Read Online Bride Blunder by Kelly Eileen Hake - Free Book Online

Miller.” How he’d ever thought that Collins girl would be helpful stumped Gavin at the moment. It must have shown, because she addressed her next comment to him. “From where I sit—quite comfortably, I might add—you have a lot of proving to do. For one thing, I haven’t heard you ask Marge to marry you on one single occasion. You do, however, demonstrate a distinct talent for giving orders.”
    â€œNow that he gets from me.” Leave it to Grandma Ermintrude to make a man proud.
    â€œYou’re both wrong. I didn’t issue orders. I stated facts.” If he had to stand trial, he’d provide a solid defense. “Marge will marry me. It’s the obvious decision based on what she’s already done.”
    â€œForgive me for failing to see how my refusals would make marriage a foregone conclusion.”
    â€œA man proposes to be sure a woman wants to marry him.” Gavin didn’t know how women managed to get these things so twisted around, but he’d straighten them out. “I know Marge wants to marry me. She wouldn’t be here otherwise.”
    â€œYou think ... that’s why ... ooh. Wrong!” The woman he’d just proclaimed wanted to marry him spluttered the most vehement denial he’d ever heard.
    â€œIf you didn’t want to marry me, you wouldn’t have left your home and family and come here as my fiancée.” He could be patient, even understand that her position made her vulnerable. But the woman had to see reason. “I’m not wrong.”
    â€œThat proposal theory of yours was.” Grandma Ermintrude shook her head. “A man doesn’t only ask a woman to wed him to see whether or not she wants to.”
    Miss Collins simply glowered at him. “Her wanting to is only half of it. A man proposes to demonstrate to his woman how much he values her.”
    â€œThe mere act of asking implies that.” Three women in the house were two too many. Possibly three too many, but that wouldn’t help Gavin win a bride.
    â€œAnd you haven’t asked.” Marge recovered her ability to speak. “You asked Daisy. You’ve proven that you want to marry my cousin. ”
    All of a sudden, the problem became clear. Easy enough to get that bee out of her bonnet so we can get married and move on. Marge will be a good wife, and no one need ever know things weren’t planned this way.
    He closed the short distance between them, dropped to one knee, and took one of her hands in both of his. Looking up into hazel eyes wide with surprise, Gavin gave his future wife the one thing that would make all the mistakes better—a proposal. Better yet, a proposal before witnesses.
    â€œMarge Chandler, will you marry me?”
    Her lips parted, her eyes searching his, she held perfectly still for one spellbound moment. Then she snatched her hand from his grasp and backed away. “No!”
    â€œWhat do you mean, ‘No’?” He lurched to his feet and tracked her. “You said prove it.” She scuttled farther back when he came within reaching distance. “You said a man proposed to demonstrate how much he valued his woman.”
    Their deranged dance continued—his stalking closer, her scooting backward around the room in a bid to avoid him. “I proposed. I proved I valued you.” With his final point, he backed her into a corner. Literally.
    â€œI mean, ‘No, I will not marry you.’” She lifted her chin, defiant despite being caught. “Or, if you like, ‘No, you have most certainly not proven yourself.’”
    â€œI don’t like it.” He leaned closer, deliberately placing one palm against the wall. “You can’t change the rules.”
    â€œDon’t accuse me of cheating.” Sparks of green blazed in the honey brown of her stare—he’d never noticed that before. “Yes, a man proposes to show he values his woman.”