Finally a Bride. Renee Ryan

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СКАЧАТЬ leaving his sister in this state was a good idea. When he caught Molly’s eye, she gave him a short nod, a silent promise to take care of Fanny. He smiled then.

      And she smiled, too.

      For a moment, the hostility between them faded away to nothing more than a memory.

      “I’ll see you later tonight,” he said.

      “Yes, you will.”

      Snatching a quick breath, he shut the door between them with a resounding click.

      Molly dragged in her own swift pull of air.

      Glancing at her friend to determine if she’d noticed the revealing interchange, Molly caught a look of utter distress upon Fanny’s face. Something was wrong.

      “Fanny?” She touched her arm. “What is it?”

      “Not here.” Glancing to her right, then her left, she pulled Molly down the hallway, tugging her along until they were tucked away in a small alcove off the reception area.

      Molly took stock of her friend. She’d never seen Fanny so agitated, or so unhappy. Fanny was never unhappy. There was always a ready smile on her beautiful face, her inner light even brighter since her engagement to Reese. Fanny’s amber eyes and golden hair coupled with Reese’s classic, dark good looks made them a stunning pair. They turned heads wherever they went.

      Molly was pleased her friend had found a good man to marry, truly she was. Except...

      Right now, Fanny looked anything but the happy bride-to-be. In truth, she looked tense, confused. Worried. “Fanny? What’s happened to upset you so?”

      Fanny twisted her hands together at her waist, drew her bottom lip between her teeth, then sighed. “Molly, if I ask you a question you must promise to answer me truthfully.”

      “All right.”

      “How did you know when it was time to call off your weddings?”

      The question dragged painful memories to the surface. She wanted to run, to forget she’d ever been engaged, but she owed her friend the truth. “I didn’t actually call—”

      “Was there a moment when you looked at either of your fiancés and thought he’s not the one I’m supposed to spend the rest of my life with?”

      Such a revealing question. “Oh, Fanny, are you having second thoughts about marrying Reese?”

      “I...” Smoothing a shaky hand across her mouth, Fanny shut her eyes and groaned. “I don’t know what I’m feeling. I’m confused and...and...scared.”

      “That’s understandable. Marriage is a big step.” Molly took her friend’s hands and gently squeezed. “It’s normal to have concerns.”

      “Reese is a good man, the very best.” Fanny drew in a shuddering breath. “He gets along with my family, and I with his. But...”

      “But...” Molly urged, letting go of Fanny’s hands.

      “It’s nothing.” She crossed her arms at her waist. “I’m simply feeling weighed down over the wedding. The planning is getting out of hand, and I don’t want to let anyone down.”

      What an odd choice of words.

      “You could never let anyone down.” It wasn’t in her friend’s personality. “Everyone adores you, Fanny. Reese most of all.”

      And why wouldn’t he? The woman was sweetly beautiful, well-educated, kind at the core. She never bent the rules, never made a mistake, never took a wrong step. Best of all, she’d met her counterpart in Reese.

      “Your fiancé is fortunate to have you,” Molly said, believing it with all her heart. “You’re perfect for one another.”

      “Yes.” Fanny nodded, then quickly looked away just as her eyes began to water. “So everyone keeps telling me.”

      Yet another odd choice of words.

      “Fanny, whenever I have a tough decision to make, and need to organize my thoughts,” she began, desperate to help her friend, “I apply a simple formula to determine if I’m making the right choice.”

      “You always were gifted at mathematics.” Sniffing softly, a shadow of a smile on her lips, Fanny swiped at her eyes. “All right, Molly, I’m listening. What’s your latest formula?”

      “Well, there are only four variables to this particular equation.” There were always only four. “First, start with prayer. Next, spend quiet time in the Bible. Number three, trust the Lord’s guidance. And, finally, most important of all, follow your heart.”

      It was sound advice, Molly realized, a simple yet profound formula she needed to apply to her own life, especially now that it seemed her path would cross Garrett’s on a regular, nay daily, basis.

      Step one. Start with prayer.

      That’s exactly what she planned to do.

      * * *

      After carefully, firmly, resolutely shutting his office door in Molly’s face, Garrett had only one desire. Forget he ever touched her.

      Battling unwanted emotion, he sank in the chair behind his desk and shut his eyes against the memory of Molly in his arms. The images came anyway. Both times she’d lost her balance, he’d instinctively reached for her, steadied her. The move had been as natural as taking his next breath. And for those brief moments, they’d been closer than they’d been in years, mere inches apart.

      A mistake.

      Memories long forgotten reared up, twining through the present, calling to mind all they’d once shared. Even now, the lingering scent of jasmine and sandalwood teased his senses, making him yearn to sweep Molly back into his arms, to start anew, to—

      He cleared his throat.

      Work. Garrett needed to concentrate on work, and not on Miss Molly Taylor Scott and what could never be again.

      Rolling his shoulders, he repositioned the Phipps contract in front of him and picked up where he’d left off, halfway down the third page. Unfortunately, focus eluded him. And this time, it wasn’t only Molly that plagued his thoughts. Garrett couldn’t ignore the anxiety he’d caught on his sister’s face.

      Fanny was not a woman prone to worry. She was a happy sort, always quick to smile, quick to laugh, ready to organize the next party. Something had clearly upset her. Garrett had to trust she would share whatever was bothering her with Molly. And that Molly would come to him if anything was truly wrong.

      Nothing’s wrong.

      Fanny was a grown woman of twenty-two, her future all but set. In six weeks’ time she would pledge her life to a good, decent man who cherished her beyond reason. Reese was everything Garrett could wish for his sister.

      Nothing’s wrong, he told himself again and put Fanny out of his mind. Along with her beautiful, confounding friend. And all the other distractions battling for his attention.

      He СКАЧАТЬ