Read Online Have Husband, Need Honeymoon by Rita Herron - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Rita Herron
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Some macho, superstud Air Force pilot he was. His voice came out low, angry. “All right. I haven’t been with anyone.”
Silence rasped between them.
“Excuse me?” Alison said.
He leaned over the table, both elbows planted firmly. Their faces were so close he could smell the lilac-scented shampoo she used. He could almost touch her mouth. “You heard me. None.”
She caught her bottom lip between her teeth. Was she fighting a smile?
“So, there has been no adultery involved. But you both say you want this divorce?” Alison’s mother asked.
Brady stared at Alison and hesitated. Alison stared at him. He could have sworn she was hesitating. Then a cramp suddenly seized his leg, tightening every muscle he’d worked during therapy, reminding him of his scars and the accident, driving home all the reasons they could never be together. He ground his teeth, determined to walk away without revealing the extent of his pain. Alison might have fond memories of them, but she wouldn’t want the man he’d become, and he didn’t want her pity.
“Yes, we’re different people than we were four years ago,” he said in a gruff voice, trying to stretch his leg beneath the table so he could stand. He had to go to the rest room and massage the knot. “I want the divorce. File the papers as soon as possible.”
* * *
Brady’s words knifed through Alison. She hadn’t realized she’d been hoping Brady would contest the divorce, that he would fight for her and their marriage.
“Alison?” Her mother’s voice sounded soft, her touch light as she swept a hand over her daughter’s.
Alison dragged her gaze from Brady, a quiver starting deep inside her that threatened to erupt any second. Dammit, she’d cried for months when he’d stopped writing her, then for months more when he’d started returning her letters. She refused to cry in front of him and her mother.
“Yes, Janelle. Go ahead and start the paperwork.”
“I have a month’s leave,” Brady said, pushing to his feet, his expression harsh. “Hopefully, we can get everything signed before I have to report back.”
Alison nodded, afraid to speak again as he excused himself to go to the men’s room. His shoulders were thrown back, his head held high, his face hard as he walked away.
She knotted the napkin in her lap. The next month couldn’t go by fast enough, she thought, feeling a wave of anguish. Then Brady Broussard would be out of her life forever.
----
Chapter 7
« ^ »
B rady paced across the men’s room, trying to walk out the cramp, but the muscles in his calf were so knotted that his leg buckled and he doubled over in pain. He knew the session with Vivi had been tough, but he hadn’t been prepared for the exhaustion or the agony he’d feel afterward.
As much as he hated to give in to it, he was going to have to go home and do as Vivi had ordered – rest.
God, he hated it. Hated to be weak, hated this powerless feeling.
But first, he’d have to face Alison and her mother again and say a polite goodbye.
Tacking on his military face, he sucked in a harsh breath, pushed his body to attention in spite of the pain and headed back to the table.
* * *
Alison hadn’t had time to recover from Brady’s stark detachment when she glanced up and saw her sisters heading toward the table. They were both looking at her oddly, no doubt shocked to see her lunching with their mother.
Good grief, what was she going to tell them?
“Ali, what a surprise,” Mimi said. She started to bend over to hug her, but her protruding stomach bumped the table and they both laughed.
“Hey, sis. Mom.” Hannah’s quiet voice mirrored the wariness in her eyes.
“Hi, girls.” Janelle Hartwell’s face flushed. “It’s so nice to see you all here. Alison and I ran into each other and decided to eat together.”
Alison’s surprised gaze swung to her mother, but Janelle simply smiled and pretended normalcy, when nothing about their meeting had been normal.
Silence rasped between them.
“Excuse me?” Alison said.
He leaned over the table, both elbows planted firmly. Their faces were so close he could smell the lilac-scented shampoo she used. He could almost touch her mouth. “You heard me. None.”
She caught her bottom lip between her teeth. Was she fighting a smile?
“So, there has been no adultery involved. But you both say you want this divorce?” Alison’s mother asked.
Brady stared at Alison and hesitated. Alison stared at him. He could have sworn she was hesitating. Then a cramp suddenly seized his leg, tightening every muscle he’d worked during therapy, reminding him of his scars and the accident, driving home all the reasons they could never be together. He ground his teeth, determined to walk away without revealing the extent of his pain. Alison might have fond memories of them, but she wouldn’t want the man he’d become, and he didn’t want her pity.
“Yes, we’re different people than we were four years ago,” he said in a gruff voice, trying to stretch his leg beneath the table so he could stand. He had to go to the rest room and massage the knot. “I want the divorce. File the papers as soon as possible.”
* * *
Brady’s words knifed through Alison. She hadn’t realized she’d been hoping Brady would contest the divorce, that he would fight for her and their marriage.
“Alison?” Her mother’s voice sounded soft, her touch light as she swept a hand over her daughter’s.
Alison dragged her gaze from Brady, a quiver starting deep inside her that threatened to erupt any second. Dammit, she’d cried for months when he’d stopped writing her, then for months more when he’d started returning her letters. She refused to cry in front of him and her mother.
“Yes, Janelle. Go ahead and start the paperwork.”
“I have a month’s leave,” Brady said, pushing to his feet, his expression harsh. “Hopefully, we can get everything signed before I have to report back.”
Alison nodded, afraid to speak again as he excused himself to go to the men’s room. His shoulders were thrown back, his head held high, his face hard as he walked away.
She knotted the napkin in her lap. The next month couldn’t go by fast enough, she thought, feeling a wave of anguish. Then Brady Broussard would be out of her life forever.
----
Chapter 7
« ^ »
B rady paced across the men’s room, trying to walk out the cramp, but the muscles in his calf were so knotted that his leg buckled and he doubled over in pain. He knew the session with Vivi had been tough, but he hadn’t been prepared for the exhaustion or the agony he’d feel afterward.
As much as he hated to give in to it, he was going to have to go home and do as Vivi had ordered – rest.
God, he hated it. Hated to be weak, hated this powerless feeling.
But first, he’d have to face Alison and her mother again and say a polite goodbye.
Tacking on his military face, he sucked in a harsh breath, pushed his body to attention in spite of the pain and headed back to the table.
* * *
Alison hadn’t had time to recover from Brady’s stark detachment when she glanced up and saw her sisters heading toward the table. They were both looking at her oddly, no doubt shocked to see her lunching with their mother.
Good grief, what was she going to tell them?
“Ali, what a surprise,” Mimi said. She started to bend over to hug her, but her protruding stomach bumped the table and they both laughed.
“Hey, sis. Mom.” Hannah’s quiet voice mirrored the wariness in her eyes.
“Hi, girls.” Janelle Hartwell’s face flushed. “It’s so nice to see you all here. Alison and I ran into each other and decided to eat together.”
Alison’s surprised gaze swung to her mother, but Janelle simply smiled and pretended normalcy, when nothing about their meeting had been normal.
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