Marrying Mr. English: The English Brothers #7 (The Blueberry Lane Series Book 11) Read Online Free Page B

forehead, and he rubbed his chin with his index finger as Van flirted shamelessly with the stewardess.
    Absolutely not.
    Although, in fairness, she was positive he wouldn’t be bad in bed.
    And with that thought, hidden muscles deep inside her body flexed and held, telling her they wouldn’t mind finding out.
    He was handsome. Sinfully handsome. But Eleanora had met many handsome men since she and Evie moved to Vail. What set Tom English apart was the way he’d looked at her when he said, “We’d have to go to Vegas”—like he was willing to take a chance on her, like she was somehow worth the chance he was taking.
    Eleanora’s mother had run out on them when she was five, and her father, who was a functioning alcoholic, had done his best with four kids, but there was very little time left for little Eleanora, who always had her nose in a book anyway. She’d only heard from him twice since leaving home three years ago with Eve Marie, who’d actually been their reason for leaving: her new stepfather was paying the sixteen-year-old way too much unwanted attention, and Eve Marie had confessed her fears to Eleanora. They’d hitchhiked to Vail, lied about Eve Marie’s age, found jobs as waitresses at Auntie Rose’s and used Eleanora’s meager savings for a shabby one-bedroom apartment.
    Enrolling herself in college courses had taken courage, but Eleanora had read enough books to know that the best way out of poverty was an education, and though she knew she’d likely be in her late thirties before her dreams took shape, at least she had dreams, and at least she was trying to make them come true.
    And then Tom English had walked into her life, and suddenly she had the chance to fast-track her dreams.
    She peeked over the seat again, and he looked up just in time to catch her eyes, locking his with hers. His mustache twitched a little as his lips quirked into a grin, and Eleanora’s heart took off at a gallop, her own smile answering his. He lifted his Champagne glass and toasted her, his gaze never leaving hers as he tilted his head back and let the Champagne bubbles slide down his throat. Suppressing a whimper, Eleanora hunched down, turning to Evie, who was still rhapsodizing and scolding her older cousin in an unbridled stream of scattered, enthusiastic thought.
    ***
    Tom chuckled softly, watching her blonde head disappear back behind the seat.
    She reminded him a little of a gopher, looking over at him with those wide, liquid eyes before ducking back down.
    “You think your gramps is going to buy this?” asked Van, checking out the stewardess’s ass as she headed back to the galley.
    “I don’t know,” answered Tom honestly. “Can’t hurt to try, though. What’s the worst he can do?”
    “Disown you,” said Van.
    “Like I said, can’t hurt to try.”
    Van’s eyes were uncharacteristically serious when he asked, “What if she tries to get her hooks in you?”
    “Who? Eleanora?”
    “Yeah.”
    Not that Tom would necessarily mind having her hooks in him right this minute, but he appreciated that Van’s question was sensible. “We’ll have to sign something in Vegas. Something about her getting a million and me getting a divorce.”
    “I’ll draw it up,” said Van, who rarely used his law degree, though it certainly came in handy at times. “She’s cute. I’ll give you that. Maybe you can sample the goodies before you say sayonara.”
    Van turned to the window and closed his eyes while Tom straightened up to get another look at Eleanora. Cute? Nah. She was stunning. She was the hottest girl he’d ever seen. He stared at her blonde head unobserved, and a thought took over his brain: temporary nuptials or not, she deserved a nice decent wedding. Not some five-dollar cheesefest at an Elvis chapel, but something decent, something she could remember fondly after they’d gotten their money and said their goodbyes.
    Taking a notebook out of the briefcase he’d stowed under the seat in front of