Alice: Bride of Rhode Island (American Mail-Order Bride 13) by Kristy McCaffrey

Author:Kristy McCaffrey [McCaffrey, Kristy]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Historical, Romance, Fiction, Forever Love, Victorian Era, Western, Fifth In Series, Saga, Fifty-Books, Forty-Five Authors, Newspaper Ad, Short Story, American Mail-Order Bride, Bachelor, Single Woman, Marriage Of Convenience, Christian, Religious, Faith, Inspirational, Factory Burned, Pioneer, Rhode Island, Stepfather, Arranged Marriage, Seamstress, Fisherman, Train Station, Tiverton, Brother's Fiancée, Father's Troubles, Replaced, Avenging, Subterfuge, Charade, Worth Saving
Goodreads: 27826540
Publisher: K. McCaffrey LLC
Published: 2015-12-01T05:00:00+00:00

Chapter Sixteen

James left his meeting with Lillie Jenkins. He’d returned to the party in search of a drink to cool his panic over the sudden turn of events between him and Alice, only to be shocked further when he found Lillie at Endicott’s little soiree. From the solicitous way that Daniel Endicott had hung on Lillie’s every word, it was clear that the man was once again mixing business with pleasure.

Stephen Jenkins had been James’ good friend, and when he’d died the previous year from a sudden illness, it had devastated James. Stephen’s wife, Lillie, had been shaken as well. James had tried to be there for her, to ease her grief as well as to help with Stephen’s businesses, which overlapped with Martel Fishing. In fact, James had offered to buy out her holdings—consisting of three very profitable fish oil factories—although he didn’t have enough capital for it at the time. In truth, a partnership between his company and Lillie’s made the most sense, but he was having trouble convincing her.

Now he knew why.

Endicott was laying the charm on, and to James’ utter disbelief, she appeared to be falling for it. The man had stolen everything from Gavin Harrington, then Jean Martel, and now Stephen Jenkins. It made James’ blood boil.

He stopped outside Alice’s bedroom door and knocked. After several long minutes, it opened a crack. Alice looked disheveled.

“Let me in, Alice.”

“No. I don’t want to see you.”

She tried to close the door but his hand braced it open. “Please. We need to talk.”

“About what?”

“I know you’re upset.”

“I’m not upset. I’m perfectly fine.” Her pinched face and reddened eyes told a different story.

Frustration taxed his patience. “Let me in.”

She turned, leaving the door cracked, and was across the room by the time he entered, still wearing the crimson gown that distracted him far too much.

He closed the door. “I should’ve told you about my connection to your stepfather.”

The light of only one lamp illuminated the room, leaving much of it in shadows. Alice stood beyond, cloaked in darkness, but he could make out her face, and the anguish was like a punch in the gut.

“I imagine you want a divorce,” she said, her voice low.

That had been the plan all along...until tonight. “I don’t.”

Her eyes snapped to his, then welled up with tears.

He crossed the room. “Don’t cry, Alice.”

Bringing a hand to her cheek, he nudged her chin up to look at him. Seeking to strengthen the tenuous bond with his wife in the only way he knew, he carefully brought his mouth to hers. At first, she didn’t respond, but neither did she withdraw.

He slid a hand to her waist and drew her closer, keeping his lips upon hers. She trembled.

Deepening the kiss, a fierce hunger took hold of him. During the last two kisses with his wife—at their wedding and in the hotel room—he’d held himself in check. Releasing his control, he gave in to the need he’d tried his damnedest to ignore.

He covered her mouth fully with his, and she yielded at last.

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