Read The Unwilling Bride for Free Online Page B

are neighbors, and like you told me, it is natural for neighbors to help each other in America.”
    “Well, I know I said that….” Geezle beezle, talk about getting trapped by her own words. “But this is a little different, Stefan. It scared me, when I heard an unfamiliar sound outside. I didn’t know it was you—”
    “Da, I can imagine. You live alone, any stranger could bother you. Not good, this danger, but I will watch over you now, Paige, no need to worry. And I tell you next time I’m here, so you know it’s just me.”
    Alarm shot through her. It was funny, really, even sweet that he thought she needed protecting—considering that no man, from the day she was born, had ever doubted that Paige could take care of herself. Her dad used to fret that she took self-reliance to a fault and tease that she was stubborn enough to take on a battalion of marines—but she’d never lacked the courage to stand up for herself. Maybe Stefan had grown up with some outmoded chivalrous values about women, though. And she didn’t want to hurt hisfeelings, but somehow she was failing to communicate the concept of privacy.
    “Stefan, it’s okay—I’m okay—and I really don’t need watching over. I can shovel my own walk, fix my own leaky faucets. I’ve been taking care of myself for a long time, and I’ve known everyone who lives in Walnut Woods all my life. The same families have been here for generations, and I…”
    Her voice trailed off. Stefan was shaking his head before she halfway finished explaining. Something was on his mind, because he obviously wasn’t listening to her.
    “We talk another time, lambchop, because I can see you shaking. Too cold, standing there with no coat. You go back in. I not interrupt your work. You just pretend I’m not here, okeydoke?”
    She ended up returning that “okeydoke,” because it seemed to be the only word she was positive he understood. Pretending he wasn’t there also struck her as a fine idea…until she tried putting it into commission.
    The piece of coral was waiting for her. She couldn’t be more excited about working on it. If she didn’t exactly want Stefan around, at least she knew where he was. Outside. Lustily singing Russian opera in an offkey baritone. Clearly happy, and nowhere near her workroom.
    When the singing stopped, she tensed for a second, then relaxed. He was done. Now he would surely go home. Naturally it had been difficult to relax, knowing he was so close, but now she could seriously concentrate.
    And the silence and peace were wonderful, until she caught the whiff of spices in the air. Basil and ginger.Pepper. And something hot and sweet and fruity—orange marmalade?
    If forced at knife point, Paige could cook from scratch. Baking bread in the old wood stove was even a challenge she enjoyed, but day by day she leaned more toward throwing Lean Cuisine in the microwave. Frozen meals did the job better, and cooking for one was beyond boring. More to the immediate point, there could not conceivably be mouth-watering exotic smells emanating from the kitchen, because she hadn’t been in the kitchen.
    She found him standing over her wok, holding her fork, and her kitchen towel hanging from the belt loop on his jeans. Steam rose from the wok. Fragrant steam that smelled like something to die for. She crossed her arms, tapped her foot and delivered a cough from the doorway.
    His head pivoted around, shaggy eyebrows arched in surprise. “You should be working.”
    “I was trying to,” she said dryly.
    “Well, this is a little lunch. A thank-you for letting me shovel your walk. I figure you are busy, too busy to maybe cook, so busy maybe you forget to eat. And I have all this—”
    “You have all this energy. Yes, you told me. Energy enough to burst.”
    “I leave. Instantly. Soon as finished here.” He waved a hand to illustrate his luncheon menu, which rivaled something she’d be lucky to put together for her family for Christmas. “I