Read Operation: Married by Christmas for Free Online

grateful smile, took a bite of crisp bacon and realized that at some point she would have to explain her actions. It was either get it out now or spend the rest of her visit dodging the subject.
    â€œIt’s okay,” she said, wiping her lips with her napkin.
    â€œSee,” Esther Mae said, beaming. “I knew she’d tell us. We’re practically family. Besides, all it takes is a good look at her to know she needs somebody to talk to. And that she’s been working herself to the bone. Really, honey, you’re so thin. You haven’t had any of that liposuction, have you?”
    Haley chuckled. She couldn’t help it; the out-spoken Esther Mae cracked her up. “No lipo for me,” she said, stirring a packet of sugar into her coffee. Thin was fashionable where she lived. To fit in she had to stay “spit-shined and polished,” as Applegate would have called it. “I work out regularly at the gym—I’m too chicken for anything else. Okay, here’s the lowdown. His name is Lincoln Billings, and I shouldn’t have agreed to marry him—”
    â€œNot that I’m judging or anything,” Sam said, coming over to top off her coffee and refill everyone else’s. “But just ’cause a man asks ya to marry him don’t mean ya gotta say yes.”
    â€œSam,” Norma Sue said, frowning and waving him off. “This here is woman talk, if you don’t mind.”
    Sam bristled. “All I’m saying is Haley needs to learn to say no. Seems it’d save her on wedding dresses—”
    â€œSam, dear, it’s okay.” Adela placed her hand on his. “You have a very valid point. But we don’t want to overwhelm Haley when she’s only just come home. Especially after going through what she went through.”
    Sam looked down at his wife and melted before Haley’s eyes. The man absolutely adored Adela.
    â€œYou’re right.” Beaming, he patted her hand then strutted toward the kitchen. For a tiny man, he suddenly looked nine feet tall.
    â€œHe is such a dear,” Adela sighed, watching him go before meeting Haley’s gaze. “You know, Haley, one day there’s going to be a man who can truly win your heart and you won’t want to run away anymore. I’ll pray for you on that one.”
    Haley sobered, thinking that one already had won her heart. He’d also broken it. And though she’d tried to force her heart back together, she was starting to think it couldn’t be done. She wondered if her hardened heart would ever truly let a man in again. She couldn’t help thinking that it might be too late for her. Maybe that was why she’d said yes to Linc when she’d known better. He’d caught her on a low night, during a beautiful candlelit dinner, and for a little while she’d let herself be…different. She’d pretended that her heart wasn’t jaded and cold.
    But in the end it just hadn’t been enough.
    Â 
    Three hours later, back at her grandpa’s house, Haley put a call in to her office. It wasn’t pretty.
    â€œHaley, what is the matter with you?”
    â€œSugar, I’m tired. I told you that.” Haley had just finished talking to Linc. It was just as she’d suspected—he was okay and already moving forward.
    Unlike some people she knew, like her assistant, Sugar. There was silence over the telephone line, and she braced for more questions. Sugar didn’t give up easily. That was one reason she made such a great assistant.
    â€œLook, Haley, you are delusional if you think I’m buying that bit of nonsense. Something is up, and I know it. Look, I know you didn’t love Lincoln, but, girl, I have never seen you pass up a good deal. And Lincoln Billings was a great deal. I don’t mean to hurt your feelings, but I think you must be sick. I mean really sick. This isn’t like you.”
    â€œSugar, we’ve