One Pink Rose; One White Rose; One Red Rose by Julie Garwood Read Free Book Online

thoroughly enjoyed sparring with her, so much so, he was sorry when the discussion ended.
    It was his fault. He made the mistake of getting personal again.
    â€œYou’re a contradiction, Emily. You’ve obviously been well educated, and I know you’re smart . . .”
    â€œBut?” she asked.
    â€œYou’re doing something that isn’t smart at all. In fact, it’s just plain stupid.”
    His bluntness got her all riled up. “I don’t believe I asked for your opinion.”
    â€œYou’re getting it anyway,” he replied. “You just gave me a passionate argument about honesty and justice, and surely you can see that the pretense you’re thinking about pulling on your unsuspecting groom is downright dishonest.”
    It was the beginning of an argument that lasted until they reached the yard behind the Perkinses’ house.
    Travis did most of the talking. He gave her at least twenty reasons why she shouldn’t marry O’Toole, but he believed his last reason was the most convincing one.
    â€œYou won’t ever be able to keep up the charade of being a delicate little flower in need of pampering, Emily.”
    â€œI am delicate, damn it.”
    He snorted with disbelief. “You’re about as fragile as a grizzly bear.”
    â€œIf flinging insults is the only way you can argue your position, heaven help your clients.”
    Travis dismounted, then went to Emily’s side and lifted her off her horse. His hands stayed around her waist much longer than necessary. “A good marriage takes effort, and honesty is a definite prerequisite.”
    â€œHow would you know? You’ve never been married, have you?”
    â€œThat isn’t relevant.”
    â€œIs flirting honest?”
    He was caught off guard by her question and had to think about it for a minute before he answered. “Sometimes it’s honest. Flirting is part of the courting ritual, but I personally think it’s only honest when a woman flirts with the man she’s set her cap on.”
    â€œâ€Šâ€˜Set her cap on’? Are you telling me you think she should only flirt with the man she’s already decided to marry?”
    â€œThat’s what I’m saying all right.”
    â€œThat’s ridiculous. Flirting is the first step in a long process of finding the right man or woman. Men flirt too, you know. They just don’t do it the same way women do.”
    â€œNo, we don’t.”
    Arguing with him was proving exasperating. “It’s all a game, isn’t it, that’s played out between men and women. It’s harmless too. Besides, men like women who flirt with them,” she added, remembering how Barbara had always been able to get every available man at a party to flit around her as though she were their queen bee.
    â€œNo, we don’t like women who flirt with us,” he insisted. “We’re much more intelligent than you think we are, and we sure as certain don’t like being manipulated.”
    â€œYou needn’t use that superior tone with me. I’ve patiently listened to you argue your position for the past hour, and I never once scoffed at you. Granted, I wanted to, but I didn’t. Now it’s my turn. It’s too bad I can’t prove my point to you.”
    â€œWhat point?”
    She knew he was deliberately trying to frustrate her and refused to cooperate. She stared at the buttons on his shirt so she couldn’t be distracted by his smile, and said, “If the circumstances were favorable, I’d prove to you right this minute that a delicate little flower gets far more attention than a practical one.”
    â€œYou really believe a helpless little woman who flutters her eyelashes and hangs on a man’s every word will get his full attention?”
    â€œI do.”
    â€œYou’re as nuts as a tree full of acorns.”
    She ignored his criticism. “I’ve