Read Online In Your Arms: A Small Town Love Story (Safe Haven Book 1) by Erin Sloane - Free Book Online

the salad.
    Marlo stilled Lulah’s hand. “No picking.”
    She shifted her hand and grabbed another piece. “Still waiting.”
    “Adam’s married.”
    Lulah swallowed. “Oh, weird. I never noticed a wedding ring or anything. Did he tell you?”
    “No, Sally says he’s married.”
    Lulah gave Sally a questioning look.
    “Hello, wedding ring.” Sally was waving her left hand around again.
    “Never saw it myself,” Lulah replied. “Is this food decorative or are we going to eat some time?”
    “Lulah, you’re like a man. How do you stay so thin when all you seem to think about is food and all you do is eat? I think you’re harboring a tapeworm. I’ve got a remedy for that!”
    She held her hands in front of her face. “Argh, Sally, stay away from me with your evil potions, witch. You’re an animal homeopath and I’m human.”
    “The principles are the same—”
    “No offense, Sally, but if I had a headache, I wouldn’t go to the vet. So you stick to squirting your potions into the mouths of animals and we can stay friends.”
    Marlo broke in before Sally launched into one of her lectures. “Come on, let’s distribute the loaves and fishes to the starving hordes.”

    M arlo crossed the courtyard with her plate of food. Everyone had gathered around the main table to eat. As she approached, Adam stood and pulled out the chair on his left side. She stole a quick look at his hand, fixing on the wedding band. The narrow plain one on his ring finger, that sat there in great, gold glory—an Olympian first prize for some other woman. How could she have missed it?
    Jeff kept them laughing with funny tales from the vet clinic. Sally stole the occasional glance in Marlo’s direction, but years ago Marlo had perfected the smile that hid a thousand anxieties, all lip-action without the joy. She plastered it on her face and it was so convincing even Sally stopped checking up on her.
    Adam bent toward her. “You’re very quiet. Are you okay?” Now his low voice and warm breath against her ear were improper.
    She blocked him with her shoulder and leaned away. “Of course, I’m fine.” She pushed back her chair and stood, as she reached for his empty plate. “Would you like some more?”
    “Thanks, I enjoyed it but I’ve eaten enough.”

    J eff spoke . “I did a year in New Zealand on a veterinary exchange.”
    “Really? Where were you based?” Adam asked.
    “I was in the Waikato, in a rural practice.”
    Adam shook his head. “I don’t believe it. The Waikato. That’s where our family farms are.”
    “You’re kidding me. What’s the name of the farms? Maybe I visited at some time.”
    “Guildford Dairy.”
    “Wow, I did visit. What a small world! I was at Waikato Rural Animal Health with Jock Dale.”
    “Jock is a great guy. He must be close to retiring now.”
    “He’ll never retire. Such a brilliant mind. I learned so much from him. So, Guildford Dairy?” Jeff put down his beer. “You must be Adam Guildford.”
    Adam’s eyes darkened, his face impassive. “That’s right.”
    Jeff shifted in his seat. “I’m sorry. I heard what happened through the clinic. I’ve stayed in touch with some of them. It must have been terrible.”

    M arlo carried a stack of empty plates and put them by the dishwasher. She walked to the other end of the kitchen where a large window framed a view out over a meadow. In the darkness there was little to see despite the moonlight. She bent at the waist, folding over to press both hands on the bench, to stretch. What a week. As if battling Justice’s defenses weren’t enough, now Vince was out there somewhere, fighting his own dark spirits. That first week he’d arrived at the Sanctuary, she had avoided him, unable to see past the emotionally bound and physically daunting man. Then she got the chance to see Calliope do her work on him, to watch Vince accept without question the offer from a dog to help him heal. That was the moment she recognized the special