Sisters Found. Joan JohnstonЧитать онлайн книгу.
welcome to come to my workshop.”
“I’d like that,” she said. “When?”
“When can you spare the time? With the wedding coming up, you must have a lot to do over the next couple of weeks.”
Oh. The wedding. She’d completely forgotten. “I have so much to do I’m not sure how I’ll finish it all,” Amanda admitted.
“What about Jake? Is he helping?”
“He’s busy with the ranch during the day, and he’s agreed to keep your nephew and niece, which will keep him busy in the evenings.”
“I’d be glad to help—although I’m not sure what I can do,” Rabb said.
A furrow appeared in Amanda’s brow. “I have to pick flowers for the church and a design for the cake and I have some final decisions to make on my wedding dress. I’m afraid I’ve left everything to the last minute. I was busy with school until a few days ago, and now everything has to be done at once. It would help to have another opinion.”
“You’ve got it,” Rabb said.
“I wouldn’t want to take you away from your work.”
“My hours are flexible, and I was planning to take a little time off for Christmas anyhow. Where do you want to start? Flowers? Cake? Or dress?”
Amanda laughed and realized how strange it felt. She couldn’t remember the last time she’d laughed. She felt…carefree and happy. Suddenly, activities she’d been looking at as chores seemed like they might be fun. “I don’t know. Can I call you later?”
“Sure,” Rabb said. “Meanwhile, we have things to do.”
Amanda sighed. Yes. There was always work to do. She stood and began collecting the dishes to carry to the sink.
“I’ll help you with the dishes later,” Rabb said. “I think the rest of the afternoon would be better spent taking a ride.”
“What?”
Rabb took her by the hand and was tugging her toward the door. “Come on, Amanda. I know you ride. I’ve seen you with Jake.”
“You mean go for a horseback ride? Now? This afternoon?”
“Sure. Why not?”
“What about the gazebo?” She looked around at the mess in the kitchen and said, “What about the dishes?”
“They can both wait. There’s no telling how long this beautiful weather will last. Go put on your boots. Let’s take a few hours and get away from it all.”
That sounded so wonderful. It also sounded irresponsible. “I have so much to do,” Amanda said, “I can’t possibly—”
“I won’t take no for an answer,” Rabb said. “You have two seconds to go for your boots, or I’m going to throw you over my shoulder and haul you off like you are.”
“You wouldn’t dare,” Amanda said, titillated by the threat, but not quite believing it, either.
“Oh, no?” Rabb said. He reached out and tickled her ribs.
Amanda scrunched her arms down tight and tried to wriggle away. His arms came around her as his hands insinuated themselves beneath her bent arms and wormed their way up to her underarms.
“Oh, God.” She giggled. “Stop. I’m ticklish!”
“Gonna get your boots?”
“Yes!” she shrieked. “Yes.”
“Then go,” he said, freeing her abruptly.
Amanda took off at a run—she never ran in the house—giggling and laughing all the way.
“Hurry back,” he shouted after her. “Or I’ll come up and get you.”
For one treacherous moment, Amanda considered letting him do just that. In her bedroom, she kicked off her loafers, shoved her feet into her black cowboy boots, and ran—good grief, she was running again—back down the stairs.
She was grinning when she stomped into the kitchen. “All right. I’m ready to go. Are you satisfied?”
“God, you’re so beautiful.”
Amanda’s grin faded. What was she doing? What was she thinking? She had no business running off with Rabb Whitelaw for an afternoon of…merriment. She had dishes to wash. And plans to make. For her wedding. To his brother.
She gripped the back of a kitchen chair so hard her knuckles turned white. Because she had to hang on or go tearing out the door with him. “You’d better go,” she said.
“Mandy—”
“Just go, Rabb. Now. Please.” When he didn’t move, she said, “Get out!”
A moment later he was gone. And she was alone. Again.
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