Montana Groom of Convenience by Linda Ford

Author:Linda Ford
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Harlequin
Published: 2017-10-16T12:37:57+00:00

Chapter Eleven

Carly kept her feelings stuffed back as she helped set out the picnic. They put the food on a tablecloth and spread blankets to sit on. She had noticed the many cushions the men carried.

“Here’s one for you,” Kate said. “You and Sawyer.” Her eyes twinkled.

Carly dropped the cushion to the ground.

Hugh took off his hat. The other men followed his example. “I’ll ask the blessing.”

Carly bowed her head, grateful no one could see the tangle of her thoughts. She’d believed Sawyer meant to kiss her as they lingered behind the others. She’d leaned close, inviting it. But then he had stepped back. As he should have. Their agreement clearly left no room for kissing. She understood that. But it was getting hard to remember.

She realized Hugh had said amen, and the others had seated themselves on the blankets. The food was passed from hand to hand. The children sat in a group, eating with gusto. Conversation hummed around her. She was more than content to let it be so.

“Carly, how have you enjoyed your first week of married bliss?” If the question had come from anyone but Isabelle, Carly might have suspected she was being teased,

“We’ve been busy. Sawyer has started seeding. I’ve been planting the garden.”

“I don’t think she was asking about the work,” Annie said, her eyes sparkling with amusement.

Carly’s mouth opened but nothing came out.

Sawyer chuckled. “Seems she’s speechless.”

The others laughed.

Her cheeks grew warm. Let them think what they wanted. But did Sawyer have to give the impression that they had enjoyed a week of conjugal bliss?

“Relax,” he murmured and patted the cushion on which he lounged on one arm.

She glanced about. All the other couples had finished eating and lingered over the coffee Annie served. Each pair leaned on a large cushion. Happily married couples, eager to share the same, intimate space.

Sawyer patted the cushion again.

She stared at the spot, studied his elbow which he’d bent to support his head. Slowly, wishing she could resist but acknowledging she couldn’t, she lifted her gaze along his arm, taking in every detail. The crease of his shirtsleeve where his elbow bent, the strain of the material across his biceps, the darkness of the skin on his hands. And the blinding light from his eyes.

What was he thinking?

Surely not what she wished.

She blinked. She wished for nothing. She had what she wanted. A pretend marriage that protected the ranch.

He patted the cushion again, his eyes steady and the tiniest bit challenging.

She shook her head and fanned her skirt out before her.

“Chicken,” he murmured so softly she knew no one else would hear.

She wasn’t going to let him tease her into doing something she didn’t want to. Because she wanted it so badly it frightened her.

Something tickled her neck and she swatted at what she thought was a spider.

Sawyer chuckled—a sound so sweet it rivaled the meadowlark on the nearby stump.

She grabbed the blade of grass he’d been tickling her with and tossed it aside. Would this

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.