Read Online Secret Vow by Susan R. Hughes - Free Book Online Page A

“Just a cake for my parents’ anniversary,” she told him, the edges of her wide mouth twitching upward. He could see her making an effort to look impassive, though the glow in her cheeks told him there was more going on inside her than she was willing to let on.
    “I had hoped to hear from you.” Ian resisted an impulse to enfold her in his arms and kiss her deeply—maybe later, if he could puzzle out her baffling pattern of welcoming his embraces one minute and then keeping her distance the next. Instead he touched her hand at her side, stroking her fingers lightly. “You didn’t return my call the other day. You’re not still embarrassed about what happened in your room, I hope—or regretful.”
    She shifted from one foot to the other, dropping her gaze. “No. I planned on calling you later today, to talk about it.”
    “Here I am. Talk to me now.”
    “It’s just … I didn’t mean for that to happen. Like I said, I’m probably going back to Toronto pretty soon. What would be the use of getting involved now?”
    Of course she had told him that, and he’d accepted it, but nonetheless the suggestion of her leaving caused a tightening in his chest. He’d imagined, somehow, that her intentions may have shifted the last time they were together. He’d felt their old connection snap back into place as they fell into an easy rhythm of talking and washing dishes—and later, as they clung to one another on her childhood bed, the physical spark between them flaring into intoxicating passion.
    Apparently he’d been presumptuous.
    “You don’t have a job there anymore,” Ian pointed out, drawing back his hand to tuck it into the pocket of his jeans. “Is there any chance you don’t want to go back?”
    Brooke shrugged listlessly. She tucked her hair behind her ear, exposing the delicate earlobe he’d tenderly nibbled the last time they were together; the memory brought a swell of warmth to his belly.
    “I don’t know,” she said quietly. “I can’t stay here.”
    “Why can’t you?”
    She looked taken aback by the question. “This isn’t my home anymore.”
    “And Toronto is?” Ian challenged, more belligerently than he’d intended. It wasn’t fair of him to place demands on her, he knew that; yet he couldn’t quite suppress the resentment beginning to simmer within him. Brooke Eldridge had long ago claimed a special corner of his heart, and yet, whenever he thought he’d managed to reach her, she pushed him away. She’d made it clear time and again that Eastport wasn’t enough for her—and, he supposed, neither was he.
    She shook her head slowly, and as she met his gaze, a striking sadness shimmered in her pretty dark eyes. “Not really. I don’t know where I’m going, Ian, but I won’t be able to figure it out if I get distracted by falling in love with you.” Startled by her own words, she blinked at him, her eyes widening in alarm. “I mean—you know what I mean. I have to go.”
    Scooping up her basket, she hurried down the aisle toward the cash registers at the front of the store.
    Clutching the handle of his own basket tightly, Ian simply watched her go, his pulse thundering in his ears.

     
     
     
     
     
     
    Chapter Five
     
    I’m such an idiot.
    Brooke tipped a teaspoon of allspice into the bowl of dry ingredients on the counter in front of her, then paused to scowl down at the spattering of brown powder, preoccupied with her own foolishness. The situation with Ian was complicated enough; why did she have to go and throw in the word love ? She couldn’t be falling in love with the man—there may have been an attraction between them as teenagers, but really, as adults they hardly knew each other. After all, they were different people now, with different needs and desires.
    Weren’t they?
    Steering her focus back to the orange spice cake she needed to prepare, Brooke scanned the recipe book laid on the counter next to the bowl— cinnamon, ginger, cloves … had she