The Cowboy’s Runaway Bride (BBW Romance - Billionaire Brothers 1) Read Free Page B

teaspoonful of sugar she used to have in her coffee, but how she missed that touch of sweetness. Now she was a free woman, she realized she could enjoy sugar in her coffee once more.
    “And one sugar.” Maddie smiled.
    Garrett placed a steaming mug of coffee in front of her. “Thanks.” She took a sip, the aromatic brew teasing her senses. And that teaspoonful of sugar? Wonderful.
    As they drank their coffee, Garrett told her about the ranch. She still found it hard to believe that the property covered seven hundred acres.
    “I’ll show you around tomorrow,” he promised. “I’ve just bought a bull that’s arriving in a few days. In fact, I was on my way home from viewing him when I saw you on the highway.”
    Maddie thought she could listen to the rich timbre of his voice forever. It was such a change from Howard’s occasionally nasal whine. She suddenly realized Garrett was looking at her as if waiting for an answer.
    “Sorry,” she apologized, “my attention wandered for a second.”
    His dark brown eyes snared hers for an instant, and her pulse fluttered.
    “I’ll call Carol and ask her to stop by at the store tomorrow to buy you some clothes.” He pulled out his cell phone and made the call.
    Halfway through the conversation, he covered the phone and said to Maddie, “You better talk to Carol. I don’t have a clue about sizes.”
    She took the phone from his outstretched hand. Her fingers brushed against his, butterflies dancing in her stomach. “Thanks,” she murmured, hoping he wouldn’t hear her tell Carol her size. Although Garrett claimed to know nothing about women’s sizes, what would he think if she told Carol her true size, and not the size she wished she could be?
    The housekeeper’s warm tone echoed through the phone, suggesting she pick up a couple of pairs of jeans and T-shirts since Maddie was staying at the ranch. When Maddie told Carol her size in a murmur, the housekeeper didn’t miss a beat.  “I’ll see you tomorrow, hon,” the housekeeper finished the call.
    Maddie handed the phone back to Garrett.  “She’s going to bring the clothes with her tomorrow morning.”
    “Great. I can lend you something to wear until then.” He gave the phone back to her. “Do you want to call your friend and arrange for her to send your purse?”
    How could she have forgotten? But she had, momentarily. It’s perfectly natural , she tried to tell herself. It’s not every day you escape from your own wedding, get stranded on the highway, and rescued by a sexy stranger. And then end up working for him when you were supposed to be on your honeymoon.
    Maddie dialed Lyndsey’s number. After reassuring her friend that she was fine and in no immediate danger, she asked her to send her handbag and phone to Garrett’s ranch.
    “But Maddie,” Lyndsey protested, “do you know what you’re doing?”
    Did she? But deep down, Maddie knew that working for Garrett and living on the ranch for the next three weeks was far preferable to marrying Howard - and honeymooning in Greenland. Even if she hadn’t discovered that her ex-fiancée was only marrying her for his career, she couldn’t deny that she’d always had niggling doubts about her impending marriage.
    “Yes,” she replied firmly. “I’ll be home in three weeks’ time. We can catch up then.”
    After Garrett gave Lyndsey his address, she relaxed in the comfortable wooden chair. The conversation with her maid-of-honor hadn’t been as difficult as she’d feared.
    “How about I show you your room?” Garrett stood beside her.
    “Sure.” She rose, picking up her shoes and dangling them by the straps. She didn’t think she could put them back on today.
    Garrett didn’t seem to notice that she walked beside him in just her ivory-stockinged feet. They headed toward one of the guest bedrooms on the opposite side of the house to the master bedroom.
    “I thought you’d be comfortable in here.” She followed Garrett into the