Free Unexpected Bride by LISA CHILDS

community open house, maybe because he could use it as a tax write-off. But he wasn't happy about bankrolling a welcome home party for her.
    Lara tugged on Abby's hand. Her voice quavering with excitement, she asked, "Mommy, the party's for us?"
    "Oh, honey..." She rarely had to tell her daughter no. because Lara never wanted much.
    But Clayton spared her the trouble when he said, "Yes, the party's for Abby and Lara Hamilton." He stopped, cleared his throat and said. "Welcome home to Cloverville."
    What did Mrs. Mick have on her oldest that she'd managed with just a raised brow to get him to change his mind? Abby had to find out.
    The guests all turned toward her and applauded, pulling Abby's gaze away from Clayton. She glanced around at the people who had just about run her out of Cloverville eight years earlier. The way they surrounded her brought to mind old nightmares about a lynching. She had no doubt they'd almost considered it over the damage to the colonel. They'd been furious then. What had changed to make them clap for her today?
    Resentment and bitterness over the past rose, threatening to choke her. But Lara squeezed her hand. Her blue eyes shimmered with excitement. Abby struggled to suppress her negative feelings. She couldn't call these people hypocrites, not in front of her daughter. She couldn't ruin Lara's joy at their "party." So she forced a smile.
    Clayton's jaw unclenched, his tension easing as he took note of Abby's stress. She hadn't wanted to come back to Cloverville at all, let alone be the center of attention again. He'd wrung her neck without lifting a finger. The townspeople descended on her now, more than they had at the church. Probably asking questions about her life after Cloverville.
    He wanted to get close enough to overhear. He wanted to know what she'd been up to the past eight years besides having and raising Lara. But he wanted to know about Lara, too. And he had no doubt that the town busybodies were nosy enough to ask questions thai were far too personal. They certainly never hesitated to ask him why he hadn't settled down yet. Some of the gossips were worse than his matchmaking mother.
    His mom pressed a kiss to his cheek. "You did a good thing."
    "You did." he reminded her as he escorted her off the dance floor. "Changing the party to their honor was your idea."
    "But you're paying for it," she said with a chuckle.
    He sighed, disgusted with himself for not taking up the groom on the many offers he'd made to pay for the wedding and reception. Even as they'd climbed out of the limo. Josh had offered, no, insisted, on paying for everything— after Molly had left him at the altar. Clayton shook his head. She'd better have a damn good reason for jilting such a nice guy.
    He had to talk to his sister and find out what had changed her mind. He already knew who had facilitated the decision. His gaze found Abby in the middle of the guests, her eyes wide with surprise—probably over his agreement to change the reception into a party for her and Lara. From the minute he'd picked her up at the airport, he hadn't exactly acted as if he was happy to see her again.
    But he found it easier to agree with his mother than argue with her. He didn't want to upset her anymore.
    She patted his arm. "Honey, Mrs. George—the caterer—is trying to get your attention."
    But someone else had his attention instead. He pulled his gaze from Abby and focused on his mom. With a smile brightening her brown eyes and illuminating her face, she didn't seem all that upset about the cancelled wedding. "Mom..."
    She kissed his cheek again. "Your father would be so proud of how you've handled everything."
    And that was why he'd insisted on paying for the wedding, because that was what his father would have wanted. It was what Dad would have done if he were alive. Clayton reached for his checkbook. "I'll take care of Mrs. George." The woman had worked hard to make the old American Legion hall look festive, and he wanted