Read Online Bedded Then Wed by Heidi Betts - Free Book Online Page B

tightened on her shoulders and she thought she felt him shudder against her.
    “Good,” he said with a matter-of-fact nod. He kicked himself away from the trunk of the tree and took her hand. “Let’s go back to the house and tell your dad.”
    Her eyes widened in surprise and she let out a nervous chuckle. When he tugged at her arm, she tugged back.
    “Wait a minute. Don’t you want to celebrate?”
    Since he was standing as still and immovable as a stone statue, she went to him, pressing herself along his tall frame and raising her face to his.
    “Yeah, right. Celebrate.” He bent in to kiss her, just a quick, hard peck on her lips, then he straightened again and dragged her after him.
    She laughed, increasing her steps to keep up and thinking that from now on, her life—her life with Mitch—was going to be very interesting, indeed.

    Emma took a sip of her wine—her second glass of the evening, and she’d only arrived an hour ago.
    The Ramsey’s sprawling one-story house was filled with guests, family and friends gathered by Mitch’s mother to help celebrate their engagement. Flowers and balloons decorated the large, hardwood living room, and a banner that said Congratulations Mitch And Emma! hung over the stone fireplace.
    It was all very thoughtful…and very intimidating.
    But as soon as Theresa Ramsey had heard the news, she’d insisted she be allowed to throw a party for them, inviting half the town to what had transformed from wine, cheese and classical music to louder country tunes and free-flowing alcohol.
    Ironically, it was his parents’ enthusiasm about their engagement and all the plans his mother immediately began to launch that had seemed to turn Mitch off. From the time they’d announced their plans to marry—first to her father and then to his mom and dad—the same night he’d proposed, he’d seemed to shut down, showing no interest whatsoever in their engagement or upcoming nuptials.
    He’d reluctantly agreed to his mother’s arrangements and told Emma to do whatever she wanted as far as the wedding was concerned. He was leaving it up to her to set the date and decide on all of the preparations.
    She understood him not wanting to get involved. How many men really wanted to play a part in deciding on flowers and color schemes and girlie things like that?
    But she’d at least expected him to help her choose a place for the ceremony—the church or his parents’ backyard?—and maybe offer suggestions for the guest list. Instead, he’d washed his hands of the entire situation, leaving her feeling very much alone.
    They’d arrived tonight together, at his mother’s prompting. Theresa had mapped things out so that everyone else arrived before the guests of honor, and when Mitch and Emma walked through the door, it was to mingled shouts of “Surprise!” and “Congratulations!”
    She hadn’t seen Mitch since.
    Swallowing past the lump of emotion threatening to clog her throat, Emma forced a smile to her lips for the gentleman who’d just told her a supposedly amusing story of which she hadn’t heard a word.
    It was Mitch’s way, that’s all, she told herself. He was a private person who didn’t like crowds or parties and especially didn’t like people making a fuss over him.
    He’d also been married before. A marriage he’d been eager for and expected to last forever. Going through all of this again couldn’t be easy for him.
    He was probably being flooded by painful memories and might even be considering what all of these guests were thinking about his latest engagement. Here he goes again. Maybe this time it will work out. Wonder if Emma will end up stepping out on him, too.
    Emma didn’t believe any of their friends and neighbors would think such things about him, but she knew how Mitch’s mind worked these days. He’d become incredibly sensitive and prickly since Suzanne’s infidelity. As Emma imagined most men would.
    But she would never hurt him that way and only