Read Rebecca Hagan Lee - [Borrowed Brides 01] for Free Online Page A

the apple pie. He sucked in his breath as she licked a speck of cinnamon-coated crust from her bottom lip.
    “Aren’t you going to eat yours?” she asked
    Reese looked at his own dish. He’d barely touched his pie. “Why don’t you finish it?” he suggested, replacing her empty plate with his.
    He forced himself to look at other things as she finished off his pie, positive he wouldn’t be able to withstand another assault on his senses if he watched. He was damned uncomfortable as it was. He pulled his watch out of its pocket and flipped it open just to have something to do.
    “What time is it?”
    Reese turned his attention back to his companion. She had eaten the second slice of pie and was enjoying her cup of coffee. “Time to talk.”
    “What about?”
    “About the job you applied for.”
    “I didn’t apply. I stood in line all day waiting to apply.” Though her words were carefully chosen, her bitter disappointment was apparent.
    “There’s always tomorrow,” he reminded her.
    “Not for me.”
    It would be better to keep his mouth shut, Reese told himself, better for both of them if he ignored her obvious disappointment and let her go back to Richmond. He should choose someone else. Anyone else. Someone who was less innocent.
    “Do you want the job?”
    “Yes, very much.”
    “Then tell me about yourself.”
    “Why?” She knew why, but she wanted him to admit he had seen her standing in line.
    “Because I’m the man doing the hiring.” Reese fixed his brown-eyed gaze upon her.
    She lifted her cup of coffee and cradled it in both hands, savoring the warmth. Her left hand covered her right. Reese stared at the sight.
    She wore a ring on the third finger of her left hand, a thin gold band. He noticed it immediately, a tiny slash of gold marring her pale hand. He drew his brows together in a frown as he studied it.
    Faith followed his gaze to the wedding band. Hannah had cried when she took it her own finger and handed it to her. Faith hadn’t wanted to accept it, but she was supposed to be a widow. Aunt Virt’s ring was too big and Agnes couldn’t get hers off her arthritic hand.
    “You’re married.”
    “Widowed,” Faith murmured. Her expressive gray eyes were shadowed, unreadable. She wished she hadn’t worn the ring.
    “The war?” Damn the ring. He wished she hadn’t worn it. He didn’t really want to know.
    Faith nodded to keep from lying outright.
    “Children?”
    “There’s only Joy. She’s five,” Faith hedged.
    “Oh, a girl.” Reese was vaguely aware of his disappointment. He had asked for an experienced widow. Why was he disappointed to have gotten one?
    “Is there something wrong with that? Joy is well-behaved and smart. She wouldn’t be any trouble.” He didn’t reply, so Faith continued, “Your ad said a child was acceptable. I wouldn’t think of going to Wyoming without her.”
    “No, of course not,” Reese remarked. “Is there anyone else? Other family? Parents, brothers, in-laws?”
    Faith shook her head and Reese breathed a sigh of relief. “I do have two aunts, but I’m sure they’ll stay in Richmond.”
    Reese knew they would stay in Richmond. The little girl was bad enough. He wasn’t about to get tangled up with more of her family. This was, after all, a business arrangement. “Tell me more.”
    Faith did. She talked through another cup of coffee, then stopped to smother a yawn and barely missed placing her elbow in her cup. Her eyelids were beginning to droop. Reese realized his companion was practically asleep at the table.
    Faith smothered another yawn. “I’m sorry. I don’t know why I’m so sleepy.”
    Reese pulled his gold watch out of his pocket once again and opened the lid. “It’s nearly ten. You’ve had a long day.”
    “Ten? It can’t be ten.” Faith shot up from her chair, tumbling it back in her haste. “I have to be on the nine o’clock train. It’s the last one.”
    “You’ve missed it.” Reese fumbled with the