Читать книгу The Hero's Sin - Darlene Gardner, Darlene Gardner - Страница 11

B ECAUSE OF a cardboard bakery box, Laurie Grieb decided returning to Indigo Springs might have been a mistake.

Not because of the apple turnover that was surely inside the small container, but because her resolve to refuse the delicious treat was wavering.

“C’mon, Laurie,” drawled the man holding out the dessert. Like Adam extending the apple to Eve, Laurie thought. It was after nine o’clock Monday morning and they were in the driveway of her mother’s house, which Laurie had moved back into a week ago. “We both know you love apple turnovers.”

He spoke in the same cajoling tone he’d once used to get her to make love with him when she was a teenager. Even though her resulting pregnancy had taught her how important it was to resist him, she grabbed the box.

“Okay, fine.” Her mouth watered at the sugary-sweet smell drifting up from the box. “But I’m only taking it because I skipped breakfast. It doesn’t mean I want you coming around, Kenny.”

“You’re welcome.” He managed to inject a touch of vulnerability in his slight smile.

She felt about two feet tall until she remembered the reasons she couldn’t let Kenny Grieb back into her life. His dark sunglasses illustrated one of them. She guessed he wore them more to conceal bloodshot eyes than as a shield from the sun. The Kenny she’d known wasn’t so much a big drinker as a reckless one, but then irresponsibility was the theme of his life. Too bad she hadn’t figured that out until she’d married him.

“You’re hungover.”

“You’re right. Say the word, and I’ll stop drinking. I’ve done it for you before.”

She closed her eyes at the pain that pierced through her at his casual remark. He’d stopped drinking when she was pregnant. Though her pregnancy, the reason he’d married her, had only lasted four months.

“I don’t want you to do anything for me.” She kept her tone clipped so he wouldn’t know she was touched by his gesture. “I mean it, Kenny. Leave me alone. No more turnovers. No more flowers. No more phone calls.”

“Now is that any way to talk to your husband?”

“Ex-husband,” she corrected sharply. “We’ve been divorced for seven years.”

They’d gotten married straight out of high-school almost nine years ago and hadn’t even managed to make their marriage last two years.

“A mistake.” He’d gained weight since they’d been together, but not enough to keep him from looking good. His brown hair was the length she liked, long enough that the ends curled and clipped the collar of the green T-shirt he wore with khaki shorts. “I never should have let you go.”