Read Online The Marshal Takes a Bride by Renee Ryan - Free Book Online Page B

his mouth to speak, she knew she wasn’t going to like what he had to say.
    “I guess this means we’re getting married,” he said, with a heavy dose of resignation in his voice.
    Married? Katherine couldn’t breathe under the weight of her confusion. How on earth had the man come to that conclusion? It took several seconds for her pounding heartbeat to settle enough for her to speak. “Pardon me?”
    In the silence that followed, their gazes met and held. And held. And held.
    Trey blinked first. “I didn’t mean to put you into this predicament.” He sighed. “Not only did three children catch us alone, but a passing neighbor or deliveryman could have seen me come in here.”
    “Maybe not,” she said, a little too desperate, a little too shrill.
    “Ugly talk, even unfounded, could bring trouble to the school. Or worse, yet another complaint against the entire Charity House venture.” He darted his gaze around the room, speared his fingers through his hair, then gave a quick nod. “Under the circumstances, marriage is our best option.”
    Tears of indignation pricked in Katherine’s eyes, but herpride refused to allow a single drop to fall. Her only defense was to drop a cold chill into her words. “Stop talking nonsense. Even if someone saw us and filed a complaint, it…”
    She trailed off, realizing the trouble that could come to Marc and Laney. To Charity House.
    No. They were speculating now. Nothing more. There hadn’t been a formal complaint against the orphanage in well over a year. The probability of a renewed grievance was ridiculous. “Let me pass.”
    As though he’d forgotten where they were, his gaze flicked around. “Katherine, you must realize how sor—”
    “Don’t apologize.”
    He clamped his lips shut, but his unspoken remorse hung between them.
    As the silence grew, a burning throb of shame knotted in her throat. For one blinding moment, Katherine had actually wanted him to hold her. Was she leading him on?
    Why hadn’t she tried to stop him?
    As though hearing her silent chagrin, Trey looked deep into her eyes, winced. “Let me make this right for you.”
    She fought the disparaging echo in her head. Too late. Too late. Too, too late. A blast of sunlight chose that moment to spill into the room, blinding Katherine as it chased away the dark.
    She started forward, but Trey’s voice, melodious and smooth, stopped her. “Marry me.”
    Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone . Even as Paul’s words to the Colossians echoed through her head, Katherine could only stare at Trey, a blank, lifeless sense of doom fisting around her heart. “No.”
    For the first time that day, he actually looked angry, as though she’d finally pushed him past his limit. “Why not?”
    Refusing to allow his bad manners to intimidate her, she stepped back, stopping his approach by shoving her palms hard against his chest. “I shouldn’t have to explain myself after everything we’ve discussed. I won’t marry a man—”
    “Who wears a badge?”
    She let her hands drift to her sides. “That’s only part of it.”
    He raked a tender gaze across her face, but he didn’t come any closer. “I’m not like the man who attacked you, Katherine. I won’t hurt you.”
    As a slice of yearning clung to the edges of her resolve, her heart hammered out her words. “I know that.”
    “Do you?” he asked, gripping her shoulders again.
    She slapped his hands away. “I don’t think I’ll let you paw at me anymore today.”
    He stepped back and waited until her eyes locked with his. “Marriage is the only way out of this. If we go to Charity House and tell the children we’re engaged, word will get out quickly. If I was seen coming here, alone, all will be forgotten with the news of our impending marriage.”
    At the sight of the turbulent emotions in his eyes, a spasm of longing threatened her resolve. But nothing had changed