The Best Bride. Сьюзен Мэллери

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СКАЧАТЬ I feel better.”

      “You’re supposed to be staying off your feet.”

      “I know. I just wanted some coffee, and I didn’t know what time you got up.”

      She felt a little awkward talking about the intimate details of living together. She barely knew Travis. She tilted her head toward the table, then glanced up at him through her lashes. She liked the way his hair curled slightly around his ears, and the trimmed mustache outlining his upper lip. Last night she’d felt the faint tickle of his mustache against her skin. She wondered what that soft, groomed hair would feel like—

      The back door opened, cutting off her dangerous train of thought.

      “Yoo-hoo, Travis, are you up?” a loud female voice called.

      He grinned. “If I wasn’t, Louise, I would be now.”

      A woman entered the kitchen. She was in her mid to late forties with short blond hair and a figure that could only be described as an hourglass. Her pants were a bright lime green color, her short-sleeved blouse a blend of greens, yellows and oranges. A wide gold belt emphasized her small waist, while a trio of silver chains dipped toward her generous bosom. Dark eye shadow and lots of mascara highlighted her blue eyes. Her red lipstick clashed with everything, but somehow looked all right.

      “You must be Elizabeth,” Louise said, moving forward and holding out her hand. “Your daughter is the sweetest little girl.” She smiled and her eyes got a faraway look. “Maybe I should have had children.” She paused. “No, I think Alfred is more than enough trouble, don’t you?”

      “Alfred?” Elizabeth asked as they shook hands. “Your husband?”

      Louise laughed. “No, my dog. Hi, I’m Louise.”

      Elizabeth didn’t know whether to be embarrassed or laugh back. She settled on smiling weakly. Louise bent over and gave Travis a kiss on the cheek, then moved to the refrigerator and started pulling out food.

      “Louise is my housekeeper,” Travis said.

      “I figured that.”

      “She works here three days a week—”

      “But I’m willing to come in more while you’re getting better, Elizabeth,” Louise said, cutting Travis off. “When I heard what happened, well, I just had to rush over and do whatever I could to help.” She set a pitcher of orange juice on the counter. “Maybe you would like to work on some crafts while you’re recovering. I’m thinking of doing something with clay.”

      “Absolutely not,” Travis said. “There will be no clay in this house.”

      Louise mumbled something under her breath about men being pinheads.

      Travis leaned forward and lowered his voice. “Louise is going through a stage right now.”

      The chesty blonde glared at him. “I can hear every word you’re staying and this is not a stage. I’m exploring my art.”

      “She’s driving me crazy. She makes things and gives them to me.”

      “It’s a sign of affection, but if you’d rather I didn’t, then fine.” She slammed the refrigerator door shut and turned her back on them.

      “I have this drawer full of sweaters and socks.”

      Elizabeth stared at him. “Why is that a problem?”

      “They’re not—” he glanced from her to Louise and back “—normal. Most of the socks have no heel. The sweaters aren’t anatomically correct.”

      Louise walked over to the table and grinned. “I’ll admit I didn’t quite get the hang of knitting. I never could figure out parts of the patterns, but some of the wool was real lovely.” She held two eggs in her right hand. “How would you like them cooked?”

      Elizabeth blinked several times. “Scrambled?”

      “Fine.” She glanced at Travis. “I know what you want, but the way you’ve talked about me this morning, I’m of a mind to let you go hungry.”

      “Your threats don’t scare me.” As Louise passed him, he reached out and patted her rear end affectionately.

      “Don’t you try your wild ways on me, Travis Haynes,” she said, giving him a mock glare. “I’m old enough to be your very young and attractive aunt.”

      Elizabeth couldn’t help it. She started laughing. Even the sharp pains in her side couldn’t stop her from chuckling.

      “Mommy.”

      Mandy entered the room. She was washed and dressed in a pretty blue dress with tiny white flowers. She came over to her and held out her arms for a hug. Elizabeth pulled her close.

      “Are you ready for your first day of school?” she asked. Travis was going to walk Mandy to the elementary school and register her.

      Mandy nodded. “Travis helped me pick out this dress to wear. Did we choose the right one?”

      “Of course, Mandy. You look perfect.”

      “I have ribbons.” She held them out. “Will you put them in my hair?”

      “Sure.”

      Elizabeth turned and Mandy slipped between her legs. When the girl saw Louise, she squealed with excitement. “Louise, you found us.”

      Louise looked at her. “Morning, baby girl. What do you mean I found you?”

      “Travis said you were lost.”

      Elizabeth glanced at him. He’d taken a sip of coffee just as Mandy spoke and now he started to choke. Louise came over and pounded him on the back several times while he coughed.

      Louise gave her a quick wink. “He probably said I was trying to find myself.”

      The next thud on his back sounded a little harder. He turned to her and held up his hand. “That’s enough,” he said, his voice raspy and faint. “I’m fine.”

      Elizabeth wasn’t sure, but she thought she saw a flush of color on Travis’s cheeks. She bit back her laughter and concentrated on Mandy’s hair. When the braid was secured with the length of blue ribbon, Mandy pulled out a chair and climbed onto the seat. As Louise fixed breakfast, Many chatted with Travis and Louise about what Mr. Bear had told her in the night. Louise slid a plate in front of the girl, containing a waffle shaped like a popular cartoon mouse. Cut strawberries formed a bright collar at the bottom of the waffle. A glass of milk completed the meal.

      Elizabeth looked up at the older woman. “Thank you for making that.”

      Louise shrugged. “It’s nothing. The first day of school should be special for a little girl. And Alfred was never impressed with my waffles.”

      Elizabeth wanted to ask if Louise really did feed her dog waffles, but she didn’t dare. As the smells of eggs, bacon and coffee mingled in the kitchen, she leaned back in her chair and savored her feeling СКАЧАТЬ