know, for instance, how much I hated my father? It was the only thing that drove me. I wanted to prove I wasn’t like him.” He gave a rueful laugh. “Instead, I found myself doing exactly the things he’d always done. I put my career above everything else. It was just beginning to go places when we met. I had to travel a lot.”
    â€œI knew all that. It didn’t matter.”
    â€œIt did to me. You were only eighteen. Too young to be making a commitment for a lifetime. I was nearly ten years older, and even I wasn’t mature enough to handle things right. I’d already had one marriage fail because of my own inability to handle the responsibility of an honest, full-time relationship. I wasn’t about to do the same thing to you. Besides, until I showed up, you’d been dreaming about going to college and being a doctor. I wanted you so much, I kept forgetting about that. Then your parents reminded me.”
    She shook her head. “I can’t believe my parents would interfere. They knew how much I loved you. They wouldn’t have asked