The Bachelor's Sweetheart Read Online Free Page A

GreenSpaces. Besides, didn’t you tell me he wasn’t so keen on the dinner theater idea?”
    Tessa raised her empty mug to her lips to hide the disappointment she was afraid would show on her face. She swallowed. “That was before Jared suggested a couple of ways to reduce expenses, and I offered Josh free rent on the apartment above the garage.”
    â€œHas he seen the apartment?” her grandmother asked, her smile and the twinkle in her eye breaking the tension.
    Tessa laughed. “No, I have my work cut out for me tomorrow.”
    â€œYou are so sweet to want to do this for me.”
    â€œIt’s for me, too. Grandpa had faith in me. I love the Majestic as much as he did.”
    Her grandmother’s smile faded. “As long as you’re doing this for yourself and not for him. He wouldn’t want that.”
    Tessa nodded and rose to rinse her mug in the sink. Grandma was right about her having to live for herself. She’d lived most of her life trying her best to do, be, what her parents wanted. So they’d be proud of her, love her. That certainly hadn’t worked out as she’d wanted.
    â€œAnd to be an interfering old woman, watch that Josh Donnelly. You know his reputation. I would hate to see your heart broken again.”
    She squirted dish detergent in the mug and turned on the faucet. “I know all about Josh Donnelly. You don’t have to worry about me seeing him as anything but a buddy.”
    * * *
    Midday Wednesday Josh pulled his pickup into the small parking lot beside the attorney’s office. When Tessa had called him about setting a time for an appointment to sign their contract, he’d asked her if she could schedule it at lunchtime today, so he wouldn’t have to take extra time off work. He’d already scheduled a half day of vacation for this afternoon to talk to his little sister Hope’s third grade class for career day. It wasn’t that he didn’t have vacation time accrued, lots of vacation time. But he was really into the project he was working on directly with the owner of GreenSpaces, Anne Hazard, and he might need some of that time later to help Tessa.
    He tossed his shades onto the passenger-side seat and glanced in the rearview mirror, running his hand over his hair. He and Tessa didn’t need all the formality she was insisting on. She couldn’t think he’d bail on a less-formal agreement. She was his best friend, probably his only real friend, except for his brothers. There were the people he hung out with at work, the singles group at church and the vets at the American Legion in Ticonderoga, but they were more acquaintances. He hadn’t connected with any of them like he had with Tessa. As for his high school friends still in the area, they were better avoided.
    A motion in the mirror caught his eye. Tessa waved from the sidewalk in front of the law office. He unfolded himself from the truck and strode over, battling the uncertainty that he couldn’t seem to shake about the wisdom of this deal.
    â€œHi,” Tessa said, “right on time.”
    â€œWould you expect anything less?” He opened the door to the building and motioned her to go in first.
    â€œNot with you and a business deal.”
    He let the door snap shut behind him. Ambition was a good quality . He bristled. It kept food on the table .
    The attorney met them in the reception area. He was probably anxious to get to his lunch. At the thought of food, Josh’s stomach rumbled. He hadn’t had lunch, thinking he and Tessa could grab something together quick before he had to be at the school.
    â€œMs. Hamilton, Mr. Donnelly, come right back to my office. I have the agreement all ready.”
    Josh and Tessa took the two seats in front of the desk.
    â€œHow’s that little sister of yours?” the attorney asked.
    â€œShe’s doing well with Jared and Becca. Fits right in with Becca’s two