If Only by Lisa M. Owens Read Free Book Online

abdomen, caressing it absently. “He insisted I get an abortion, but I refused. Then the violence began. He grabbed me by the shoulders and pushed me backward, slamming my head against the wall. His hands closed around my throat, and I really thought in that moment I was going to die. He struck me with his belt, and then he forced me onto the floor. He smashed his fist into my mouth. Eventually I fought back, but that only made things worse.”
    “And you miscarried?” he questioned gently.
    Bree nodded, tears filling her eyes. “He became so angry with me he kicked me in the stomach.” She looked down when Scott squeezed her hand. “He told me he was going to kill my baby, and then he was going to kill me. And I believed him, Scott. He really would have,” she insisted. “Apparently, one of our neighbors had called the police, and by the time they arrived, I had already miscarried. I was taken to the emergency room, and Bryan was arrested for domestic violence. He was bonded out almost immediately by his father, who paid one thousand dollars cash for his release.”
    Scott’s chocolate brown gaze searched her face as if he was looking for answers. “I want to believe you, baby, I really do. But this is just so…”
    “Unbelievable? Crazy? Incredible?”
    He grinned at his wife as his arms reached out for her. He cradled her in his lap, his fingers gently massaging her neck and shoulders. He laughed when she moaned aloud and dropped her chin to her chest. “How about all of the above?” He teased.
    “The funny thing is,” she continued, “you were married, but not to me. Didn’t you say we work with a woman named Monica?”
    He nodded at her query, not quite understanding where her line of questioning was going. “Yeah,” he stated. “She’s our editor.”
    Bree grinned as she looked at her husband, her emerald green eyes examining him curiously. “Do you find her attractive?”
    He shrugged, looking at his wife as though he was wondering if she had lost her mind. “I’ve never really thought about it,” he confessed with a smile. “After all, I’m a happily married man.”
    “Good answer!” She teased as she poked him in the ribs with an elbow. “But believe it or not, Monica was the woman you were married to, and the two of you were having a baby together.”
    At the incredulous look on her handsome husband’s face, Bree couldn’t help but to laugh. He leaned over and kissed her soundly on the mouth. “Are you ready to go back to bed?” he questioned as he reached over and nuzzled her neck. Raising his dark eyebrows suggestively, he gazed over at his wife. “I have a surefire cure to get rid of a bad dream,” he murmured into the curve of her ear, his voice husky.
    “Oh, really?” she asked with a knowing smile as she looped her arms around her husband’s neck and immersed herself in the mesmerizing depths of his chocolate brown eyes. “And just what is this surefire cure?” Her cheeks tinged pink with color as he continued to murmur choice phrases into her ear. She chuckled, her green gaze narrowing in his direction, a challenge clearly expressed in her eyes. “Do you honestly think you could keep up with me?”
    Bree got her answer when he grabbed her by the waist and tossed her down playfully onto the bed, his mouth tangling with hers.

Chapter 4
    Bree awakened to the feeling of sunshine bathing her face with its warm rays. She rolled over lazily in bed, stretching like a cat with a self-satisfied smile on her face. She reached for her husband and frowned when she realized he was nowhere to be found.
    As soon as her feet touched the plush carpeting, her stomach began to churn. She practically ran to the bathroom, only to find her husband was already there, shaving.
    “Hey, baby.” He grinned as he lathered his face with shaving cream.
    Bree’s hand flew up to cover her mouth. “Please leave,” she begged.
    He shook his dark head adamantly. “When I’m done,” he promised.