The Best Bride by Susan Mallery Read Free Book Online Page B

warm imprint on her flesh. She thought about struggling, but her side hurt and she was tired of fighting. Instead, she gave herself up to the feeling of being safe and protected.
    When he opened the front door and stepped inside, she stared at the beautiful interior and caught her breath. He had told the truth when he’d said he was restoring the house. Several of the walls had been stripped but not painted or papered. There wasn’t a rug on the wooden floor, and she could see the pile of tools next to the front door.
    But none of that mattered. He released his arm and she slid to the ground. Instead of moving away from him, she leaned against him and looked around. A crystal chandelier hung in the foyer. The cut glass caught the sunlight and diffused it into a hundred tiny rainbows. The long staircase swept up to the second story where it split and circled around both sides. Arched doorways led to high-beamed rooms. A giant fireplace filled one wall of the parlor to her left, while on the right, a study with floor-to-ceiling bookshelves held sheet-covered furniture.
    â€œWow.” She looked at him. “You live here?” He shrugged. “Yeah.”
    â€œAll by yourself?”
    â€œI do now. I was married when I bought the place. Somepeople have a baby to try and save their marriage. Julie and I bought this house.” The humor left his brown eyes.
    â€œI’m sorry.”
    He shrugged. “Don’t be. There were no hard feelings. Sometimes it doesn’t work out. Julie and I kept bumping into each other on the curves. Hell, it was no one’s fault. Cops don’t make good husbands and neither do Haynes men. I had no business trying.”
    She was about to ask why when he collected her in his arms again and started down the hallway next to the stairs.
    â€œI’m going to put you in here,” he said, using his shoulder to push open a door. “There’s an attached bathroom. It’s small, but I didn’t think you’d want to hassle with the stairs.”
    Even though she hadn’t moved much since leaving the hospital, her side was already aching. “You’re right.”
    A double bed stood next to a window looking out on the side garden where roses had grown into a tangled disarray of blossoms. A single nightstand and a long dresser took up the rest of the space in the room. There was a half-open door and she could see through to a bathroom.
    â€œThis will be perfect,” she said.
    â€œMandy’s been sleeping upstairs.” He set her on her feet. “She can stay there, or I can dig up a cot for her in here. It would be a little crowded, but—”
    â€œDon’t worry about it. I’m sure Mandy is happy where she is.”
    â€œI’ll go get your luggage.” He disappeared back the way they’d come.
    Elizabeth settled on the bed and touched her healing incision. Just three days ago she’d arrived in Glenwood, hoping to make a fresh start. Many things hadn’t worked out the way she’d planned, but they were getting better. Shecould feel it. She had to get on with her life. It was the only way to put the past behind her.
    * * *
    Travis looked at the empty plate on the table, then at Elizabeth. “Are you done?”
    She laughed and patted her stomach. “Yes, thanks. It was wonderful. Here you had me believe you didn’t know how to cook.”
    â€œI’m okay with omelets,” he said, and carried the plates over to the counter. “And I know my way around a barbecue, but other than that, it’s just me and the microwave.”
    â€œI can make French toast,” Mandy announced proudly from her place opposite her mother.
    â€œI know, darlin’. You made it for me this morning.”
    â€œHow long did it take you to clean up the mess?” Elizabeth asked.
    Travis rinsed the dishes and put them in the dishwasher. “About an hour.”
    She looked at him and smiled.