The Rancher And The Runaway Bride: Part 3 by Susan Mallery Read Free Book Online Page B

to collect some clothes. He’d stopped at a local store for some supplies
     of his own. In their run from the bad guys, they’d been forced to leave their luggage
     behind.
    “Why are you staring at me?” she asked. “You hate this, don’t you? You hate being
     here.” She sighed. “I don’t blame you. Family stuff. I’m sure your parents are a blast,
     but the Howells are not known for rollicking good times. I’m really sorry this is
     so boring. We’ll leave soon, okay?”
    He touched her cheek, noting how mysterious her eyes appeared. He’d never seen her
     in makeup. The cosmetics emphasized her strong features, adding to her allure.
    “Actually, I was thinking about how great you look.”
    “Really?” She shook her head. “You’re just saying that. I know I’m not hideous, but
     I’m not really—”
    He touched a finger to her lips. “Yes, you are really pretty. I’ve always thought
     so.”
    Her gaze locked with his. The moment reduced itself to the two of them, and he wished
     they were alone together so he could show her how much he loved her.
    “Hey, brat,” Noah said, coming up to join them. “I’m glad you’re back.”
    “Me, too.” Randi angled toward her brother but didn’t let go of Brady’s hand. “I’m
     sorry about running off.”
    Noah’s gaze narrowed. “Time away seems to have done you some good. You’ve grown up.”
    “Finally.”
    Noah turned to Brady. “I don’t think any of us have thanked you for taking care of
     Randi. She’s annoying as hell, but we would have missed her if we’d lost her permanently.”
    “My pleasure,” Brady said.
    Conversation continued. Brady found himself resisting being drawn into the family’s
     inner circle. Not because he didn’t enjoy their company, but because he knew he didn’t
     belong here. While he liked visiting the city, his life was back on the ranch. Money
     wasn’t the issue—his family’s fortune easily fit into the category of what Melissa
     Howell would consider acceptable. The problem went deeper than logistics or finance.
    He watched Randi laugh at something her brother said. She fit in here, in this room,
     with these people. He had no right to ask her to leave.
    She deserved better than he could offer. She’d been right about him, about the way
     he picked up strays in his life so he could emotionally hold back. He’d grown up in
     the bright reflection of his parents’ love and had wanted the same for himself. Instead,
     he’d found Alicia.
    Then Randi had entered his world and shown him light and love he could claim as his
     own. But it was too late for him. For them. She belonged here—he had nothing to offer
     her but a life of isolation in a desolate corner of the country.
    Doing the right thing was going to hurt like hell, but do it he would. Because that
     was all he knew. He would love her, and loving her, he would let her go.
    Later, when they’d made their excuses and left, Randi leaned against him as he unlocked
     the truck. “Do you have any thoughts on where you want to stay tonight?”
    “Gee, I was sort of hoping we’d stay at your mom’s.”
    She slapped his arm. “Don’t even joke about it. At her place, there’s no way we could
     share a bed. Even if I got up the courage to sneak down the hall to join you, I wouldn’t
     be able to relax. It would—” She broke off and bit her lower lip. “You didn’t want
     us to sleep together, did you. That was the whole point. Oh, I should have seen—”
    This time she stopped talking because his mouth covered hers. He kissed her deeply,
     tasting all of her, holding her tight, rubbing his arousal against her belly until
     she couldn’t doubt what he was thinking.
    “A hotel would be nice,” he said, raising his head slightly and raining kisses on
     her face.
    “Hmm, or we could just do it in your truck.”
    “Not too comfortable.”
    “How would you know?”
    “I researched the concept thoroughly in high school.”
    “Maybe