Read Online Riding for Love (A Western Romance) by Tina Susedik - Free Book Online Page A

side-to-side, much like the emotions inside her.
    “So, what happened?”
    Denton sighed and picked at the tablecloth. “I guess I didn’t pay any attention to my other classmates my senior year, being busy with my best girl and all. I had no idea which schools they might head to. So you can imagine my surprise when, after I arrived at the university in Madison, I bumped into Marie in my dorm and found out she lived on the next floor.” He shook his head in disbelief. “I’m still not sure how on earth she managed to get into the same dorm.
    “At first, I didn’t know anyone, so it made sense we hang out. She acted like we were only friends, but unknown to me, she told everyone we’d been dating in high school and the girls should keep their hands off her property.”
    “Sounds like her.”
    Dent picked up a fork and turned it over and over. “Sure wish someone had told me. Anyway, I never could figure out why, when we were with a group of kids, we’d always end up alone. One night, after I came back from Thanksgiving, I went to a party. I missed you like hell and got drunk.” He smirked at Eve. “Well, more like I got plastered, smashed, crocked.”
    Eve giggled at his description. Her heart flipped, realizing he’d truly missed her. Then she remembered that Thanksgiving break and dropped her smile.
    “Anyway, I went to the party alone and, of course, Marie showed up. The next morning I woke up in bed with her. To this day, I honestly don’t know how the hell she managed it. A few months later she told me she was pregnant.”
    Eve couldn’t believe what he said. Was Dent that naïve? “Are you serious?”
    “Unfortunately. Talk about being stupid, huh? If I’d thought a little more, I’d realize I was too drunk to have done anything, let alone get her pregnant. Hell, if I recall, I could barely walk.” He shook his head and took a drink. “I didn’t set out to hurt you, Eve. Mom didn’t tell you, did she?”
    “No. Once you married Marie, your name never came up between us, even though Rose and I became good friends.” Eve didn’t add that Rose became more of a mother than her own.
    “She always liked you,” Dent said, smiling. “She disliked Marie and figured out long before I did she was only after our money, and,” he continued, his words dripping with sarcasm, “the ‘social circles’ she thought we ran in.”
    “But you married her anyway.”
    “It happened so fast. She insisted we get married right away because of the baby. I wanted to give the child my name.” He let out an ironic laugh.
    Eve’s stomach did a nosedive. Men could really be incredibly stupid. “Let me guess. No pregnancy.”
    Denton’s head snapped up. “Did you hear this already?”
    “No, but it figures,” Eve replied. “What I can’t believe is that you fell for it.”
    Running a hand over his face, he added, “Yeah, well, I guess stupid is my middle name. She blindsided me.”
    Silence fell while the waitress served their salads. Eve picked at the lettuce. “Was this going on when you came home at Thanksgiving?”
    “God, no!” he answered quickly. “I wouldn’t have done that to you. I loved you.”
    Long suppressed anger flared up inside her. She leaned forward, staring directly into his face. “Then why marry Marie without even breaking up with me first, or at least explain what happened?” She spat out the words between clenched teeth. “If you loved me like you say, why couldn’t you have had the decency to at least lie to me and let me think you’d fallen out of love and needed to move on? I had to hear the news from Marie’s mother. She made sure I’d been put in my proper place and said you’d be happier with someone of your station and that was her lovely, pure daughter.”
    “Man, Eve. She had no right to say those things to you,” he said, hanging his head. “Besides, I’d never lie to you.”
    She couldn’t remember being this livid before, even when he married the witch.