Just Married by Debbie Macomber

Author:Debbie Macomber
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
Publisher: MIRA
Published: 2013-08-28T04:00:00+00:00

Chapter Eight

“THAT’S DIFFERENT,” LESLEY INSISTED. “Jordan wasn’t in love with me…and I wasn’t…didn’t think…we never…” She tried to explain, but her tongue kept getting in the way. Abruptly snapping her mouth closed, she glared at him. “How long have you known about Jordan and me?”

“Two days.” He spoke casually, as though it were of little importance to him. As if she were overreacting to the news he’d been a soldier for hire. “It wouldn’t have mattered, Lesley. There was no reason to keep it from me.”

She felt the heat crawl up her neck. The entire time she’d dated Jordan, Lesley had been uncomfortably aware that he remained officially married. While it was true he and Molly were separated and had been for years, nevertheless, Lesley had been uneasy. Again and again Jordan had assured her there was no chance of a reconciliation Lesley had wanted to believe that and so she’d overruled her objections.

“We each have a past,” Zane reminded her gently. “I’m fairly confident that over the years we’ve both said and done things we regret. As far as I’m concerned, that’s where all this belongs. In the past.”

“But…” He made sense; her fear was that she so badly wanted to marry Zane, she was tempted to overlook everything else. The same way she’d tried to ignore the fact Jordan was still married while they dated.

“What you learned about me is true,” he said evenly. “I was once a paid soldier, but I’ve made a new life for myself now, here in Sleepy Valley.”

With his injuries it would be impossible for him to return to the field, she reminded herself. Those days were behind him, and he was looking to her for his future. Just as she counted on him for her own.

“I can’t force you to marry me—that decision is yours. But if you want to call off the wedding, then you’ll need to make up your mind soon.” He glanced at his watch. “By my estimate, our guests will be arriving in less than four hours. What’s it to be, Lesley?”

It didn’t pass her notice that he didn’t offer her any inducements. He didn’t attempt to sway her with pretty words. Not once had he claimed to love her. He offered his life without promises, without guarantees. It was a take-it-or-leave-it affair. For all the emotion he revealed, her decision mattered little to him.

“What’s it to be?” he repeated.

Zane had always been fair with her. He could have lied any number of times, and hadn’t. She respected and admired him. As he claimed, the past was over and done. Nothing would change that. So he hadn’t lived the life of a saint. Neither had she. Some of her mistakes had been glaring.

He held himself stiffly away from her as he waited for her reply. Lesley raised her head until their eyes met. He held her look for several moments, but she was able to read nothing.

“We’re both crazy,” she whispered. Enough people had told her that for Lesley to start believing it.

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