His Heartbroken Bride (The Brides of Paradise Ranch - Spicy Version Book 4) by Merry Farmer Page B

you.” There was more than just ‘like’ in his eyes, which only lit the flames of longing and dug the awl of guilt deeper into Libby’s gut. “You’re in a tough spot, and I want to help you.”
    “Yes, but…” Libby pressed her lips shut, beginning to be annoyed with herself for waffling and cowering. She clenched her jaw, then blew out a breath and forced herself to stand straight and look Mason in the eyes. “There are things you don’t know about me.”
    Mason shrugged. “There are always things we don’t know about each other until we have time to get to know them. You don’t know much about me either.”
    She bit her lip. It was a fair point. But she seriously doubted Mason had anything to confess that came close to what she was keeping secret. The worst he could possibly lay claim to was making regular visits to the town’s whorehouse, but Libby didn’t know a single man from the logging camp who hadn’t enjoyed the company of fallen ladies from time to time.
    Fallen ladies like her.
    She shook the thought away. “I want to give you a chance to change your mind,” she said. “Before it’s too late. You don’t have to marry me. The boys and I will cope on our own.”
    Mason shifted his weight to one hip, crossed his arms, and stared at her. “Are you saying that because you genuinely want to give me a chance to back out or are you saying it because you want to back out?”
    Libby winced. Her hand flew to her stomach before she could stop it. “You might not want to live with all my ghosts.”
    Masons shoulders softened and he stepped into her to wrap her in another hug. “Aw, sweetheart. I know that you’ll always love Teddy. I’m not asking you to close your heart to him, not at all. I’ll do my best to raise his boys to remember him and to keep him alive in your life. And if you want to wait until later for, you know, I can live with that.”
    Libby squeezed her eyes shut and rested her head against his shoulder. Those weren’t the ghosts she had in mind.
    “I’ll tell you what.” Mason gave her a last squeeze, then stepped back, holding her at arm’s length. “I think this is really about you having second thoughts.” There was no disappointment or judgment in his eyes. “So I’m going to go on to the church to get things ready. You spend some time thinking. I only want to marry you if that’s what you really want. So if you have your think and decide that you’re not ready to remarry, then I’ll understand completely if you don’t show up at the church.”
    Her heart twisted in her chest. “Mason Montrose, you may very well be the most thoughtful and understanding man I’ve ever met.”
    He looked away with a modest shrug. “I’m just a man.” He smiled and brushed his fingers over her face again. “You go think. I’ll hope to see you later.”
    He leaned toward her, and for a glorious, heart-stopping moment, Libby thought he might kiss her. More than that, she found herself longing for it, longing for a part of marriage she had thoroughly enjoyed, was certain she could enjoy again, in spite of Hector. With Mason, it would be right. Fire and wishes swirled in her gut, urging her to reach for the kind man in front of her and never let go.
    Instead, she rocked back on her heels. “Thank you, Mason.”
    He touched her nose and chuckled. “See you later, sweetheart.”
    With that, he turned and headed off toward the church. The train whistle blew, closer now. As close as the yearning that grew inside of her. There was something there. There had always been something there. The time was coming closer when she might actually be able to act on it, if she could just escape the consequences of Hector’s desire.
    With a deep breath, Libby turned and backtracked, heading the other way down the street, toward the road that led out to Paradise Ranch. She had no intention of walking the miles out to the ranch itself, but it was a relief to wander past the last of the houses and