Jingle Bell Bride by Jillian Hart

Author:Jillian Hart
Language: eng
Format: mobi, epub
Publisher: Steeple Hill
Published: 2012-07-30T22:00:00+00:00

Chapter Ten

“Wow, how do you want me to answer that?” She quirked one eyebrow at him, cradling her sandwich in both slender hands.

“Did I offend you or something?” It wouldn’t surprise him. “I just wondered what was wrong with the men you went to school with? I’m surprised no one snatched you up.”

“Don’t be.” Mischief glinted as she focused her baby blues on him. “I want to be single. I’ve learned it’s easier that way.”

“Won’t argue there, but you must have done the breaking up. You have heartbreaker written all over you.”

“No way.” She nibbled at her sandwich, studying him over the bread. “And if I do, it’s because I’m focused on my career.”

No, it’s because you’re gorgeous, and he was glad he bit his tongue before he could say it. “Sure. You work as much as I do. It’s tough on a serious relationship.”

“I wouldn’t know. I broke up with my one and only serious boyfriend back in college.” She might think she appeared strong, no scars showing as she reached for a chip, but she would be wrong. “It was senior year, we were both pre-med.”

“Let me guess. You were accepted to different med schools?”

“No, we both got in at the University of Washington. That wasn’t the problem.” She popped a chip in her mouth, chewing, biding time, maybe to figure out how best to answer. “That’s when I learned he and I didn’t see eye to eye.”

“On what, exactly?” Call him curious.

“On what we wanted in life.” Locks of light chestnut tumbled over her face like a curtain, hiding her emotions. She dug in the chip bag as if this conversation was no big deal, as if she was over whatever had hurt her. “We were engaged.”

He couldn’t say why that surprised him. “Wow. Did you have a wedding date set?”

“In August, before med school started.” She reached for her teacup, sweet, calm, in control. Only the slight tremble of her hand betrayed her. “Nick wanted me to postpone my studies, find work and put him through school. When he was done, he’d put me through.”

“And you didn’t go for that?”

“No. He accused me of not loving him enough. That wasn’t true, not at all.” Her gentle alto cracked. Emotion surfaced, but she visibly forced it back with a bob of her chin. “But when I suggested a compromise, he lost his temper and broke up with me.”

“What compromise?”

“That he would be the one to get a job and put me through school first. I mean, shouldn’t he have been willing to do that for me, if I had been willing to do it for him?” Sadness rippled across her face and she shrugged it away. Not over her feelings, after all. “He was so angry. Just furious at me. So that’s how I found out that he was the one who didn’t love me enough.”

“I’m sorry you went through that.” He set down the remains of his sandwich. She had no idea how sorry. He hated to think of her hurting.

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