Read Online The Husband Hunt (a novella) (The Bachelor Series) by Kiki Abbott - Free Book Online Page B

when I found myself back at the Seattle station, I asked again, hoping you and Brent had broken up.” He shot her a look and her eyes widened.
                  “That was you in Seattle three weeks ago at the station?”
                  He nodded. “That was me. And when you phoned me the next day to say you wanted to be on the show I was happy, and kind of sad that you’d agree to do this type of show. Remember I asked if you were single because I’d heard you weren’t and you assured me that you were ‘free and clear for takeoff’. That’s what you said.”
                  Jaxie laughed. “I didn’t know it was you who I spoke to.”
                  He continued. “I know. I picked you for the show and went to the airport to get you hoping that if I got to know you, this hold you had on my heart would lessen.” He shook his head. “I didn’t really know you, after all.”
                  “Not at all!” She was shocked he’d base his emotions on that one moment on T.V. that everyone saw who watched the news that night.
                  “Turned out I liked you even more, once we had dinner at Giuseppe’s.” He drained his glass. “I felt like I was doomed. You had no clue, seemed excited to be on a dating show and I had to stand aside.”
                  “Poor Crane!” She took his hands in hers, kissed his knuckles and pouted. “I liked you too, did you know?”
                  “I didn’t. I just thought I was a big fool until you said you wanted to leave the show. But by that time you’d told me that when you kissed Liam you thought about someone else.”
                  “You!”
                  His smile was gorgeous. Perfect teeth, beautiful lips. “Ah, that’s good news.”
                  “Is that all?”
                  “Not quite.” His expression was serious as he looked down where their hands were joined. “I have two daughters. Six years old and almost eight. They are the world to me.”
                  She could see that. “As they should be.” She could guess what was coming. The girls came first. He was a parent. If she was going to fall in love with him, she had to accept that. And she would.
                  “I’m a package deal with two little girls, two dogs and a cat. Oh, and a few fish and a hamster and various relatives who live close and have helped me with the girls since Jenny’s death.” He looked almost apologetic. Before she could tell him that it sounded like heaven to her, he added one more thing. “And the big finale is ... He looked at her like this next sentence would probably break them both. “If we are going to be together, I can’t help get you a cooking show.”
                  She nodded. That didn’t matter so much anymore. “It’s okay.”
                  “For the girls’ sakes I need to know that you are with us for no other reason but that you want to be with us. This town is wicked and heartless and I’ve seen my share of nastiness enough to know that you will have to choose me, or a cooking show.
                  He heart melted and she leaned forward to kiss Crane. Just a little one. “If I can be in your life Crane, I’m not sure I’ll need a cooking show. For the last five years, I’ve been desperate to find love and start a family. Desperate. Too much so. So I started concentrating on my career, just in case love didn’t come my way any time soon. I thought Brent would make a good dad but now I see that he won’t. Not yet. The cooking show is a dream but is not my number one dream.” She smiled at him. “Do the girls like pasta?”
                  He grinned. “Lila and Molly love to eat.” He took her face in his hands and kissed her, first softly and then passionately. Like a man who has just realized