Country Bride: Country Bride / Woodrose Mountain. RaeAnne Thayne

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СКАЧАТЬ he’d married another woman.

      When Clay and Rorie had announced their engagement, Kate had known with desolate certainty that she’d never love again. If she couldn’t have Clay, then she would live the remainder of her life alone, treasuring the time they’d had together.

      “You’re absolutely certain Rivers has no claim on you?”

      “None,” Kate assured him.

      “That’s funny,” Eric said with a humorless chuckle. “From the way he glared at me, I feel lucky to have walked away with my head still attached.”

      Kate forced a laugh. “I’m sure you’re mistaken.”

      Eric didn’t comment further, but she could tell he didn’t believe her.

      After their shaky beginning, dinner turned out to be a pleasant affair. Eric took Kate to the Red Bull, the one fancy restaurant in Nightingale, a steak house that specialized in thick T-bones and fat baked potatoes. A country-and-western band played local favorites in the lounge, which was a popular Friday-night attraction. The music drifted into the dining-room, creating a festive atmosphere.

      Eric studied the menu, then requested a bottle of wine with their meal.

      When the waitress had taken their order, he placed his elbows on the table and smiled at Kate. “Your eyes are lovely,” he said, his voice a little too enthusiastic.

      Despite herself, Kate blushed. “Thank you.”

      “They’re the same color as my ex-wife’s.” He said this in bitter tones, as if he wished Kate’s were any color other than blue. “I’m sorry,” he added, looking chagrined. “I’ve got to stop thinking about Lonni. It’s over. Finished. Kaput.”

      “I take it you didn’t want the divorce.”

      “Do you mind if we don’t talk about it?”

      Kate felt foolish for bringing up the subject, especially since it was obviously so painful for him. “I’m sorry, that was thoughtless. You’re trying to let go of the past.”

      The bottle of wine arrived and when Eric had sampled and approved it the waitress filled their glasses.

      “Actually you remind me of Lonni,” he said, after taking a sip of the chardonnay. “We met when we were both in college.”

      Kate looked down at her wineglass, twirling the delicate stem between her fingers. Eric was so clearly in love with his ex-wife that she wondered what had torn them apart.

      “You were asking about the divorce?” He replenished his wine with a lavish hand.

      “If it’s too difficult, you don’t need to talk about it.”

      “I don’t think either Lonni or I ever intended to let it go this far,” he said, and Kate was sure he hadn’t even heard her. “I certainly didn’t, but before I knew what was happening, the whole thing blew up in my face. There wasn’t another man—I would’ve staked my life on that.”

      Their dinner salads were served and, picking up her fork, Kate asked, “What brought you to Nightingale?”

      Eric drank his wine as if he were gulping cool water on a summer afternoon. “Lonni, of course.”

      “I beg your pardon?”

      “Lonni. I decided I needed to make a clean break. Get a fresh start and all that.”

      “I see.”

      “You have to understand that when Lonni first suggested we should separate, I thought it was the right thing to do. We hadn’t been getting along and, frankly, if she wanted out of the relationship, I wasn’t going to stand in her way. It’s best to discover these things before you have children, don’t you agree?”

      “Oh, yes.” Kate nibbled at her salad, wondering what she could say that would help or comfort Eric.

      An hour and another bottle of wine later, Kate realized he’d drunk the better part of both bottles and was in no condition to drive home. Now she had to tactfully make him realize that.

      “Do you dance?” she asked, as he paid the dinner bill.

      He frowned slightly. “This country-and-western stuff doesn’t usually appeal to me, but I’m willing to give it a whirl, if you are.”

      Kate assumed all the wine he’d been drinking had quelled his reservations. When the band began a lively melody, Eric led Kate onto the crowded dance floor.

      Kate was breathless by the time the song ended. To her relief, the next number was a much slower one. She recognized her mistake the minute Eric locked her in his embrace. His hands fastened at the small of her back, forcing her close. She tried to put some space between them, but Eric didn’t seem to notice her efforts. His eyes were shut as he swayed to the leisurely beat. Kate wasn’t fooled; her newfound friend was pretending he had Lonni in his arms. It was a good thing her ego wasn’t riding on this date.

      “I need a little more room,” she whispered.

      He loosened his grip for a moment, but as the song continued, his hold gradually tightened again. Kate edged her forearms up and braced them on his chest, easing herself back an inch or two.

      “Excuse me, please.” A harsh male voice that was all too familiar came from behind Eric. Kate wished she could crawl into a hole and die the instant she heard it.

      “I’m cutting in,” Luke informed the other man, who turned his head and looked at the intruder incredulously.

      Without a word of protest Eric dropped his arms and took a step in retreat. Neither man bothered to ask Kate what she wanted. She was about to complain when Luke reached for her hand and with a natural flair swept her into his arms. The immediate sense of welcome she experienced made her want to weep with frustration.

      “Why did you cut in like that?” she demanded. She felt disheartened and irritable. Everything she’d worked for this evening was about to be undone.

      “Did you mean for that city slicker to hold you so close?”

      “How Eric holds me isn’t any of your business.”

      “I’m making it my business.”

      His face was contorted with anger. His arms were so tight that Kate couldn’t have escaped him if she’d tried. Judging by the looks they were receiving from the couples around them, they were quickly becoming the main attraction.

      The instant the music ended, Kate abruptly left Luke’s arms and returned to Eric. Her date stood in the corner of the room, nursing a shot glass filled with amber liquid. Kate groaned and hid her displeasure. Eric had already had enough wine without adding hard liquor.

      “I thought you said there was nothing between you and Luke Rivers,” he muttered, when she joined him.

      “There isn’t. We’re just good friends.”

      “That’s not the impression I’m getting.”

      Kate СКАЧАТЬ