Butterfly Soup. Nancy Pinard
Чтение книги онлайн.
Читать онлайн книгу Butterfly Soup - Nancy Pinard страница 1
Название: Butterfly Soup
Автор: Nancy Pinard
Издательство: HarperCollins
Жанр: Эротическая литература
Серия: Mills & Boon M&B
isbn: 9781472086532
isbn:
“You’re scaring the hell out of me, Rosie.
“Saturday night I couldn’t find you. Kansas scouted you out when I was about to call the police,” Everett continues.
Rose is intrigued. Images come to mind—of strange men with flashlights and barking dogs on leashes, all wanting to find her. She tiptoes to the door, opening it a crack, half expecting some leather-jacketed, grim-faced sheriff. It’s Everett there, with the pleading look in his eyes. How is she supposed to stay mad at him anyway, especially when he’s carrying the biggest box of chocolates she’s ever seen?
He holds the candy out to her. A pang stabs at her conscience. Everett is such a good man. He doesn’t deserve what she did.
Rose’s vision has blurred. His scent fills her whole head. His damp skin against hers is all she wants.
If this could last forever, their closeness, maybe what happened years back wouldn’t really matter.
Nancy Pinard
Nancy Pinard was raised in an arts-oriented family who attended a Methodist church in Dayton, Ohio. She danced with the Dayton Ballet Company, but gave up her dream of a career in dance when she suffered an injury that required surgery. Her other love, literature, led her to teach high school and junior high English. She began writing while she was raising two sons, and while her husband served as senior pastor to a large congregation. In 2005 she completed an MFA in creative writing. She now teaches at Sinclair Community College. Her short stories have appeared in literary magazines and an anthology. Butterfly Soup is her second published novel.
Butterfly Soup
Nancy Pinard
MILLS & BOON
Before you start reading, why not sign up?
Thank you for downloading this Mills & Boon book. If you want to hear about exclusive discounts, special offers and competitions, sign up to our email newsletter today!
Or simply visit
Mills & Boon emails are completely free to receive and you can unsubscribe at any time via the link in any email we send you.
For Ron, Joshua and John
Acknowledgments:
It is no small task to nurture a writer’s progress through a manuscript. Many fellow writers invested their attention in multiple drafts. The guidance and insight of the following writers was invaluable: Ed Davis, Katrina Kittle, Nancy Jones, Suzanne Kelly-Garrison, Diane Chiddister, Hallie Kranos and Sharon Shaver. The Byliners— Lynn Campbell, Peggy Barnes, Diane Bengson, Caroline Cooper, Celia Elliott, Lynn Dille, Vincenzina Krymon, Doris LaPorte and Sarah Rickman.
I am thankful to Clint McCown for his attention to my work at the Antioch Writers’ Workshop. The reference librarians of the Wright Memorial Public Library researched fine points of verisimilitude for me. My cousins, Karin and Dr. Andrew Bailey, and friend Dr. Pat Ronald supplied me with medical opinions during revision.
My best friend, Louise Greene, shared memories of her Catholic childhood.
My agent, Elizabeth Trupin-Pulli, believed and stood firm, listened when I lost heart, refused to give up. I am honored to call her my friend.
My editor, Ann Leslie Tuttle, likewise persevered until she found the work’s perfect home. Her determination and enthusiasm have brought my dream to the readership. Thanks also to Adam Wilson, editorial assistant, who ably guided me through the process.
My husband, Ron, and sons, Josh and John, gave me the freedom to find my voice. They have loved me and honored my needs. That’s an inestimable gift. May every woman have such an extraordinary family.
CONTENTS
CHAPTER 1
CHAPTER 2
CHAPTER 3
CHAPTER 4
CHAPTER 5
CHAPTER 6
CHAPTER 7
CHAPTER 8
CHAPTER 9
CHAPTER 10
CHAPTER 11
CHAPTER 12
CHAPTER 13
CHAPTER 14
CHAPTER 15
CHAPTER 16
CHAPTER 17
CHAPTER 18
CHAPTER 19
CHAPTER 20
CHAPTER 21
CHAPTER 22
CHAPTER 23
CHAPTER 24
CHAPTER 1
T he phone rings so early on Saturday morning, Rose Forrester tears herself from sleep and runs to the kitchen, the dread of dire illness or accidents propelling her down the stairs to the rhythm of the Hail Mary repeating in her head. “Yes?” she pants into the receiver.
“Rosie? You’ll never guess what!” Helen Slezac’s voice is squeaky with excitement. Rose hears the swoosh of washing machines in the background.
“Helen? It’s only six-fifty. We’re sleeping in,” Rose whispers. She hopes her descent didn’t waken the household. Everett has been looking tired. And Valley came in late from her date.
“I know. I know. But this one can’t wait. I had to tell you.”
Rose tries to chase the edge from her voice. Poor Helen has been divorced so long, she’s forgotten the pleasure of drowsing in bed. “Tell me what?”
“I got in early and was waiting for the dryer to quit tumbling to yank Jed Peterson’s stuff before it wrinkled—you know how picky he is—when I looked up to see an СКАЧАТЬ