Chapters (42)
- Cover Page
- Dedication
- Dear Friend
- One
- Two
- Three
- Four
- Five
- Six
- Seven
- Eight
- Nine
- Ten
- Eleven
- Twelve
- Thirteen
- Fourteen
- Fifteen
- Sixteen
- Seventeen
- Eighteen
- Nineteen
- Twenty
- Twenty-One
- Twenty-Two
- Twenty-Three
- Twenty-Four
- Twenty-Five
- Twenty-Six
- Twenty-Seven
- Twenty-Eight
- Twenty-Nine
- Thirty
- Thirty-One
- Thirty-Two
- Thirty-Three
- Acknowledgments
- Reading Group Guide
- An Excerpt from the Goodbye Bride
- Chapter 1
- Chapter 2
- About the Author
She didn’t want to fret over it all night either. She glanced at him, still sitting in the chair. He was leaning back, his head turned toward her. The room was big, and he seemed far away. A good, safe distance. But she could hardly yell across the room.
Kate forced her tired legs to support her weight and walked toward him.
Five
Five
It’s okay to window-shop. Whether you’re grieving a previous relationship or just not ready to date, it’s okay to stay out of the stores.
—Excerpt from Finding Mr. Right-for-You by Dr. Kate
Lucas watched Kate sit on the edge of the couch, perching like a robin on the rim of its nest, alert for the first sign of danger. He wanted to put her at ease, let her know she was safe with him. He wanted to protect her. He would never hurt her. She’s so precious to me, God.
My bride. He savored the words on his tongue.
Kate wrapped her arms around her stomach. “It occurs to me there are some issues we haven’t addressed. Perhaps we can discuss the most imminent one now.”
So formal. He half expected her to produce a twenty-page document, spelling out the lay of the land for the next 365 days, and insist he sign it.
“What’s on your mind?” He folded his hands on his bare stomach.
She licked her lips, her eyes flashing down to his bare chest for the briefest of moments before she stared at her tanned knees.
“Sleeping arrangements.” She cleared her throat. “I appreciate what you did today by stepping in for Bryan. I don’t know what you expected from me tonight, but—”
Her cheeks bloomed with color.
“I don’t know what you expected from me tonight, but I have no desire to sleep—or do anything else—in that bed with you.” He imagined the words she didn’t say. Was that what was worrying her? Making her clutch at the nun-high collar of her shirt, making her face turn a dozen shades of pink?
What kind of jerk did she think he was, expecting to be compensated after she’d just been jilted at the altar by the man she loved? As if he’d want her like that—still pining for someone else. After the tenderness of his previous thoughts, the idea sickened him.
“Believe it or not, Kate, sleeping with you is the last thing on my mind.” It came out sharper than he’d intended, but blast it all if it didn’t tick him off that she thought so lowly of him.
“I was planning to take the couch,” he said. “The bed’s all yours.” Her gaze bounced off him, and she stood, nodding once. He watched her go without a reply, long legs extending from knee-length beige shorts. She flicked out the bedside lamp before slipping into bed.