His Pretend Wife. Lisette Belisle

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СКАЧАТЬ them. Returning to Henderson had created some unnecessary complications to her life. For one thing, Seth Powers had read more into her decision than she’d intended. She’d once had a crush on him but that was a long time ago.

      Her parents disapproved of Seth, a small-town sheriff. They wanted Abby to marry well—meaning upward. What would they think of Jack?

      Abby felt weak at the mere thought.

      Or maybe she was weak with hunger?

      Reminded that she hadn’t eaten a decent meal in days, Abby ordered room service. “A mushroom omelet, toast and raspberry tea, if you have it.”

      While waiting for the meal, she picked up the phone and dialed her brother’s phone number. “Hi, Drew. It’s me.”

      His voice sounded warm and familiar. “I wondered when you’d get around to calling. How’s Jack?”

      “I’m worried about him,” she said after a moment’s hesitation. “The doctor’s aren’t promising anything much.”

      “Does Jack know?”

      “Not yet.” On impulse, she added, “If I decide to stay for a while, do you think someone could fill in for me at the sawmill? The situation here is complicated.”

      “Tell me about it,” he said dryly. “It’s all over the newspapers. A reporter dug up Jack’s prison record. He’s not going to be happy about that.”

      Abby gasped. “So everyone knows?”

      “You’re off the hook. Everyone here knows better than to believe everything they read. They assumed the reporter messed up the part about you and Jack being married.”

      “Well, that’s one less thing to worry about.”

      “That doesn’t clear everything up. Do you know what you’re doing?”

      She laughed, admitting shakily, “No.”

      Drew didn’t sound amused. “Abby, I’m not going to tell you what to do with your life. I care about you. Jack is my friend, so is Seth. Someone’s bound to get hurt.”

      “Seth will understand.” He always did.

      “Well, you’d better get your story straight because he’s on his way. He intends to bring you back with him.” Drew changed the subject. “By the way, Olivia sends her love. You missed our New Year’s announcement—we’re having a baby.”

      Abby could hear the emotion in his voice. Drew’s good news emphasized the emptiness in her own life. “That’s wonderful. I’m so happy for you both.”

      “Yes, it’s pretty great.”

      The conversation ended on that lighter note.

      After hanging up, Abby dialed room service and ordered a newspaper. Fifteen minutes later, a hotel steward delivered her meal with a newspaper folded on the tray. After tipping him generously, Abby ignored the food and reached for the paper.

      Splashed across the front page, the eye-catching headline said it all—Dramatic Air Rescue.

      The reporter had romanticized the event—a devoted young wife going to her husband’s rescue. They were identified simply as Jack and Abby Slade.

      Abby sighed.

      So much for keeping a lid on it!

      Chapter Four

      In smaller print, the subtitle—Ex-con Injured in Logging Accident—had more impact. The reporter had gone to great lengths to dig up old news.

      There was quite a lot. Feeling like an intruder invading Jack’s private life, Abby skimmed over the details. At the age of twenty, he’d served three years in prison for a crime he hadn’t committed. Jack Slade was innocent. As if she needed convincing, Abby read that sentence twice.

      Drew had tried to tell her that Jack was a victim of bad luck, but she’d refused to listen.

      Was it easier to believe Jack was guilty?

      Easier to dislike him?

      Safer?

      A knock at the door announced the arrival of the saleswoman from the department store. “I brought a selection of items for you to choose from. They’re casual styles as you requested.” She was carrying several boxes.

      Abby opened the door wider. “Just put them anywhere. How much do I owe you?”

      “I wasn’t sure about the colors. Wouldn’t you like to look them over first?” The woman handed her the bill.

      Abby signed it, her family had an account at the store. “I’m sure they’ll be fine.” She smiled politely to hide her impatience and saw the woman out.

      According to her brother, Seth was on his way. Since he’d probably turn up at the hospital looking for her, she should be getting back. Under the circumstances, her wardrobe or lack of it was the last thing on her mind.

      She normally wore tailored clothes, neutral colors, discreet makeup. What did it matter what she wore?

      No one would notice.

      Jack noticed.

      In fact, he couldn’t help but stare at Abby’s altered appearance when she arrived. She hesitated a moment before she entered the hospital room, and suddenly, the sterile green room took on light. She removed her wool coat and set it aside. A bright jade-green sweater hugged her breasts; slim black slacks made her legs look longer, her hips round and womanly. Her face was flushed, her mouth was naturally pink, her eyes a shimmering hazel.

      It took Jack a moment to realize she wasn’t wearing makeup. Without it, she looked younger, more vulnerable, more accessible. He frowned. What was she up to now?

      He couldn’t fully trust her, Abby had too much money and too much time on her hands. She was a woman in search of a cause. And he was it. In all their dealings, he had to remember that. However, he hadn’t always felt that way about Abby.

      If fate didn’t have a twisted sense of humor, he and Abby would never have crossed paths in a million years.

      However, through mischance, he’d once shared a minimum-security prison cell with her brother. To say they’d hit it off would be a stretch. Until then, Drew had obviously played at life while Jack merely survived. Thus, better schooled in the art, Jack bailed Drew out of trouble with another inmate, and they became allies. A loner by choice, Jack had soon concluded that Drew had alienated everyone who once cared for him. The Pierce money hadn’t cushioned his fall from grace and for the first time in his life, Drew was taking responsibility for his own mistakes. His parents had apparently disowned him. As far as Jack could tell, Abby was the only family member to stand by Drew.

      Recalling the steady flow of letters she’d sent her brother in prison, Jack admired her loyalty. She’d written about college, her wacky roommates, her stern chemistry professor with the handlebar mustache. An average student, she’d loved art and music, hated math and chemistry, СКАЧАТЬ