Can’t Hurry Love by Nadine Millard (primary phonics books .txt) 📕

“I’m here because Josh is confused. It’s a little cliché, falling for the peppy blonde but what can I say? His head was turned, and I was curious about the woman who’d turned it. Having talked to you, I can’t say it’s any clearer.”

Beth clenched her fists. This woman wasn’t erratic, she thought, just unbelievably rude and nasty.

“But I’m sure we can both agree he’d be wasting his potential in some mountain backwater. He doesn’t belong here. And he doesn’t belong with some farm girl.” She ran a disgusted eye over Beth then suddenly leaned forward, her green eyes flashing dangerously. “So, stay out of his life and my way,” she hissed. “Otherwise, we’re going to have a problem.”

For the first time Beth could see what Josh meant by troubled. It was as if a mask had slipped from Elaine, and her face contorted with a vicious anger.

Even if Josh found one of her brothers right away, it would still take a good thirty minutes for them to get here. The best thing to do was to appease the other woman, keep her calm, and wait for Josh to arrive.

“I’m not going to get in your way,” Beth said in a placating tone. “If you and Josh are getting back together, then that’s wonderful news.”

Elaine narrowed her eyes as if trying to decide whether to believe her or not. Finally, she shrugged. “Do you have anything to drink around here?”

“I was about to make a pot of coffee. Would you like some?”

Elaine rolled her eyes. “I meant a real drink,” she snapped.

There was no way Beth was giving this woman more alcohol. “I’m afraid not,” she said evenly.

“God, does nothing go right in this damned town?” Her eyes glittered furiously, her cheeks flushed angrily. “Why did he have to choose here?” she spat. “And you?”

She stumbled forward, and Beth quickly backed around the couch.

“He was my husband. We belong together. We’re going to have another baby,” she said almost triumphantly. “Did you know that?”

Beth had already decided to ignore the woman’s ranting, but her mind caught on that. “Another baby?” she repeated, feeling sick.

He hadn’t walked out on a child, had he? There was no way. No way he’d do that. He’d talked to Beth about his distant relationship with his own father, how he wished it could have been different. He wouldn’t do that to a child.

Would he?

“Yes.” Elaine shrugged. “After he killed the last one, I figured it was time to try again.”

Beth’s mouth opened in shock and no small amount of horror. “I’m sorry.” She was struggling to hold it together. “You’re saying Josh killed your baby?”

Elaine sighed as if Beth’s confusion was a huge inconvenience. “He really didn’t tell you anything did he?” she snorted. “I was pregnant when he crashed the car. And I lost it.”

Beth’s stomach plummeted. She could only imagine how something like that would have devastated Josh. And her sympathy for the woman before her grew. Josh had said she was troubled, but obviously she’d been through something awful.

“I’m sorry to hear that,” Beth said sincerely. “I’m sure Josh feels terrible about the accident.”

“Yes, well, it’s over and done with now.” Elaine brushed off Beth’s sympathies. “And once we’re back in Chicago, we can put it and his little dalliance with you behind us.”

Little dalliance. Beth supposed that was as good a way as any to describe something she’d thought was special. Her heart was sore, literally hurting. And much as she only wanted to feel anger toward Josh, she couldn’t help but feel sorry for him, too. Was that why he’d come to Rocky Valley? It sounded as if both he and his wife had been through something awful. Life-changing.

But if that was the case, why did he sleep with Beth? Why wasn’t he back in Chicago supporting his wife?

Her head was starting to pound, and she wished Elaine would just go. Wished she’d never even heard of Josh Larson.

Another set of headlights suddenly lit up the windows, and Beth felt weak with relief. Elaine had thrown a lot of information at her, and she just wanted her to go away so she could try to process it. She heard the distinctive slam of car doors only seconds before the door burst open, and Josh ran in, his chest heaving, his eyes darting between her and Elaine. Grayson was only seconds behind, but Beth kept her eyes on Josh.

“Are you ok?” he asked her, his voice hoarse as he rushed over and grabbed her upper arms.

She hated herself for reacting to the touch of his skin against hers, even after everything that had happened.

Beth pulled herself out of his grip. “I’m fine. Don’t you think you should be checking on your wife?”

“She’s not—“

“Josh, darling. Let’s get out of here. We haven’t even had dessert.”

Beth felt nauseated at the other woman’s suggestive tone, and she looked up at him, wondering how he’d try to wriggle out of this. How could he be touching her in front of Elaine? Was he really that uncaring about both of their feelings?

She didn’t know him at all.

He closed his eyes briefly, and when he opened them again, the ice-blue depths were filled with what looked like regret.

“The last thing I want to do right now is walk away from you,” he said quietly but furiously. “But I have to take her home.”

“Just go, Josh,” she said wearily. “I don’t want to see you or her again.”

He looked as if he was about to argue, but after a moment, he dropped his hands and stepped away from her.

“Let’s go,” he said to the redhead who hurried forward and draped herself against him.

Beth couldn’t stand to see another second of it. She just turned and walked away.

Chapter Twenty-Seven

A letter.

That’s what he’d been reduced to.

A part of him, a big part, was hoping that it would appeal to her romantic nature. The other part was being practical because she’d blocked his number and wouldn’t come