Mail Order Mallory (Widows, Brides, and Secret Babies Book 15) by Jo Grafford

Mail Order Mallory (Widows, Brides, and Secret Babies Book 15) by Jo Grafford

Author:Jo Grafford [Grafford, Jo]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: JG PRESS
Published: 2020-06-18T16:00:00+00:00


Chapter 6: Demon From the Past

Duke

Duke knew he was taking a calculated risk by leaving town without consummating his marriage to Mallory, but it seemed like the honorable thing to do, under the circumstances. He’d ordered her as his bride through the mail, unaware there was a brother-in-law in the picture. As much as he hated the idea of Daniel Price making eyes or overtures at her, he could not argue that the man’s intentions were honorable. In fact, he seemed to genuinely care for his sister-in-law. If Duke hadn’t wed Mallory so swiftly, the two of them would have probably found solace in each other in a Ruth and Boaz-type of relationship.

Perhaps it was cockiness or foolishness on Duke’s part — or a combination of both — but he wanted Mallory to be free to choose between the two men. He mightily hoped she would choose to remain married to him, of course, but he wanted it to be on her terms. He wanted her to come to him of her own accord, with no regrets and no strings attached. If upon reflection, however, she decided she’d rather have a kinsman redeemer of sorts, well then…Duke’s summons from his bounty hunting friend had come at the perfect time to leave the playing field open for Daniel. With Duke out of town, Mallory would finally have the chance to examine her feelings for Daniel with both honesty and clarity. She claimed she didn’t want an annulment, but this was the only way for her to be perfectly sure of that.

In the days leading up to his departure, Duke administered the shooting lessons to Mallory that she’d been clamoring for. They started firing on the indoor range and worked their way up to the longer distance targets on the outdoor range behind his shop. He was delighted to discover his new wife had a sharp eye and a steady finger on the trigger.

“I’m a crack shot,” she bragged, looking so pleased with herself that he bent his head to capture her mouth with his right then and there, not caring who might be watching them.

“That you are, lass.” He kissed her again, unable to resist her sweet exuberance.

Without warning, she jolted in his arms, hands flying to her belly.

“What is it, lass?” he asked anxiously.

“The babe.” She looked elated. “His kicks are growing stronger.”

He raised his brows at her. “Are you so certain it’s a he?”

“Not at all,” she chuckled, reaching for his hand and placing it over her mid-section.

He received the enormous pleasure of being kicked by the tiny life fluttering inside her. It was the most miraculous thing he’d ever experienced. “If it’s a daughter, she’s as feisty as her mother,” he declared happily, greatly enamored of the idea of having a daughter for his first born.

In between Mallory’s shooting lessons, he gave her a tour of the front desk and demonstrated how to operate the cash register. On her first afternoon behind the counter, she proved as astute at greeting customers and ringing up their purchases as if she’d been doing it for years.



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