Lone Star Wedding by Sandra Steffen Read Free Book Online Page A

her legs long, but Parker’s were longer. He might have complained a little about the distance they’d come, but he hadn’t so much as broken a sweat from the exertion. His flat-front khakis and navy-blue shirt were the kinds of clothes hundreds of sharp, young executive types wore, but Parker’s hugged muscles that were obviously accustomed to a good workout. She wondered what drove him. She wanted to know everything about him, but she was beginning to realize that information of a personal manner was seldom forthcoming.
    She steered around a paddleboat that was drifting slowly down the river, a Just Married sign on the back, the man and woman lost in a long, searing kiss. Once they were out of hearing range, Hannah whispered, “When my sister and I were little, we used to sing ‘first comes love, then comes marriage, then comes Johnny pushing a baby carriage’ every time we saw a couple kissing like that.”
    Hannah’s thoughts became introspective. There were fond memories of good times and shared secrets between her and Maria. A few.
    â€œIn five years,” Parker was saying, his deep voice drawing her out of her musings, “they’ll be fighting over who gets to keep the baby carriage.”
    Hannah shook her head. “You’re a natural born romantic, Parker.”
    â€œI’m a realist.”
    â€œI don’t have my thesaurus handy. Is that another word for pessimist?”
    â€œIf it isn’t, it should be.”
    They’d reached the landing area in front of the trendy ice-cream store. Parker stepped out and moored the boat to a little pier, but Hannah made no move to climb onto the lighted dock. “You make divorce sound inevitable.”
    He brushed his hands on his thighs. “Fifty percent of all marriages in this country end in divorce. In other words, half of the people who have stars in their eyes when they come to you will be shooting daggers at each other by the time they come to me.”
    She took the hand he held out to her and stepped onto the dock. His cynicism was more difficult to accept. “What about the other fifty percent?”
    â€œI didn’t invent the statistics, Hannah. I’m only repeating them.”
    The river swirled by, lapping at the paddleboat, splashing softly against the pier. Hannah was very aware of the color of the sky in the deepening twilight, of the warmth of Parker’s hand around hers, and the directness of his gaze. “Do you still want that ice cream?” he asked.
    She shook her head. The ice-cream parlor had merely been a destination. Now, she wanted to make him understand. Better yet, she wanted to change his mind about his views on marriage. “All your statistics don’t seem to be slowing people down,” she said. “My day planner is full of names of couples who still believe in marriage. It seemsas if I’m invited to a bridal shower every other week. I’d just come from one the first time we met. It was where I’d received that embarrassing little package of consolation prizes.”
    He released her hand. As if by unspoken agreement, they started back toward Smith Street. “I thought those little numbers were only passed around at bachelor parties.”
    â€œMen pass out condoms at bachelor parties?”
    â€œIt’s been known to happen.”
    This was a subject that had always made her curious. “What else do men do at those things?”
    â€œTelling you would require using obscenities.”
    She looked up at him in silent expectation.
    â€œI don’t talk dirty to a woman so early in a relationship.”
    â€œWe’re not having a relationship.”
    â€œIf you’d agree to come home with me, that would change.”
    The deep cadence of his voice was as dusky as a whisper, as sensuous as a kiss placed ever so softly on her bare shoulder.
    â€œDo you play chess, Hannah?”
    Hmm. Her steps slowed and her