His Dangerous Bride (The Brides of Paradise Ranch - Spicy Version Book 2) Read Online Free Page B

creased his forehead. He shot a sideways glance to Eden to see what she thought of Cody’s teasing. The only change to her expression was mild curiosity.
    “You know me, Cody. I always work hard.” He widened his eyes, tilting his head to Eden, hoping she didn’t notice and that Cody got the point.
    He was out of luck. Cody snorted. “I do know you, and hard work isn’t in your dictionary. Well, not unless whiskey or women are involved.” He winked at Eden.
    Cody was a friend, but if Luke wasn’t holding a heavy trunk in his arms, he would have knocked a few of his teeth out. He had to settle for a dark scowl.
    Eden crossed her arms and rested her weight on one hip. “And who, might I ask, are you?”
    Cody puffed up his chest, grinned like a cat, and said, “Cody Montrose, ma’am. You must be new around here, otherwise I would have snatched you up long ago.”
    Yep, Luke was definitely going to take Cody out in back of the sheds later and teach him some manners. They reached the yard outside of Waters’ Livery, and Luke deposited Eden’s trunk in Herb’s wagon-for-rent beside the fence, then turned to give Cody a piece of his mind.
    Oddly enough, Eden laughed at Cody’s outrageous flirting. “You’ll have to fight your way through my fiancé if you want to make eyes at me like that, Cody Montrose.”
    “You’ve got a fiancé?”
    “For about ten more minutes.” Eden nodded to Luke. “Come on, sweetie. We’ve got an appointment at the church.”
    “Why all the hurry?” Cody asked, spreading his arms.
    “No hurry,” Eden was quick to reply. “Come on.” She tugged on Luke’s arm.
    Luke shot Cody a self-satisfied smile, then nodded to Herb as the older man sauntered out of the livery’s office. “Hey Herb, mind if I borrow the wagon for the afternoon? I’ve got a trunk to drive back to the ranch.”
    “Not a problem,” Herb said. “It isn’t reserved until Thursday. It’ll be fifty cents, provided you get it back before sundown.”
    “Sure thing. But I’ve got one errand to run first.”
    “Errand?” Herb peeked at Eden.
    “Getting married,” Eden answered. “To me. Right now.”
    Herb gaped, then burst into laughter. Eden winked at him, then stepped around the wagon and back into the street. Luke flashed a triumphant grin at Herb, then started after her.
    “Wait, no! I get it now.” Cody caught up to them. “You’re Eden Gardner? Wasn’t that the name of the bride you sent away for, Luke?”
    “Yep,” Eden clipped without stopping. “That’s me.”
    “That’s her,” Luke added with a grin as wide as the horizon. Married life just kept getting better and better, and he wasn’t actually married yet. Any woman that could set Cody down when he got impertinent was his kind of woman.
    Cody snorted in disbelief and matched his stride to Luke’s. “But she’s not at all like Franklin’s wife.”
    “Who, Corva Collier?” Eden asked, still walking at a fast clip.
    Luke’s brow shot up. “You know Corva?”
    “Of course I do.” Eden grinned and touched his arm. “She had the room across the hall from mine at Hurst Home from last fall up until she came out here in the spring. Corva’s a darling. Sweetest girl you’ll ever meet and a good friend.”
    “Then how come she never said anything about you?” Luke asked.
    Eden glanced at him as they turned off the road that ran parallel to the railroad tracks and on to a path that stretched across a wide field to a quaint, whitewashed church with stained-glass windows. A flash of suspicion darkened her eyes. “Did you ask her about me?”
    A sheepish flush filled Luke’s cheeks. “Well, no, not exactly.”
    Eden shrugged, loosening in relief. “I’m sure she would have told you everything you’d wanted to know.” She tossed him a flirty smile, then hurried up the church steps to the door.
    Luke watched the bounce of her step, the swish of the mass of chocolate-brown hair that swung free down her back in tempting waves,