Page 28 of A Soft Kiss in Summer
There wasn’t anything here but the essentials.Other than the trunk at the foot of the bed, she didn’t see any personal items that made a space a home.There were no pictures or what-nots laying about.No books or dishes, even.Other than his coffee pot and a few mugs, he had nothing.She didn’t even see a single pan to cook with.Did he eat every meal at Mabel’s?
She was pulled from her musings when he sat down at the table and stepped into his boots before standing and reaching for his vest and slipping it on.
Picking up his coffee cup, he headed for the door.“I’ll let you get dressed,” he said, grabbing his hat and setting it on his head.“I’ll go have my morning coffee in the office.Enjoy your breakfast.”
He left without another word.
She knew the moment they spoke their wedding vows that they meant nothing.He had no intention of keeping them and as soon as he could, he would have the marriage annulled, but it still made her heart ache.
Even though she’d put a future with Josiah out of her mind a long time ago, being here brought back all those silly notions she’d once had.Of them being married and living happily ever after.
Looking around the drab room he called home, she knew it would never happen.
Sighing, she climbed from the bed and dressed.
The coffee scalded his tongue when he went to take his first sip while watching Edwin walk his way.As if the morning wasn’t challenging enough, this only added to his frustration.
Waking up, drowning in Violet’s scent, and feeling her body nestled so close to his own, left him on edge.Pulling away from her had been the last thing he’d wanted to do, but he was pretty sure she wouldn’t have appreciated him lowering his hand and having a small squeeze of her rounded bottom like the intrusive voice in his head told him to do.
He’d extracted himself from the bed as quickly as he could and tried to put waking with her so intimately in his grasp out of his mind and it almost worked.Until he’d turned and saw her sitting up, the shirt she had on pulled up to her waist and those long legs of hers on full display.Her stockings had slid to her ankles during the night and her milky thighs had tempted him to consummate a marriage he didn’t even want.
Seeing her like that had the devil on his shoulder whispering that she was legally his wife and it was well within his rights to crawl back in that bed with her and take her all proper like.To spread her legs and sate the lust riding his body.He’d turned and put the thought out of his mind instead and left as quickly as he could.
Standing on the stoop outside his office was a daily occurrence, but he wished he’d gone inside to enjoy his coffee now that Edwin was on his way to talk to him.He had no doubt that’s why he was heading his way.
The man gave him a smug smile and Josiah turned and headed into the office, slamming the door as he did, and ignored him completely.He set his mug down on the desk and pulled his chair out when the door opened.
Edwin looked around the office before meeting his gaze and shutting the door.
Josiah sat down and took his hat off, laying it on the desk beside him.“Edwin,” he said in greeting.“What can I do for you?”
“Where is Violet?”
Something about the way he said her name irked him and he wasn’t sure why.“The whereabouts of mywifearen’t your concern.”
The statement had the effect he thought it would.Edwin’s face went beet red.“I don’t believe for a moment that your marriage is real.”
Josiah gaped at him, then laughed.“Was the preacher you brought to town legally allowed do perform a ceremony?”Edwin’s face grew redder.“If he was, then I can assure you, the marriage is real.”
“Consummated?”
The thought of that one word sent lusty pictures to his brain, but he ignored them.“None of your business,” he said.“What do you want, Edwin?”
“What do I want?I want the bride I was promised and don’t have now because of you!”
“That sounds like a personal problem to me.”
Edwin’s jaw ticked.“Where is Violet?”
“Having her breakfast.”
He looked around the jail.“I need to speak to her.”
“Not going to happen.”
Edwin’s jaw clenched tighter before he narrowed his eyes.“Why are you not with her?”Before he could say a word, Edwin grinned.“Not having breakfast with your new bride.I don’t know many men who wouldn’t take pleasure in that.Is your marriage already on rocky grounds?”
“No.I was fixin’ to head down there.”
