A Will and a Way Read Online Free Page B

Thorn Birds ? Yes.”
    “Then you know about the priest,” he said, adding a shudder to his smirk to emphasize his point.
    “The priest?”
    He gave her a pointed look. “The naughty priest.”
    “Oh. That priest.”
    “Yes, that priest.” He gestured to a two-top just under a backlit Heineken sign. “Most nights, Sister Laurent sits right there, drinks Australian wine, and reads the most battered paperback copy of The Thorn Birds never to grace the St. Sebastian school library.”
    She let her confusion go in a slow hiss. “I see.”
    And she did see. He could see that she saw. Her eyes darkened and she hummed softly. He sat up a little straighter, wondering if she was thinking about committing at least a few deadly sins herself. He just hoped to God she’d commit them with him. Needing to stake a claim, he planted a big, warm palm on her leg and turned her to face him.
    “So we’ve covered pride, greed, gluttony, lust, and envy, though I think I have her beat in that department. The rosary beads are nice, but…” he gave Betty’s knee a gentle squeeze then cast a glance around the barroom. “Nope. I’ve definitely got envy in the bag.”
    She cocked her head. “How so?”
    “Sweetheart, there isn’t a man in here not eating his heart out over the fact that you were looking at me and not at them,” he growled. “And I’m just Catholic enough to confess I like it. I like that they’re watching me talk to you and wishing they were me. I like it a lot.”
    “Do you?”
    “Yes.” He shifted another inch closer. “I’ve seen you before, you know.”
    She jerked a little and her forehead puckered, so he rushed to dispel her of any stalker worries.
    “You were at a bus stop. You’re kind of hard to miss in that coat.”
    “Is that why people keep staring at me?” She tossed her hair then fixed him with a laser-like glare. Despite the obnoxious coat and hat-flattened hair, she was magnificent when she got her back up. Like a peacock fanning its plumage. “Everyone wears so much black up here,” she said with a tiny shudder. “It’s like the whole world is in mourning. I prefer pink.”
    She made her declaration with such conviction he had to smile. This strange and beautiful woman hadn’t walked into just any bar. She walked into his. Her bus stop companion wore Target bags, and she wore pink. Will knew right then there was no way in hell he’d be putting her on a plane with some other guy.
    “They stare because you’re beautiful,” he corrected without missing a beat. “The coat just makes you stand out. I couldn’t take my eyes off you.” He looked directly into those vivid eyes. “Still can’t.”
     
     

Chapter 4
     
    Betty stared at Will, transfixed by the light in his dark eyes. He gave another one of those silent little laughs that makes a woman wonder what it would take to get one with audio. The lighter fluid she’d guzzled minutes before ignited in her tummy. She stared down at his hand. It was no surprise to see it was broad and strong, but she had to wonder why he was so tan. It was hard to imagine the sun shining on this town long enough to warm the skin, much less bake it.
    “How come you’re so tan?”
    His laugh turned out to be too good-natured to fit with the debauched movie star thing he had going on. Deep, and throaty, and ten thousand other adjectives sure to get her ejected from any Sunday school in the world came to mind. His hand rested lightly on her arm, his palm remained flat and his fingers extended. He wasn’t trying to hold or restrain her, but it anchored her to the moment. If she chose to allow it. He was giving her a choice, making it clear she could shake him off with little more than a twitch, if she wanted.
    Like any woman in her right mind would.
    “I suppose I’m tanner than you because I work outdoors most of the time.”
    “Outdoors? In this weather?”
    The horror in her tone seemed to tickle him because he laughed again. Another one of