Almost A Bride (Montana Born Brides) Read Online Free Page A

shower,” he said, turning away.
    He left his father to his tinkering, crossing to the wooden staircase that led to the self-contained apartment over the garage that had been his home for the past year.
    Originally built to accommodate visitors from out of state—his mother came from a large family—the space was divided into sleeping, living and cooking zones, with a small bathroom. More than enough to accommodate his needs, and private enough that he didn’t feel as though he was living in his parents’ pockets.
    That didn ’t mean he wasn’t looking forward to having his own place again when he left Marietta. Which reminded him...
    Crossing to the laptop he ’d left on the coffee table, he called up his email program. There was nothing new, and he pushed the computer away. He’d interviewed for a job with a Chicago-based security company over a month ago now, but they still hadn’t gotten back to him.
    The Klieg Security Group had offices in most states as well as an international arm, which meant there was plenty of scope for advancement and adventure for a guy who was looking for both. With his overseas security experience and police background, Reid was more than qualified to take on the role, and he was confident he had a good chance of landing it —if they ever got around to shortlisting candidates.
    His thoughts shifted back to Tara. When he ’d applied for the job, she’d been happily engaged, and the bright lights and challenges of a new role in a new city had held a lot of appeal. With his father coping well, there had been no reason for him to hang around in Marietta...
    Don ’t even think it.
    He was only human, however. And he ’d been attracted to Tara from the moment he’d walked into the patrol bay at Bozeman PD and been introduced to his new colleagues.
    She ’d been filling out paperwork at a desk, dressed in her navy blues, her blonde hair neatly braided and pinned at the back of her head. She’d glanced up as he’d walked in with Sergeant Crawford, and he’d looked straight into her clear green eyes and felt the hot pull of instant attraction.
    She ’d stared back at him, an arrested, uncertain look on her face. Then she’d returned to her paperwork, a small frown creasing her forehead, and he’d known she felt it too.
    He was so stupid , he’d been pissed when the Sergeant had put them in the same car. Hadn’t wanted to be distracted by his own instincts. But working with Tara—getting to know her—had been the best thing about the past year, hands down.
    She was a great cop, conscientious and fair-minded. She was an even better person. Funny and tough, sweet and smart-mouthed. He ’d laughed more with her than with any other woman.
    And then Simon had proposed, and Reid had reali zed that it would probably be a good idea to think about moving on. He was overdue anyway, and his dad was getting stronger every day. Hence the job application, and the fact that pretty soon he might be packing his bags and moving on again.
    He yanked his T-shirt over his head and tossed it at the laundry hamper. Only an asshole would see any advantage for himself in Tara ’s situation. She was heartbroken. The future she’d had planned for herself had just come crashing down around her. She wasn’t suddenly going to turn to Reid, even if there had been that moment on that first day, and even if there had been other moments over the past year when he’d caught her looking at him or their hands had brushed or one of them had said something and that feeling—that connection—had shimmered in the air between them.
    Men and women were attracted to each other all the time and didn ’t act on it. It didn’t mean anything. And even if it did mean something, there were lots of reasons why he and Tara Buck were never going to be an item, not the least of which was the fact that he hadn’t had a serious relationship with a woman since he’d broken up with Mary Kent before leaving Marietta six years