Read Online Lies of the Heart by Laurie LeClair - Free Book Online Page B

brought heat up her neck and into her cheeks. She felt the warmth of his caress with just that one look. Meeting her gaze once again, he winked. “Beautiful,” he murmured. Tiny thrills danced along her veins.
    “Now, ladies,” he said, his whisky-husky voice soft and soothing. “There’s no need to hash this out, since it’s a foregone conclusion already.”
    “Huh?” Tessa asked.
    “Whatever do you mean, Chance?” his grandmother asked.
    “Why, Gran, there’s no way in hell Tessa or I are going to live with either one of you.” The steely-hardness in his tone gave no leeway for discussion.
    “We’re not?” Tessa hadn’t given the matter two seconds of her time since she’d accepted his proposal. Why, she’d had more important things to think of, like what it would be like to kiss him, hold him, and to make love to him.
    He leaned close, and then tapped her gently on the nose. “Nope, we’ll get our own place and leave the two of them to declare war on each other from across the street.”
    “Why, you can’t do that! I need Tessa to care for me. She’s all I have…” Granny clutched at her neckline.
    His gaze turned to steel as he pinned granny with a look. “Get over it, Mrs. W. She can visit any time she wants, but, as far as sleeping, she’s doing that with me in my bed at my place. Got it?”
    A collective gasp rose among Tessa and the two older women. Taken aback at his possessive declaration, she could only stare at him. When he met her gaze, her knees shook. Steel changed to liquid heat, blazing along her bloodstream. This time it was her heart that did flip-flops. With that one look she knew she’d never be safe ever again.
    Quickly and efficiently, Chance took control of the situation. “Let’s get this show on the road. Gran, you sit over here.” He directed her to the left, seating her in the front row. Coming back, he said, “Mrs. W. you’re over here.” He guided her to her place in the right hand front row.
    Tessa nearly giggled at the dumbfounded expressions on both women’s faces. When he returned to her, he winked and grinned. “Take charge. It works every time.”
    “I’ll remember that one.”
    He held out his crooked arm to her, saying, “Shall we?”
    A few minutes later, with her friends surrounding her and their families in attendance, Reverend Duffy cleared his throat and began the ceremony. The usual jovial man snuck quick anxious looks at both pews where the elderly women sat.
    “I can’t believe this is happening,” Granny muttered none too softly.
    Tessa glanced over her shoulder and caught the fire in granny’s eyes. “Uh oh,” she whispered to Chance, “looks like trouble is brewing.”
    “Did you hear mine?” he asked, jerking his chin in his grandmother’s direction.
    Shaking her head, she glanced up at him. Being this close, inhaling that outdoorsy scent of his, made her forget what she was going to say. Mesmerized by the width and breadth of his shoulders in the formal suit jacket, she sucked in her breath. Reluctantly, she yanked herself away from the sight of him and instead focused on the minister.
    Reverend Duffy droned on while his balding head began to shine with perspiration. Digging in his front pocket, he extracted a red, checkered handkerchief and mopped up his brow.
    “Who do you think you are calling me a thief, anyway?” Mrs. Deveraux asked rather loudly, her voice echoing in the high-ceilinged chambers.
    Granny shot back, saying, “Because you are and he’s nothing but a no-good drunk.”
    Beside her Tessa felt Chance stiffen. Sneaking a quick peek up at him, she watched the muscle along his clenched jaw jump. She reached for his balled up hand. At the touch of her, he relaxed his grip, and then laced his long, warm fingers through hers. Squeezing tight, she whispered out of the side of her mouth, “She’s just crabby today.”
    “Better make that always ,” he said with a hint of a smile in his voice. She looked up