His Winter Rose and Apple Blossom Bride by Lois Richer

Author:Lois Richer [Richer, Lois]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 0373651600
Amazon: B00ALTWPIK
Publisher: Love Inspired
Published: 2013-04-02T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter One

Ashley shoved open the door of her Vancouver condo with her crutch and hobbled inside, absorbing the stale odor of a place too long uninhabited. She let the door swing closed behind her, made sure it was locked, then concentrated on inhaling deep breaths.

She was home. She was safe.

The mail sat neatly stacked on a side table, thanks to her landlord. But Ashley ignored it, coaxing her body to move a little farther into the room.

All she really wanted was to run. Which was sad when she’d spent so much time and effort dealing with her panic attacks, making this her safe haven. The accident with Kent had only proven what she already knew—there was no safe place. As if to emphasize that point, the fear that had assailed her in the elevator a few moments ago now ballooned and wouldn’t let go.

The phone rang.

“Ash?” Piper’s familiar voice soothed her fractured nerves. “I thought you’d be coming home today. How are you feeling?”

“Battered and bruised, Pip. My ankle’s weak so I’m on crutches for a couple of days. But I’m okay.” Would she ever be okay again?

“And Kent?”

“Walked away without a scratch. It was my side of the sportscar that was hit.” She debated whether to explain, then decided there was no point in pretending. “He kept going faster, though I begged him to stop. He told me he could handle it, that he knew what he was doing with such a powerful car. He lied about that. He lied about everything.”

“Oh, Ashley. I’m so sorry.”

She couldn’t handle the rush of sympathy. Not now. Not today.

“I’m not,” she said steeling herself against the pain she knew would follow the words. “It wasn’t me he really wanted. It was the money. It’s better it happened now, before we’re married, than finding out two years down the road.”

“Yes, it is,” Piper agreed quietly. “When do you go back to work?”

“I don’t. Ferris let me go when I had to cancel out of the exhibition.”

“The rat! You couldn’t help the accident.”

“I should never have believed Kent when he said he knew how to drive a race car. He admitted at the hospital that he’d never even been inside one before.”

“Yes, but—”

“Ferris was in a tight spot with the gallery expansion and he was depending on me to help. Being in the hospital because I was stupid and let myself get talked into something isn’t an excuse.”

“I suppose Kent left the bill for that car for you to pay, too, didn’t he?” Piper waited a second then groaned. “Oh, Ash. The greedy—”

“Believe me, it was a cheap escape. Anyway I don’t want to talk about him, Pip. I’m tired.” Ashley leaned against the wall, rubbed the throbbing spot at the side of her head. “I guess I need to rest.”

“Then as soon as you feel up to it, you should come here. The autumn colors are always gorgeous around the Bay.” Piper’s voice changed, softened. “Cathcart House is made for visitors. You know that.

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