Operation: Married by Christmas. Debra Clopton

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СКАЧАТЬ done something similar when he’d moved back to town. There was nothing like the warmth of Mule Hollow. It was a place where once you belonged, you always belonged. But watching Haley’s shell-shocked expression, he couldn’t help wondering if the feeling was mutual.

      Haley had created quite a life for herself in California, and by the almost robotic way she was receiving the hugs from everyone he was more than certain that she didn’t share their feeling that she had “come home.” Some things never changed.

      She looked great, though. Will couldn’t deny that the years had been good to Haley. Her skin glowed and her golden hair gleamed in the light like polished brass, setting off her green eyes. She had the most amazing eyes, big and expressive, they dominated her oval face. When she smiled though, when she really smiled, it was as if she lit up the world. At least that was how it had felt to him.

      “Hey, buddy, you okay?”

      Will glanced at Brady as he took the stool next to him at the counter. Turning away from watching Haley, Will picked up his coffee and nodded. “Yeah, I’m just suffering from aftershock.”

      “By the frown on your face I’d already figured that one out.”

      Will met Brady’s sympathetic gaze. “That obvious?”

      “’Fraid so.”

      “Brady, can you tell me why I came here this morning?”

      “I could make an educated guess if you want me to.”

      Will shook his head. “Forget I asked. That’s a can of worms I’d rather not open.”

      “I can tell you from experience that unfinished business has a way of catching up to you at one time or another.”

      Will drank his coffee instead of trying to come up with an answer. He could deny it all he wanted, but he’d come here this morning because every man had his weakness.

      His happened to be Haley Bell Thornton.

      

      Haley made it through the whirlwind of welcomes as she was led around the room by Applegate. His obvious joy at having her home was making her feel so ashamed. It had been six years since she’d been here for her grandmother’s funeral.

      She was a skunk, all right.

      A selfish skunk.

      Spotting Will sitting at the counter didn’t help matters. It took every bit of her self-control not to turn around and run out of the diner. She didn’t have the energy to face him this morning. This homecoming was hard enough on her guilt-ridden heart without having to face him, too. Especially in front of everyone.

      “Will, here she is,” Applegate called out before she could figure a way around facing him again. She was appalled at Applegate’s proclamation as he directed her toward Will.

      “Haley,” Will drawled, tipping his head toward her in greeting while his eyes bore into hers.

      He wasn’t wearing his hat and she couldn’t help noticing that he still wore his thick sable hair in a traditional cut, parted on the left and combed back off his face. The cut accentuated the strength of his jaw and the prominence of his cheekbones. She was certain looking at him made women other than herself forget to breathe when looking at him. But enough of that.

      She forced a smile and was certain it came out looking as if she’d swallowed a tablespoon of castor oil. “Will,” she gritted out as Applegate looked expectantly from one to the other. His smile, so big that every tooth in his mouth showed, was the only reason Haley maintained her position.

      She was shocked when suddenly Applegate slapped a hand on Will’s shoulder, the sound cracking through the room like a backfire. “That ain’t no way to say hello to the person what was almost yer intended. Give her a hug, son.”

      Stunned, Haley stared at her grandpa. How could he? Will had always been a gentleman, and Applegate was taking advantage of that fact. “That’s okay,” she gasped. “You don’t have to get up.”

      A gleam she could only read as a challenge flashed through his dark gaze, and to her horror he stood up.

      “App’s right, Haley. The least I can do is give you a hug.”

      Before she could do anything to stop it, she found herself wrapped in Will’s arms. Oh my. If she’d thought she was confused before—well she was a mess now. Because though it had been ten years since she’d left him at the altar, she had never forgotten how right it felt to be held in his embrace.

      “See thar, ain’t that nice,” Applegate thundered.

      As quick as it happened, it ended. Will suddenly dropped his arms and stepped back. Haley had been so stunned by the embrace that her arms remained limply at her sides. Where they belonged, she reminded herself.

      His expression was unreadable and though she knew he’d hugged her to pacify her grandpa, the oddest sensation came over her when she looked into his stony eyes. Had those eyes really once looked at her with love? They were so distant now that it was tough to imagine such a thing.

      “So how’s your new ex-fiancé?”

      His clipped words were spoken in a low voice, but those standing around watching them had no problem hearing them. Like a deflating balloon, Applegate’s smile drooped into a heavy frown and a ripple of gasps could be heard behind her.

      Startled, but not really surprised, she met Will’s unflinching gaze with one of her own as she straightened her spine. If she’d learned one thing over the last few years, it was to stand her ground.

      She lifted her chin. “I’m fairly certain that Lincoln is celebrating at this very moment. After all, he dodged a bullet.”

      Will lifted his eyebrow. “I can understand that perfectly. As I’m certain fiancé number two would, as well.”

      So he wanted to make a scene. So much for him being a gentleman, she thought, as her blood pressure inched upward. “Is that so?”

      Not breaking eye contact with her, Will pulled money from his front pocket and slapped it onto the counter by his plate of uneaten eggs and bacon. “Believe me, darlin’, the day you walked out on me was the best day of my life. I figure it saved me a costly divorce and a valley of trouble in between.”

      Haley’s hands knotted into fists to keep them from shaking as darts of anger and humiliation shot through her. Other than the pounding of her heart that Haley hoped no one else could hear, the room had become as silent as a tomb. Why had she come home? It certainly hadn’t been for this…this melodramatic confrontation.

      With one last cold stare Will walked through the small crowd as it parted to make way for him. He never looked back as he hit the swinging door and disappeared into the cold morning light.

      Which left Haley at the counter to face her friends alone.

      As mad as she was at Will, she couldn’t help thinking that it was about time she was the one being walked out on. She’d be the first to admit that she deserved it. At least in part. But that didn’t mean she liked it, and it certainly didn’t mean she was going to take that kind of treatment like the timid little mouse СКАЧАТЬ