My One True Love Read Online Free Page A

us? That maybe somehow I knew you would run, and I came after you and stopped you? Would that change anything?”
    “We wanted different things, Jason. We still do. Marrying Patrick is the right thing for me to do. He understands me.”
    But he understood her better. He’d practically grown up with her. “Do you love him?”
    Her gaze left his for a moment. “I love him enough.”
    “Why would you ever settle for anything less than what you deserve? Has city life jaded you so much?”
    “Patrick and I have a lot in common. We love to read, discuss our jobs, take a morning run together. We both want to be married.”
    “Sounds like a match made in heaven.” Jason reached out to take her hand and pull her into his arms. “Tell me you don’t think about me.”
    “I don’t think about you.” She swallowed then licked her lips as her eyes riveted to his mouth.
    “Tell me you really want to marry Patrick.”
    “I want to marry Patrick.”
    “Tell me you don’t want to kiss me right now.” Before he thought twice, he swooped down, intent on showing her exactly what she was missing with good ole Patrick. But his lips met her cheek as she turned her head at the last second.
    “I don’t kiss goats.”
    Jason wasn't sure if he wanted to laugh until he cried or just cry. Maybe a little of both. How much longer would he torture himself?
    For years now, he’d thought only of her smile, the way she challenged him when no one else could. How her brown eyes turned to melted chocolate when he held her. And he thought of that night she’d agreed to become his wife. The future he wanted to share with her was right in front of him, complete with a picket fence, minivan, and two point five children. But the night she left, his dreams had gone with her. He’d felt like only an empty shell since she’d been gone.
    Clearing his throat, he released her and stepped away. “I got wood on the porch out there. I thought with it being close to Valentine’s Day and all, we could sit by the fire and enjoy some memories.”
    She gave him a cautious smile as her eyes flew to the door. “Do you have hot chocolate?”
    “Yup. I’ll bring the firewood in if you’ll get it started. Second cabinet on the right.” Without waiting for her to say another word, he walked outside without the protection of his gloves or hat. The cold seeped into his bones and reminded him that being numb was better than feeling.
    In less than a single day, the woman he’d always loved would belong to someone else. Jason wasn’t sure what to do anymore.

 
    Chapter Four
     
    “I found some…” The words died on Liz’s lips as she came down the attic steps and Jason was nowhere in sight.
    With a heave, she placed the cold box from the attic on the couch and opened it up. The smell of dust and old cardboard met her nose. Liz pulled the string of clear Christmas lights out. It would be pretty to have them on the mantle. Valentine’s Day was a hopeful holiday; she’d always loved to use it as an excuse to bring some color into a dull, gray wintery world. She wasn’t doing anything romantic for her and Jason. No, of course not. Decorating the cabin was strictly for her benefit.
    “You remember the last time we did this?” Jason’s rumbling voice sounded behind her.
    Liz didn’t look up. Instead, she remembered eight Valentine’s Days ago when Jason gave her an engagement ring. Inside a perfect, red rose was the small diamond she knew he’d worked all summer for the year before. That night was magical for them both.
    Swallowing past the lump in her throat, she turned to look at him. Her breath hitched at the sight before her.
    He’d showered and shaved. He looked like the man who'd given her that ring. The man she'd loved. And still loved, even though she didn't want to. He leaned against the door frame with a confidence most men could only dream about. His full lips tilted upward at her look of shock.
    He held his hands out to present himself.