Carter Bravo's Christmas Bride. Christine Rimmer

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СКАЧАТЬ waded in. “So, last Monday Carter and I went to Denver to meet with one of our biggest customers. We had to wait awhile to see him and Carter decided I needed to take this stupid quiz...”

      Dawn made a sound in her throat, a little grunt of encouragement.

      It was all Paige needed. She let the story pour out, about the silly quiz and how Carter answered all the questions for her and then announced that the quiz proved she was hopelessly in love with him. “I know it’s ridiculous. He was just giving me a hard time the way he loves to do. But all his answers? They were the answers I would have given. And since then, I can’t stop thinking about it. Can’t stop thinking that the stupid quiz was right, that I’m actually in love with him, with Carter of all people. It’s driving me crazy, Dawn.”

      Dawn reached over and gently squeezed her arm. “I can see that.”

      “So I want you to tell me the truth now. I want you to tell me that of course I’m not in love with Carter, that I’ve just gotten hung up on some meaningless magazine quiz and I need to let it go and move on.”

      Dawn made a pained sound and looked away.

      Hesitantly, Paige reached out and ran her hand down Dawn’s straight golden-brown hair. It was the same color and texture as their mother’s hair had been. Dawn also had their mother’s warm hazel eyes. “Dawn?”

      Dawn looked at her then—and winced. “Really? I mean, seriously?”

      Paige tried a laugh. It came out more like a sob. “Ridiculous, right?”

      Dawn clapped both hands to her head, as though she was worried her brains might escape. “Ugh.” And then she dropped her hands to the table, slapping her palms flat. “Dude.” She rubbed the tender skin beneath her eyes. “I’m just not gonna lie to you. I think you need to get real, you know? I think it’s better if the two of you just face the truth.”

      Paige’s stomach lurched and sweat bloomed on her upper lip. “Um, what truth?”

      “You’ve always been in love with him.”

      Paige gasped. “What the...? No. Uh-uh. Just no.”

      “Oh, come on, Paige. He practically lives here. You work together and you’re best friends and he’d rather be with you than any of those smokin’-hot girlfriends he’s had. Paige, come on. Everybody knows—everybody but you and Carter.”

      Paige slumped in her chair. “I don’t believe it. You think I’m in love with him.”

      “I don’t just think it, I know it. And he’s in love with you.”

      That had Paige scoffing. “Oh, please. Carter doesn’t do love.”

      “Carter doesn’t admit love. It’s two different things.”

      Paige let her head drop back and groaned at the ceiling, because honestly, how could this be happening to her?

      “You actually wanted me to lie about it straight out.” Dawn sounded hurt.

      Paige sucked in a fortifying breath and faced her sister. “I’m sorry. Come here.” She reached for Dawn, who resisted at first, but then swayed in her chair and finally let herself lean on Paige. Paige stroked her hair. “You’re incredible.”

      “Yeah, right.”

      Tenderly, Paige admitted, “Okay, I confess. Sometimes it’s a little scary to have such a brilliant and perceptive baby sister.”

      “I wouldn’t have said anything,” Dawn muttered. “I never have. But you asked me straight out.”

      Paige rocked Dawn a little, the way she used to do so often during that first terrible year after they lost Mom and Dad. “Please don’t be insulted, but I need to ask you not to tell him.”

      “Of course I won’t tell him,” Dawn grumbled. “Have I said a word up till now?”

      “No, you haven’t. You’re an angel.”

      “Hardly.” She pushed free of Paige’s embrace and said, “You need to tell him.”

      Paige only blew out a hard breath and slowly shook her head.

      * * *

      At 2:10 that afternoon, Carter was in his office off the shop studying engine schematics for Deacon’s Cobra.

      Someone tapped on the door.

      “It’s open.” Carter glanced up from his laptop as the door swung wide.

      Murray Preble, one of Carter’s top auto parts vendors, stuck his head in. “Got a minute?”

      “Sit.” Carter gestured at the empty chair across the desk. Murray closed the door before folding his long, thin frame into the offered seat. Carter frowned. Murray never shut the door when he stopped in to say hi. “Is this a secret meeting, Murray?”

      Murray, who was usually a pretty cheerful guy, didn’t even crack a smile. “I guess you could say that. I need this to be just between you and me.”

      Carter shut his laptop. “Is there a problem?”

      Murray scraped his hand down his narrow face and smoothed his thick black hair off his forehead. “Well, Carter, it’s about Sherry.”

      Sherry? Murray wanted to talk about Sherry—with the door closed? Cautiously, he asked, “What about her?”

      Murray shifted in the chair. And then he straightened up and put it right out there. “I’m in love with her.”

      This was news. And maybe good news. If Murray and Sherry got together, she would leave Carter alone. “Well, great. I hope you’ll be very happy.”

      “See, that’s just it.” Murray hitched an ankle across the other knee and wrapped his long fingers around his shinbone. “I’ve been patient, I really have. But she just won’t believe that you’re never coming back to her.” Murray’s brow crumpled with his frown. “You’re not, are you?”

      “Hell, no. It’s over with Sherry and me.”

      Murray didn’t look encouraged. “She won’t give me a chance.”

      “Murray. What do you want me to say? It’s over. I’ve told her several times. I don’t know what more to do.”

      “She spent last night cryin’ on my shoulder over you.” Murray glowered at him. “I waited long enough, you know? Months. It’s time I got my chance with her. She’s...”

      “What?”

      “I’m telling you straight, Carter. Telling you more than you got any right to know. She’s a passionate person, as hotheaded as she is beautiful. I love that about her. I want all that fire directed at me.”

      Carter put up both hands. “More power to you, buddy. I’m not standing in your way.”

      “Yeah. Yeah, you are.”

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