Free White Lace and Promises by Debbie Macomber Page B

win. Actually, it was fitting that she was in Reno. She had just made the biggest gamble of her life. The scary part wasthat Maggie felt like a loser and had felt like one almost from the minute she’d inherited her great-aunt Margaret’s money. She felt the ridiculous urge to laugh but recognized that if she gave in to the compulsion, tears wouldn’t be far behind.
    Glenn found her ten minutes later, still playing the slot machine. For several moments he stood watching her, wondering how to approach this woman he had known most of his life. The woman who was now his wife. There were so many issues facing them that had to be settled before he left for Charleston. Maggie’s inheritance was one thing he wouldn’t allow to hang between them like a steel curtain. It was best to clear the air of that and everything else they could.
    A discordant bell clanged loudly, and a barrage of celebratory characters danced across the slot machine. She looked stunned and stepped back from the machine. Without emotion, she cashed out. As she turned, their eyes clashed. Her breath caught in her throat, and she hesitated, waiting for him to speak first. Like her, he had purchased another set of clothes, and again Maggie wondered why she’d never noticed how extraordinarily good-looking Glenn was. He was a man any woman would be proud to call her husband. If he’d come to tell her he wanted out of the marriage, she didn’t know what she would say. The time spent in front of the slot machine had given her the perspective to realize that Glenn was as shocked by what had happened as she was. She prayed that he hadn’t come for the reason she suspected. Maggie wanted this marriage. She had been so lonely and miserable. The previous day with Glenn had been the most wonderful day of her life. Maybe she was still looking at the situation through rose-colored glasses, but the deed was done. They were married now. The other woman had no claim to him. He might murmur Angie’s name in his sleep, but he was married to Maggie.
    “Our plane leaves in two hours,” he said, stepping forward. “Let’s get something to eat.”
    Nodding required a monumental effort. Her body went limp with relief.
    The hostess at the restaurant led them to a booth and handed them menus. She gave Glenn a soft, slightly seductive smile, but Maggie was pleased to notice that he didn’t pay the woman the least bit of attention. Glenn had never been a flirt. Beyond anything else, Maggie realized, Glenn was an intensely loyal man. For him to whisper another woman’s name in his sleep had been all the more devastating for just that reason.
    Almost immediately a waitress arrived, poured them each a cup of coffee, and took their order.
    “I want you to know that I’ll do everything in my power to do what you asked,” Glenn announced, his eyes holding hers. His hands cupped the coffee mug, and there was a faint pleading note shining from his eyes. “About this morning—I suppose you want to know about her.”
    “Yes,” Maggie whispered, hating the way his eyes softened when he mentioned his lost love.
    A sadness seemed to settle over him. “Her name is Angie. We were …” He hesitated. “Engaged. She decided to marry her childhood sweetheart. It’s as simple as that.”
    “You obviously cared about her a great deal,” Maggie said softly, hoping to take some of the sting from her earlier comments. Talking about Angie, even now, was obviously painful for him.
    He held her gaze without hesitation. “I did care for her, but that’s over now. I didn’t marry you longing for anyone else. You aren’t a substitute. This marriage wasn’t made on the rebound. We’re both vulnerable for different reasons. I want you for my wife. Not anyone else, only you. We’ve known each other most of our lives. I like you a great deal and respect you even more. We’re comfortable together.”
    “Yes, we are,” she agreed. So Glenn regarded her as an old pair of worn shoes. He