Read To Love a Stranger for Free Online

Russ questioned with simple caution. “He looks like him,” the little boy said.
    â€œYes, baby. I know he does.” And he sounds like him, too.
    â€œWell, where has he been?” Ariel asked. “Why are we going home?”
    â€œHow come he’s not coming home with us?” Russ inquired. “Did you say something to make him mad?”
    â€œWhat?” Madeline glanced up into her rearview mirror to seek her son’s gaze. “What makes you think I would say something to make him mad?”
    Russ lowered his eyes and shrugged.
    Madeline returned her attention to the road, stinging from her son’s words.
    â€œHow come we didn’t get a chance to talk to him?” Russ questioned.
    â€œBecause…”
    â€œBecause why?”
    â€œJust because.” She could think of nothing better to say.
    â€œThat’s no reason,” Russ mumbled.
    This was exactly what she wanted to avoid.
    Ariel started sniffing and Madeline now searched for her in the rearview mirror. “Baby, what’s wrong?”
    â€œI want to talk to my daddy,” she said between whimpers.
    Damn it. Madeline released a long breath and fought back tears. How in the hell was she supposed to fix this?
    She couldn’t. In the end, she just had to be the bad mommy. Thanksgiving was ruined because of her. Her children were being denied their father because of her.
    The children fussed the rest of the way home. They fussed during their baths and were still fussing when she tucked them into bed. When she finally pried herself away from their inquiring minds she made her way down to the bar and poured herself stiff drink.
    What was she going to do if the blood test proved this man was indeed her husband? She took a healthy gulp of her rum and coke. Tiffani was right. His resurrection would reinstate that damn prenuptial agreement. It could undo all she has done in the past six years.
    Gulp.
    The insurance companies would want their money back.
    Gulp.
    She would lose her partnership in Stone Cold Records and the fashion line. Not to mention her clothing line would be in jeopardy.
    She poured another drink. Why not? Her world was crumbling in around her. It’s not him. It can’t be.
    Tears glossed her eyes as she clung ferociously to denial. Could God hate her this much?
    She drained her third drink and carried the pity party up to her bedroom. Now that the alcohol had calmed her nerves, it was easier to allow her mind to drift over Russell’s grand reappearance.
    He’d walked into the dining room with the same kinetic energy he’d always carried. The same walk, the same stance, the same timbre in his voice. Yet, when she came to in Christopher’s study and their eyes connected she’d become…aroused? That had never happened before.
    Madeline’s head rocked back with laughter. This had to be the booze talking. The days of her being attracted to her husband ended right around the time she’d conceived their child. Madeline clearly remembered the day she’d returned home early and interrupted Russell and some wannabe singer in a very private audition.
    Hell, they’d only been married a short time. She’d foolishly believed that she could grow to love her husband. And so it hurt her to know that less than six months after the “I dos,” Russell had crept outside their bedroom.
    Maddie, you can’t expect a man like Russell Stone to be monogamous. Yeah, those hoochie mommas may have him some of the time, but you’re the one he comes home to. You’re the one with the ring around your finger. That was the world according to Cecelia.
    Russell’s promiscuity shouldn’t have hurt, but it did. The day she’d walked down the aisle, she made a vow to make her marriage work. She wasn’t going to try and get into some contest with her mother on who could add the most hyphens to their name.
    One marriage. One shot.
    Then Russell Stone