Read Forever After (Montana Brides) for Free Online Page A

opened the passenger door on his truck. Nicky slid inside, her long bare legs curling in front of her, the folds of her dress hugging her thighs. Sam sighed. After tomorrow she was on her own in the vehicle department.  
    His truck revved as he exited the building. Easing his foot off the accelerator, Sam glanced across the cab. With her sunglasses wrapped around her face, anyone would think they were two friends leaving to explore the art galleries and craft shops dotted along Main Street.  
    But friendship had absolutely nothing to do with the need gnawing in his gut every time they came within a few feet of each other. He had to get past what his body needed. Right now, what he needed the most were her brains.  
    She was the only person he trusted to figure out who was stealing from the company. And the sooner she got to the office, the sooner she could start.

    Nicky gazed around Sam’s office. A chunky desk sat against the right hand wall, glowing from years of oil poured onto the dark walnut.  
    “You’ve kept granddad’s desk.” She walked toward it, running her hand along the silky smooth surface, remembering her visits to Scotson Construction. Her grandfather would give her a project to work on. She had to do all the planning, organize a budget and build whatever was needed. At eight-years-old she’d built a hamster house for her pets, and when she was fourteen, she’d built her new stepsister a wooden doll house. Her grandfather had let her sit in his chair, behind this desk. She’d imagined she was in charge of his company, building real houses and not pretend ones.
    “Your grandfather didn’t want to take it with him. It reminds me of why I’m here.” Sam sat at his desk. His fingers flew across his keyboard as he logged into the office system.
    “Why are you still here?” she asked.
    His head shot up. “What do you mean?”
    Nicky walked over to the plan table taking up most of one wall. “Seven years is a long time to be in one job when you were always set on conquering the corporate world. I thought you would have been head-hunted by other companies for bigger and better things.”
    His gaze fell back to his keyboard, his mouth set in a grim line. “Bigger isn’t always better. I’ve been offered other jobs, but I’ve got an incredible team here creating top class buildings.” He leaned back in his chair. “Last year we finished a major addition to the college. It’s better than anything you’ll see on any campus in the world. We’re in the process of creating two more luxury apartment blocks in Great Falls, as well as other commercial projects in Helena and Billings. Why would I want to leave?”
    “Don’t you want to try other things? Live somewhere more exotic?”
    “Look out the window. If you were me, would you want to leave?”
    A sick feeling settled in Nicky’s stomach. Her gaze focused on the mountain range sweeping across the horizon. It rose sharp and steep into the clear blue sky, cutting through heaven and earth for as far as the eye could see. No-one would willingly want to leave this slice of paradise. But she had. She’d left for Denver as fast as the first available flight could whisk her away. And she hadn’t looked back. Until yesterday.  
    Since she’d left Montana her life had been a rollercoaster of successes and challenges. Apart from losing her baby, she wouldn’t trade one minute for anything. She’d found a strength in her character she never knew existed. And she’d found the real Nicky Scotson, not the shy and awkward teenager who’d grown into a shy and awkward adult.  
    Clearing her throat, she turned back to Sam, determined to get their conversation back onto work. He gazed across the room, sending a ripple of unwelcome warmth through her body. “So, boss, have you got a copy of your organizational structure for me?”
      Sam’s mouth tilted into a lopsided smile. “Come with me,” he said softly. Walking past her, he opened a door