The Rancher and the Runaway Bride Part 3. Сьюзен Мэллери
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Название: The Rancher and the Runaway Bride Part 3
Автор: Сьюзен Мэллери
Издательство: HarperCollins
Жанр: Современные любовные романы
isbn: 9781474000307
isbn:
She retreated to the bed and sank down onto the mattress. “I’m sorry,” she whispered, covering her face with her hands. “I was always afraid it would come to this. I never meant—” She paused, not sure what to say. It was so hard to think. Her entire body ached with pain and cold. She’d seen the look in his eyes. He loathed her. The worst of it was, she couldn’t blame him.
“You never meant to what? Lie? But you did. You lied from the moment you showed up at the ranch. Leaving out facts about your past is the same as lying. Did you have a good laugh when I told you about Alicia? Did you think I was a fool, just like your fiancé? What was his name?”
“Hal,” she said automatically. “And no, I never thought you were a fool. Alicia is the stupid one. She should never have left you.”
“How kind of you. I wonder if Hal has someone offering him comfort right now.”
“He doesn’t need comforting,” she said. “He never really cared about me.”
“That’s a convenient way to justify your actions. Unfortunately, there’s no way to prove it’s true. His actions suggest otherwise. After all, he was willing to marry you.”
His tone indicated Brady wasn’t sure why any man would want to have anything to do with her. She fought tears, knowing that giving into them would only leave her more vulnerable. She had to pull herself together, to find a way to convince Brady that she—She bit her lower lip. Convince him of what? Her crime was there for everyone to see. She’d done exactly what he accused her of—she’d run out on her wedding, exactly the way Alicia had run out on him. At least she hadn’t been running off to be with another man, but she doubted he would consider that much in her favor.
“It’s not what you think,” she said dully, and straightened. He still stood at the large window. The sliding glass door was open to let in the afternoon breeze. He placed one hand against the screen.
“Why don’t you tell me what it was like?” he asked.
The silky smoothness of his voice didn’t deceive her. She knew he was still furious, yet maybe he was willing to listen. Did that mean he would give her a chance, or was he going to try to trip her up? Either way, she had to risk it. She couldn’t let him walk away hating her.
“Everything I told you about my past is true,” she began. “My mother is very interested in the Grand Springs social scene. I’ve always been a disappointment to her.”
“Gee, I know what that feels like,” he said.
She winced, then continued. “I never had serious boyfriends. There were a couple of guys in high school, but nothing I wanted to pursue, and a relationship or two at college. When I came home after graduation, my mother started inviting Hal over. I knew what she was doing, and I even knew why. Hal has a political future. If her daughter was related to the mayor, or the wife of a future state legislator, my mother’s social position would be guaranteed.”
“None of which excuses what you did.”
“I know.” She pulled one leg to her chest and rested her forehead against her knee, then closed her eyes. It was easier to confess her weakness in the dark. “I just sort of went along for the ride. I suppose I kept thinking something would happen to stop things, or that I would find out I really liked Hal. But it didn’t stop. We were dating, then engaged, and one day I woke up and we were getting married.”
She sucked in a breath. “I never loved him. I didn’t know what love was.” Until now. Until a strong, noble man had entered her life. But she didn’t say that. Brady wouldn’t believe her. Besides, it was a cheap trick and she was determined not to resort to that.
“There I was, alone in the bride’s room, listening to the music. As I stared at myself in the mirror, I knew I couldn’t do it.”
“So you ran.”
“Yes. Yes, I ran and it was wrong. I was young and stupid and I’ve grown up.” She raised her head and stared at his stiff back. “I made a mistake. A huge one. I was afraid that if I tried to get out of it my mother would convince me to go through with the ceremony.”
He turned to face her. The fury remained, as did the contempt. Her heart sank.
“That’s it?” he asked.
She nodded. “I’ve changed, Brady. I’ve learned my lesson. I’m not that young woman anymore. I’m responsible. Look at the job I’m doing for you. You don’t have any complaints, you’ve said so yourself. Please try to understand.”
His gaze narrowed. “If you’re so grown up, why didn’t you go back?”
It was the one question she couldn’t answer. What was there to say? The truth?
“Forget it,” she said. “There’s no point.”
“Yes, there is. Rita—” He grimaced. “Randi, why didn’t you go back?”
“I couldn’t.” She lowered her foot to the floor and stood up. “All right, if you want to know the reason, I’ll tell you. You’re not going to believe me, but it’s the truth. I swear it is.” She drew in a breath and squared her shoulders.
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