Sarah Morgan - Some Kind of Wonderful

“I don’t think—”

“If it were me, I might have forgiven the fact he hadn’t bought me a ring.” Mel bagged up the purchases. “I’m not sure I’d have been so forgiving if a man had left me after my wedding night.”

Great. No doubt the whole island had been speculating that Brittany Forrest was bad in bed.

“It wasn’t my wedding night.”

“Oh, that’s right, he waited ten nights.” She gave Brittany a knowing look and Brittany waited for her to voice the implication hovering in the air.

Ten nights to see if she would improve and when she hadn’t, he’d walked.

Was that what they were all saying?

It horrified her to think of people talking about it and speculating about something so personal.

“I appreciate your concern and deep interest in my life, Mel, but it was a long time ago.”

“He’s still sexy as hell, though. And now he has money. No one knows exactly how he came by it, of course, but who cares?” Mel sighed and stared dreamily out the window, her feelings for Zach visible on her face.

Brittany frowned. “I would care, but I don’t think for a moment that he—”

“The way he flew that little girl through that storm when she was sick and no one else would? There’s a touch of a hero inside him. I’ve always said that what he needs is the right woman.” It was obvious she thought she might be that woman. “I mean, he’s single and all, and I’m guessing you’re not interested.” She eyed Brittany closely, looking for visual signs of inner trauma, and Brittany held her gaze and her temper.

“I’m not interested, Mel. He’s all yours. I moved on a long time ago.”

But it seemed no one else had.

Apparently it wasn’t just with Zach that she had to keep up the pretense that she didn’t care, it was with most of the island.

“If you change your mind about me texting you when he’s in town, just let me know. He’s living over at Camp Puffin, but I expect you already know that.”

No, she hadn’t known that. She hadn’t got as far as wondering where he was living.

As long as it wasn’t next door to her, she didn’t care.

She was already exhausted and she’d been home less than twenty-four hours.

Ignoring Brittany’s silence, Mel decided this was information that needed to be disclosed. “Seems Philip Law is helping him out again, like he always does. Zach showed up here a couple of months ago, bold as brass. Flew his plane in, didn’t explain himself to anyone.”

“Why would he need to explain? He’s like a son to them.”

“Molly Noakes told me they hadn’t heard from him in months. Then one day he just shows up like he has a perfect right to be here.”

“He does have a perfect right to be here. Puffin Island isn’t private.”

“Folks were speculating on why he was back. Last thing we all heard, he was flying in Alaska. And now he has his own plane.” Mel leaned forward and lowered her voice. “I heard a rumor he might have stolen it, but I’m guessing not.”

Brittany stared at the girl who had sat across from her in the classroom and paid more attention to the boys than the teacher. “I’m guessing you’re right.”

She ignored the niggle of guilt that came from knowing she’d also wondered how he’d come to own a plane.

“He’s flying people with money. Real money. Charging a fortune. If you’d waited to divorce him, you might be a rich woman now. Could have bought yourself that diamond ring he never gave you.”

Brittany had studied weapons through the ages and found none more effective for inducing pain than the barb of the female tongue.

“Thanks, Mel. Great to see you again.”

Get me out of here.

Desperate to escape before any more locals came in to do their shopping and gossip, she strode through the store, her eyes fixed on the exit.

The doors slid open at her approach and she quickened her pace, her strides just short of running.

Determined not to catch anyone’s eye she kept her head down.

And collided with the solid wall of muscle that was Zach.

Текст предоставлен ООО «ЛитРес».

Прочитайте эту книгу целиком, купив полную легальную версию на ЛитРес.

Безопасно оплатить книгу можно банковской картой Visa, MasterCard, Maestro, со счета мобильного телефона, с платежного терминала, в салоне МТС или Связной, через PayPal, WebMoney, Яндекс.Деньги, QIWI Кошелек, бонусными картами или другим удобным Вам способом.