Thanksgiving Groom Read Online Free Page A

Anchorage.”
    â€œThat isn’t who I am.”
    â€œYou aren’t Penelope?” He stayed close to the fire, watching her gather herself. Lamplight flickered, casting shadows on a face that was beautiful in a way he wouldn’t have imagined. Maybe because of the light in her eyes, the animation of her features.
    â€œI am Penelope Lear. But, but I’m not a spoiled little rich girl.” In the warm glow of the lamp, he saw tears pool in her blue eyes.
    â€œI’m sure they’ll be looking for you.”
    â€œOf course they will.” She shivered again.
    But would they find her? Penelope huddled into the blanket, glad for its warmth, and for the fire. Her anklethrobbed and her throat was dry and sore. Probably from screaming at the bear.
    â€œI have to try to get out of here, back to Treasure Creek. I have a compass in my pocket and I know I need to go straight south.”
    â€œStraight south from where?”
    Okay, that was a fair question. “From where I left the Jeep.”
    This was not the way to prove her intelligence. She cringed a little as she replayed her words.
    He smiled a little. At least he didn’t laugh at her. “Do you know where you left it? What direction you went? Where you got lost?”
    â€œNo.” The truth—stark, kind of cold and not what she wanted to admit to. “No, I don’t have any clue. I left the Jeep and started in the direction I thought was south. I guess that was about seven hours ago now.”
    â€œYou’ve never heard you’re supposed to stay in one place if you get lost?”
    She glanced away from him. “Of course, but does anyone follow that rule?”
    He hadn’t. “No, but they should. And I’m afraid that means you’re stuck with us for a little while.”
    She flipped the blanket back and stood, wobbling a little as her weight settled on her swollen ankle. She bit back an exclamation and he watched her, as if he wasn’t sure what she’d do next.
    â€œI can’t be stuck here. I have to—”
    Brows arched. “Have to what?”
    She sank back onto the couch, because it was no use. She had to find a husband who would love her. Cynical eyes didn’t want to hear about love, about afather who thought he could pick the perfect mate for his daughter.
    It sounded positively Victorian when she said it out loud. Her friends had laughed when they heard.
    â€œNothing.” Why should she care if she got stuck here for a year? Maybe this was God’s plan, for her to hide here. And perhaps her father would forget his plans.
    Tucker Lawson pushed himself up from the chair. He sat down on the edge of the massive coffee table and reached for her foot. She flinched but bit back her protest as he lifted it.
    â€œIf we had ice, we’d ice it down.” He touched the darkened flesh and she squeezed her eyes closed. “Bad?”
    â€œNot at all.” She opened her eyes and he was watching her. Cynicism had been replaced by concern. He held her foot, hands gentle but rough and calloused. Not the hands of a lawyer, she thought.
    No, he had the hands of a man who had been living off the land for several months. A man with broad shoulders cloaked in a flannel shirt. She remembered that he smelled of soap, not cologne or aftershave. He smelled of the outdoor air and laundry detergent.
    He reached for a pillow and placed it on the table. As he stood he propped her foot on the pillow, easing it down gently. She stared at him, not sure what to do or what to stay.
    â€œThank you for rescuing me.”
    â€œYou’re welcome.” His voice was gruff, dismissive.
    She wanted to tell him she wasn’t a bad person. She wasn’t another empty-headed socialite, intent on fun and not caring about others. She wished she could tellhim she hadn’t traveled to Treasure Creek thinking she might find a husband. That would have been a lie. What woman didn’t