Reading Online Novel

The Cowboy's Runaway Bride(26)



At the end of the second week he’d paid her another fifteen hundred dollars, glowering when she refused to accept it. She’d asked him again how much she owed him for her new clothes, and once again he’d told her the bill from the store hadn’t arrived.#p#分页标题#e#

Now it was Friday, the end of the third week since she’d jilted Howard at the altar. Maddie sadly looked around her bedroom. True, she hadn’t spent much time in it since she and Garrett had become intimate, but she hadn’t felt she could move her clothes into his bedroom when she was leaving so soon.

Her clothes lay neatly on the bed. Why hadn’t she thought to buy a suitcase? Because she hadn’t wanted to think about returning to Portland. Biting her lip, she wondered if she had enough time to drive into town to get one. When she’d arrived here, she’d only had her wedding gown and a tiny purse. Now she had jeans, T-shirts, lingerie and a bedraggled wedding dress to take back to Portland. And no suitcase.

Looking at the clock, she realized the stores would be shut by now. She’d booked a flight for tomorrow morning, which would give her enough time to be ready for work on Monday. She’d grab some of her belongings from Howard’s, and either sleep on Lyndsey’s sofa or stay at her parents’ house until she found another apartment.

Although neither of them had spoken about her going back to Portland at the end of three weeks since they’d made love for the first time, she knew it was time to face reality.

“Maddie.” Garrett’s rich, masculine voice from the hallway still sent a shiver down her spine.

“In here,” she called.

He strode into the room, stilling when he saw her clothes laid out on the bed.

“Have you got a suitcase, Garrett?” She tried to control the wobble in her voice.

“Maddie?” He frowned, gesturing to her clothes. “What’s going on?”

“I’m due back at the library on Monday.”

He looked at her as if he couldn’t comprehend her answer.

“You hired me for three weeks.” She attempted to shrug. “It’s three weeks.”

“Stay.”

“What?” Maddie looked up at him. Hope sparked in her chest.

“Stay with me, Maddie.” He hauled her against him, as if he would never let her go. “If you want to work in a library, you could get a job here.”

“But Garrett—”

His molten-brown eyes glimmered with emotion. “I need you, Maddie.”

Before she could answer, his mouth descended, his lips commanding her to say yes. An electrifying shiver raced through her as she surrendered to his kiss.

“Move your stuff into my room,” he murmured, brushing his lips against the sensitive spot on her neck that drove her wild.

“Garrett,” she gasped, knowing he wasn’t being fair. He must know by now what his sensual kisses and caresses did to her. When he touched her like this she couldn’t think, only feel.

“Say yes.” His words of demand brushed her lips.

Her hands tightened around his back. She longed to stay here with him. Could she? Should she? The thought of returning to Portland made her miserable. It just wouldn’t be the same there now she’d met Garrett.

He pulled back from her, looking at her searchingly. “Marry me.”

Her mouth parted. She gazed at him, not sure if she’d heard correctly. Before she could speak, he repeated those two little words. “Marry me, Maddie.”

She finally found her voice. “What? Garrett, that’s crazy.” Her heart thudded in her chest like a galloping horse. Surely he wasn’t serious ... was he?

“So is your returning to Portland.” He cupped her face in her hands.

She melted at the passion and tenderness in his eyes. “But ... we’ve only known each other three weeks,” she whispered. It was hard to be rational when all she wanted to do was throw her arms around him and shout, “Yes!”#p#分页标题#e#

He arched an eyebrow. “I think by now we know each other pretty intimately.”

Maddie’s cheeks flamed at his answer, loaded with meaning. Sex with Garrett was amazing; all she’d ever dreamed of. And she knew she loved him. But did he love her? Did he want her to stay so much that he would propose even if he weren’t in love with her?

Although she’d told him proposing was crazy, was she the crazy one if she didn’t accept? Garrett was offering her everything. All she had to do was be brave enough to start a new life with him.

Her smile lit up her eyes. Her heart had already supplied the answer. “Yes, Garrett Trask. I’ll marry you.”