The Wanted Bride (A Contemporary Romance) Read online

  “I couldn’t forgive Carter, and Matt can’t forgive me. Somehow there’s some irony in all this.”

  “So why didn’t you stay and fight for Carter?”

  Valerie felt a spark of almost anger as she stared at Fran. “I never loved Carter. Not really, not like Matt.”

  “You ran from the situation with Carter. Are you going to run away from Matt?”

  Valerie sat there feeling stunned. When she felt her father wasn’t listening to her, she’d run from marrying Carter, unable to face her friends and family. She’d run instead of staying and dealing with Carter’s infidelity. And now she was tempted to run back to her father because she didn’t want to feel the pain of Matt’s rejection.

  What would hurt the most? Leaving without facing him, never knowing if she could have saved the relationship or feeling like she did now?

  She swallowed and stared at Fran. “I don’t like being hurt, and it hurt when Carter betrayed me. Now, it hurts even worse because Matt can’t forgive me.”

  She set the mop aside, suddenly feeling angry. “If he thinks that I’m going to give up on us and run just because he’s mad, he’s wrong.” She yanked her apron off and tossed it at Fran. “We’re going to talk if I have to tie him down. Excuse me, while I go show him that I’m not running from this relationship.”

  Chapter Fifteen

  Valerie strode out the door of Fran’s café and into the bright sunshine. Her pace was quick and determined, as she’d never been angrier in her life. She hadn’t meant to fall in love with Matt. She’d been a lost soul when she arrived in town. Life dealt her a raw deal, and the mountain air had cleared her head and helped her discover what was important. She’d had no intention of staying, and instead she’d met this jerk, this wonderful man, and fallen in love.

  And now after chasing her for the last two months, he wanted to throw it all away. And she was just as determined to save this relationship and find out if it was strong enough for a lifetime.

  The few people she passed on the street smiled at her and waved, but today she didn’t feel friendly. She was unwavering in her resolve to settle this thing with Matt once and for all.

  When she reached his office, she pounded on his door and called out his name.

  There was no answer, and some of the fire burning inside her cooled. She looked down the street, trying to determine where he could be. Jesse’s office.

  She took off, heading down Main Street toward the sheriff’s office. And then she saw him. Matt had his head down, his hands in his pockets as he walked toward her. Slowly, he raised his head, and his gaze locked on hers. He frowned.

  “Matt,” she called, and he promptly crossed the street to avoid her.

  She halted for just a moment, stunned by the coldness of his action.

  “Oh, no, you don’t,” she muttered to herself.

  Valerie crossed the street to the other side of Main.

  “Matt,” she called, trying to catch up to him. “I want to talk to you.”

  He tucked his head inside his jacket against the cool breeze and promptly turned into the barbershop.

  She chuckled. Bernie’s barbershop was the biggest gossip mill in town, and Matt hated the place. If he thought going into that all-male atmosphere would deter her, he was so mistaken.

  She pushed open the door, and he glanced up at her in surprise. “We are going to talk.”

  “No, we’re not,” he said and walked into the men’s room.

  Bernie’s shears were suspended in his hand as he stared at Valerie. Two older gentlemen waiting gave her cocky smiles.

  Oh, no, this wasn’t over. Not yet.

  “Hello, gentlemen.”

  She strode to the men’s room and shoved the door open hard enough that it slammed against the wall. Matt stood across from the urinal and the stalls, at the bathroom sink, washing his hands.

  He glanced up at her in surprise.

  “Are you freaking crazy?” he shouted in shock.

  “I’m done with you walking away from me. You’re going to hear me out whether you want to or not,” she said, her chest heaving with indignation, her hands curled into fists at her side.

  “Well, make it quick.”

  A strand of her hair had fallen into her eyes, and she shoved it impatiently away. “That Sunday at the Grahams’ reception, the reason I started crying was because I realized I loved you. I wanted to tell you the truth about who I was. It hurt me to keep the reality from you, but I also wanted to make sure that I was free to offer you my love. I wasn’t sure whether or not I was in serious trouble back in Dallas.”

  She took a deep breath. “I was running when I reached this small town and had no intentions of ever falling in love. After all, I’d just experienced ‘love’ at what I thought was its ugliest. I had no intentions of getting involved with another man for a long time. But then I met you, and slowly you won me over, made me realize that I had never been in love until now.”

  He didn’t say anything, and she could feel her heart fracturing like a windowpane.

  “You’re right. I shouldn’t have lied about who I was, but if I hadn’t lied, I wouldn’t be here now. I would never have gotten to know you, fallen in love with you, or learned the truth about myself. In this short time, I’ve grown up, and now I’m not running anymore. I want to be with you. I’m ready to show you I could be a great partner if only you’ll give me a chance.”

  She paused, hoping he would jump in here at any point and say something, anything that would let her know he understood. “But I need you to forgive me for lying and give me a second chance.”

  She stopped and waited for him to reply. Silence filled the small bathroom.

  “Are you finished?” he asked, his voice curt.

  At the sound of a toilet flushing, they both jumped and a voice called out. “Now I am.”

  She felt her heart sink. She glanced at Matt, and he was frowning toward the stall.

  She had to get out of here. “Well, I’m finished. I’m not going to beg you to give us a second chance. If this is what you want, you’ve got it.”

  Valerie didn’t wait for him to respond. She yanked open the door. The barbershop was so quiet a termite gnawing on wood could have been heard out front on the sidewalk. She realized the men in the shop had heard every word.

  “Is there any part I should repeat? Or did that come through loud and clear?” Before they could answer, she hurried out the door.

  It was over. Matt didn’t care enough about their relationship to forgive her for lying. And she couldn’t stay in town and see him every day knowing he hated her. There was no reason to stay in Springtown, other than the fact that she had grown to love this little town and its people. But staying here would mean her heart would never heal. And she refused to face Matt day after day without his love.

  #

  Matt stared at the bathroom door as it closed. She loved him. She wanted them to explore a future together. And she’d asked him to forgive her for lying to him.

  His mind went back to when he was a teenager. He’d found his mother sitting on the bed crying. He asked her what was wrong, and at first she’d said nothing. Then finally she’d told him his father had lied to her. He hadn’t been forced to take the job in Tulsa. He’d found someone new. And then he’d told her he didn’t love her. He’d lied about everything.

  The pain on his mother’s face had been a constant reminder of how the lies hurt. How men and women kept secrets from one another. He’d promised he would always tell the truth to the woman he loved, no matter what. He would never accept anyone who lied to him.

  Yet, watching Valerie, Matt realized regardless of what she’d done, he loved her. And he even understood her decision to lie, but his pride had been smarting for days, and now he was torn between keeping his promise to himself and losing the woman he loved.

  The stall door opened slowly, and Bernie’s teenage son, stepped out. He glanced at Matt. “Is it all clear? Can I come out?”

&nbs
p; Matt smiled. “She’s gone.”

  The boy shook his head. “Wow, she was really buggin’.”

  “Yeah,” Matt said, not wanting to talk about Valerie.

  “I mean, dude, she’s totally nuts about you. And you can’t blame her for lying. I mean, come on, she was one kick-ass bride to set her fiancé’s car on fire!”

  “How do you know so much about Valerie?” Matt asked the kid.

  “Hey, we talked about her story in our Social Studies class. She was a current event. We all thought it was cool that she’s been hiding in our town since January. I mean, talk about dumped at the last second. Can you imagine the embarrassment?”

  Matt stared at the kid and tried to place himself in Valerie’s position. Dressed, ready and waiting to walk down the aisle, and your best friend tells you she’s pregnant by your man. He sighed. He guessed he’d have done more than set the guy’s car on fire.

  “Crap.”

  “Yeah, man, and now the two of you are splitting. You don’t have a cool car, do you? They don’t call her the “Wanted” Bride for nothing.”

  “Just an old Jeep.”

  “Too bad you guys are splitting. She’s really cool.” The kid leaned forward and whispered, “I don’t think she meant to hurt you. She just didn’t want anyone to know where she was.”

  What the hell! A fourteen-year-old was giving him advice. And Matt looked and felt like a jerk. Especially since he knew he was overreacting because of his own stuff. His parents’ divorce still affected his thinking, his decisions, and it was time to stop. It was time to make his own choices, even his own mistakes. Though in his gut, it didn’t feel like a mistake with Valerie.

  “Hey, Bryan, do you think we can keep this conversation under wraps and not have it flying on the Internet?”

  “Well…I can try, but I sent a text message to my friend while I was hiding in the stall.”

  Matt shook his head. “Then you owe me a favor.”

  “What?”

  “Do a follow-up text message later tonight on the outcome.”

  “The outcome?”

  “Yeah, I’ve got to go find her and hope she’ll give me a chance to talk.”

  The kid grinned. “Deal.”

  #

  Valerie went straight to McKenzie’s and hurried up the stairs without speaking to anyone. She pulled her suitcases out of the closet and threw them on the bed, where she proceeded to empty the closet of what was left of her honeymoon wardrobe. So many useless clothes that were certainly not warm enough for Colorado.

  The woman who wore all these clothes, she no longer existed. The old Valerie had been a spoilt kid who thought of only herself and the latest fashions. She was a different person now. A better person.

  She had survived heartache before, and she would again, though this time the hurt was deeper.

  A tear slipped down her cheek and then another. Soon they were rolling heedlessly down her face. She refused to stop packing, and occasionally she would wipe away the moisture.

  McKenzie came to the doorway and watched her for a few moments. “So, you’re leaving?”

  Valerie glanced up at her and nodded. “It’s over. I’m going home.”

  McKenzie walked over and hugged her and then kissed the top of her head. “I’m sorry my brother is so stubborn and bullheaded. He’s giving up the best.”

  Valerie leaned back and wiped her eyes. “Thanks. I’m going to miss you and the kids.”

  “Oh, honey, we’ll miss you, too.”

  McKenzie stepped back to the door, and suddenly a child crying could be heard. “Oh, dear, that’s the “I’m hurt” cry. I’ll be right back.”

  Valerie picked up her second suitcase and started pulling clothes out of the drawers. She threw them haphazardly into the bag. She had to get out of town tonight, and the bus was due in an hour.

  She hated leaving. Yet, she knew she must. She couldn’t face seeing Matt each day, loving him from a distance.

  She went into the closet and pulled out her Jimmy Choo shoes, the ones she’d worn when she arrived in town. They were impractical in the snow and slush, and she’d forgotten how much she liked them. She put them in the suitcase and promised herself that she would not return to Dallas and go back to being the spoiled princess she once was.

  Valerie heard McKenzie in the doorway. She didn’t look up. “That sounded like Austin, was he okay?”

  “His sister smacked him for acting stupid, just like his uncle,” Matt said, his voice low.

  Valerie glanced up, startled, confused by his statement. “What are you doing here? Did McKenzie call you?”

  “No, I came on my own.”

  She stared at him. “Why? What do you want?”

  “You’ve had your chance to talk. Now it’s mine.”

  For a moment she was shocked. What was left to say?

  She stood taller, squared her shoulders, and met his gaze.

  “I’ve been an ass. Since the time my father lied to my mother and left us, I made a pledge to myself that I would never lie to women and I would expect the same from anyone I was involved with. In these past weeks, I’ve struggled to come to terms with your lying to me about who you were. I knew you were confused, and I knew why you lied, but I kept coming back to that same commitment I’d made to myself not to accept anyone who lied.”

  He took a step toward her into the room. “I’ve had to come to terms with the fact that even though trust is important to me, understanding what’s happening is even more important. I got confused. You’re more important. I need you in my life with me. I want to see if the love we feel is enough for a lifetime.” He paused for a moment as if searching for something to say. “Can we start from here?”

  She felt confused. What was he saying?

  “Can we start over?” he asked. He held out his hand. “Hi, I’m Matt, I’m the local attorney.”

  A sob escaped from her, and tears trailed down her face. She took his hand. “I’m Valerie Burrows.”

  He pulled her into his arms. “God, I’ve missed you so much.”

  “Me, too.”

  “Sometimes, I can be an idiot. Love me enough to help me through those times,” he told her.

  She loved the way his arms felt around her. “I don’t think you’re going to be able to run the “Wanted” Bride out of town.”

  “Good,” he said and kissed her. “You belong here with me.”

  “Always,” she whispered against his shirt. “Always.”

  ______________

  Author Bio

  Sylvia McDaniel

  Sylvia McDaniel and her very supportive husband, Don live in Texas with their teenage son, Shane; Putz, the klutzy dachshund; and Ashley our shy dachshund. During the day Sylvia works for a small insurance agency helping clients with their commercial insurance coverage.

  Hooked on romances at a very young age, she is now hopelessly addicted to writing and gets up at 4:30 A.M. four mornings a week to write for two hours before going to her day job. Plus she spends at least three evenings a week in front of the computer working on her dream of publishing a best-selling romance.

  The weekends are spent working out in the garden until the temperature climbs above ninety degrees. Recently, with the help of her husband, she learned to make homemade blueberry and blackberry jam. Cooking is not her favorite past-time and she prefers Don’s cooking any day of the week.

  Currently, she’s written fourteen novels and sold nine. A 1996 Romance Writers of America Golden Heart finalist, 1995 President of North Texas Romance Writers of America, and the 2012 President-Elect of Dallas Area Romance Authors. You can write to Sylvia at P.O. Box 2542, Coppell, TX 75019

  Web site: www.SylviaMcDaniel.com

  Twitter: @WriterSylvia

  More Books by Sylvia McDaniel

  The Rancher Takes A Bride

  Rose Severin, speaks to the dead or at least she pretends to until she can earn enough money to make her way to New York and become a famous actress like her mother
. Travis Burnett is resolved to rid the frontier town of imposters like Rose. But Eugenia thinks the fiery Rose is just the woman for her obstinate son. She schemes to keep Rose at the family ranch where Travis soon realizes that the supposed spiritualist is more than just a pretty swindler.

  Available now on Amazon

  The Reluctant Santa

  Colin McDermott doesn't want to participate in Christmas or fatherhood. But this Christmas a pair of battling angels have some life-changing tricks in store for him.

  Available now on Amazon

  My Sister’s Boyfriend

  He's back. The one guy she never wanted to see again. Her high school indiscretion, Brent Moulton, has returned to Tyler, Texas. Only Jennifer Riley knows the truth about that night so long ago when she switched places with her identical twin sister, Julie, and gave her virginity along with her heart, to her sister's boyfriend in the backseat of his father's Mustang. Fifteen years later, life has thrown them back together. Will Brent realize he slept with the wrong twin? Will he overcome his commitment issues and realize that Jennifer just might be the right twin for him.

  Available now on Amazon

  Copyright

  Copyright © 2013 by Sylvia McDaniel

  Published by Virtual Bookseller LLC

  All Rights Reserved

  No part of this book may be reproduced, downloaded, transmitted, decompiled, reverse engineered, stored in or introduced to any information storage and retrieval system, in any form, whether electronic or mechanical without the author’s written permission. Scanning, uploading or distribution of this book via the Internet or any other means without permission is prohibited.

  Please purchase only authorized electronic versions, and do not participate in, or encourage pirated electronic versions

  eBook formatting by Ink Lion Books