White Wedding for a Southern Belle Read Free

had things under control.”
    â€œYeah, I could see that. Six against one is always a fair number. I was only trying to help.”
    What was it about his voice? Had she heard it before? That rich tone sounded so familiar. “You weren’t. If anything, you were making matters worse.”
    Ashley clenched her jaw. She’d fought most of her life against being overprotected. To fight her own fights. After her childhood friend had been abducted it had seemed like her father hadn’t wanted to let her out of his sight. For years she’d had to beg to walk the two blocks to school. Even when he’d let her she’d caught him or her brother following her. It had taken going off to college to break away. She loved her father dearly but she would never return to that way of life. Having this doctor ride to the rescue wasn’t what she needed or wanted. She could take care of Marko and herself.
    Dr. Bradford said sarcastically, “So, if I understand correctly, I should have just stood by while they scared you into doing whatever they wanted you to do, which, by the way, was what?”
    â€œMarko doesn’t want the clinic to open. He believes it’s only here to keep tabs on him and his gang. You know, big brother watching and all that. What it amounts to is he’s afraid that if the people in Southriver have something positive, they’ll want more and stop letting him intimidate them. Push thugs like him out.”
    â€œThat’s what you want too, isn’t it?”
    â€œYes. I want to make this a good place to live.”
    â€œAdmirable. But if you’re not careful you won’t be around to see it happen.”
    That might be true, but she’d spent so many years feeling cloistered and controlled, as if she couldn’t take care of herself, that as an adult she fought against it whenever it happened to her now. She wasn’t that brave in her personal life, always questioning her ability to judge if she was seeing the real person. Fighting to truly trust. Her being fooled before had destroyed someone’s life. She couldn’t let that happen again to her or anyone she cared about.
    â€œLook around you.” She reached out an arm and directed it toward the buildings across the street. “Those were all businesses when I was growing up. Criminals like Marko slowly drove them away. I won’t be driven out. This clinic is the first step in bringing people back.”
    â€œYou have grand plans, Ms. Marsh.”
    â€œI believe in dreaming big.”
    â€œYou have your work cut out for you.”
    â€œMaybe so, but when I ran for the city council I promised that I’d help make this area a better place to live and I intend to keep that promise.”
    â€œEven if it kills you?”
    She shrugged. “It won’t come to that. Let’s go in and I’ll show you around. Then we’ll get to work.” She turned toward the building. “By the way, don’t ever step between me and anyone again.”
    * * *
    Kiefer blinked. He’d just been put in his place by a woman who had been wearing a leprechaun outfit when he’d first met her. She didn’t recognize him. He was a bit disappointed. Then again, why would she? Their kiss had got to him but that didn’t mean she had felt anything.
    And what was this about working? He’d been told this was a meet and greet. He’d made plans for dinner tonight. Something about Ashley’s demeanor warned him that wouldn’t be a good enough excuse for leaving early.
    She walked toward the redbrick structure with large window frames painted white. It had a heavy-looking natural wood door that had obviously been refinished with care. On either side of it were pots full of bright yellow flowers. She looked back as if she expected him to follow her. When he did she pushed the door wider. After he entered she closed and locked it. Despite what he believed was her earlier