Borrowed Dreams (Debbie Macomber Classics) Read Online Free

hands, his body were creating within her was slowly consuming her will.
    She moaned softly as he buried his face in the curve of her throat. Her eyes closed as she tangled her fingers in the hair that grew at the nape of his neck.
    “Brand.” Breathlessly, she whispered his name, not sure why she had.
    Instantly he went still, as if the sound of her voice had brought him to his senses. His hand closed over her wrists and pulled them free.
    “What’s wrong?” she pleaded.
    He took a step in retreat. His eyes no longer met hers, but were cast down at the floor as he took in deep breaths. When he looked up and ran a hand along the back of his neck, Carly saw something flicker in his eyes that could be read as regret or guilt or perhaps shock.
    The world came to a stop as she realized what must have happened. How could she have been so blind not to see what was right in front of her? All the clues were there. She’d been so stupid. A coldness settled over her as a hoarseness filled her throat.
    “You’re married, aren’t you?”

Chapter Two
    “No.” Brand issued the single word with a vengeance.
    “I’m not entirely stupid—” Carly’s voice became a whisper.
    “I’m a widower,” Brand interrupted harshly, wiping a hand across his face.
    It doesn’t matter
, Carly’s mind screamed as she retrieved her coat. If she hadn’t been so blinded by her pure physical attraction to him, she would have recognized those blatant red lights for what they were. His wife might be dead, but it didn’t make any difference.
    “Carly, listen.”
    She ignored him, irritated with herself for her own stupidity. “I had a great time today,” she murmured.
    “Carly, I want to explain.”
    She could hear the frustrated anger in his voice. The anger wasn’t directed at her, but inward. Every dictate of her will demanded she turn around and run from the building. Both hands were tucked deep within her pockets as she took a step backward. “Thank you for dinner. We’ll have to do it again sometime.” Not waiting for his response, she hurried from the office. By the time she reached her car, Carly’s knees felt as though they could no longer support her.
    When she arrived back at her apartment she had an upset stomach.
Brand had been married
. Forcing herself to breathe evenly, she deliberately walked around the living room, running her hand over the back of the sofa. Everything she owned had been purchased new. She wouldn’t take second best in anything. Not clothes, not cars, not jobs. After a life filled with secondhand goods and a hand-me-down childhood, she wasn’t about to start now—especially with a man. All right, she was being unreasonable, she knew that; Diana had taken delight in telling her so a hundred times. But Carly didn’t see any reason to change. She liked herself the way she was—unreasonable or not.
    *  *  *
    Three days later, she was still unable to shake the confusion and disappointment that Brand’s announcement had produced. She’d made up her mind not to see him again. Yet her mind entertained thoughts of him at the oddest times. She forced his image from her brain, determined to blot him from her life completely.
    Thursday evening, when the phone rang, Carly stared at it in surprise. The telephone company had installed it at the beginning of the week and, although she’d made several calls out, she had yet to receive one.
    “Hello.”
    “Carly?” The voice reverberated, sounding as if it came from the moon.
    “Diana?” The soft echo of her words returned over the line.
    “I couldn’t stand it another minute. I had to find out how everything’s going. I miss you like crazy,” Diana said softly. Then, as if she’d admitted more than she’d wanted to, she quickly changed the subject. “How’s Alaska? Have you seen any moose yet?”
    “No moose, and I love Alaska,” Carly responded enthusiastically, knowing that her friend was uncomfortable sharing emotions. “It’s vast,