Three Brides, No Groom by Debbie Macomber Read Free Book Online Page B

an eternity, and when he
did speak, his voice was gruff with emotion. “My mother died when I was
sixteen.” His hand stroked her upper arm, as if he needed the reassurance of
human contact.
    Gretchen placed a hand over his. “I’m sorry,” she
whispered.
    “It happens. My dad was never the same. It was as if he
couldn’t bear the agony of losing her, so he chose to self-destruct. He’s
serving time, as you know.” He didn’t elaborate, and she didn’t ask. Instead,
she brought his hand to her face and gently laid her cheek against it.
    “A lot of people wonder how I landed at Queen Anne,” he
continued, his voice close to her ear. “My grandfather left me money in the form
of a trust, the condition being that, if I wanted a college education, I attend
his alma mater.”
    “Do you want a college education?”
    His short laugh was without humor. “I went, didn’t I?”
    All evidence she’d seen to this point said he wanted anything
but what Queen Anne had to offer. Josh constantly challenged authority. He
appeared to go out of his way to cause trouble. Why, only the day before he had
given Roger the incentive and opportunity to end his college career right as he
was about to graduate. And it would be just like Roger to make whatever trouble
he could for Josh and delight in it.
    “Why’d you do it?” she asked, changing the subject. “Why’d you
slug Roger? He’ll go out of his way to use it against you.”
    “Let him,” Josh answered. “I can deal with it.”
    “But—”
    “The bastard deserved it.”
    That much Gretchen agreed with. It had been all she could do
not to cheer when she saw Roger’s bloody nose. Especially after he’d attempted
to sucker-punch Josh.
    Before she allowed herself to think what she was doing, she
broke away from him, shifted position and knelt in front of him. His questioning
gaze met hers in the dim light afforded by the fire. Smiling, she placed a hand
on either side of his face and leaned forward to kiss him.
    The surge of desire she experienced when their lips met was
enough to make her bold. She wrapped her arms around his neck as their mouths
worked together in a frenzy of tongues, lips and unmistakable desire. She
offered and he took, greedily.
    Abruptly Josh jerked his mouth away from hers. He sat back,
panting, his shoulders heaving. “What was that for?” he demanded.
    Gretchen’s eyes remained closed. “Don’t ask. Just kiss me like
that again.”
    “No.”
    “No?” Disappointed, she opened her eyes. “Why not?”
    “Because you don’t have a clue what you’re doing.” He stood,
and she was pleased to note that he didn’t look very steady. She felt decidedly
off balance herself, but somehow it was a good feeling.
    “Wipe that silly grin off your face,” he muttered.
    If she hadn’t been so happy she would have been downright
insulted. He’d kissed her and it had been the most wonderful experience of her
life. Now he didn’t seem able to hold still. He circumnavigated the blanket
three times. She was getting dizzy watching him.
    Suddenly it dawned on her, and it was all she could do to keep
from giggling. “Joshua Morrow, I tempt you, don’t I?”
    He started to deny it and then appeared to think better of it.
“I’m getting you that hotel room, and I don’t want any arguments, understand?”
His voice was hard and unfriendly. “You’ll sleep alone, too.” She wasn’t sure if
he was saying that for her benefit or his.
    Gretchen covered her mouth in an effort to contain a brewing
fit of laughter.
    “Stop looking at me like that,” he demanded.
    “Like what?”
    “Like…that.” He shrugged as if at a complete loss for
words.
    She had never seen Josh unnerved, had never suspected she would
be one to shatter his cool. It told her that their kisses had affected him as
much as they had her. She felt almost giddy with a sense of wonder and
power.
    “Come on,” he ordered brusquely.
    “Where are we going?”
    “I told you. I’m