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His Most Suitable Bride
Renee Ryan
THE MARRIAGE LISTNo one in Denver knows how close Callie Mitchell once came to ruin. Dowdy dresses and severe hairstyles hide evidence of the pretty, trusting girl she used to be. Now her matchmaking employer wants Callie to help find a wife for the one man who sees through her careful facade. For his business's sake, Reese Bennett Jr. plans on making a sensible marriage. Preferably one without the unpredictable emotions that spring to life around Callie. Yet no matter how many candidates she presents to Reese, none compare with the vibrant, intelligent woman who is right under his nose-and quickly invading his heart. Charity House: Offering an oasis of hope, faith and love on the rugged Colorado frontier
The Marriage List
No one in Denver knows how close Callie Mitchell once came to ruin. Dowdy dresses and severe hairstyles hide evidence of the pretty, trusting girl she used to be. Now her matchmaking employer wants Callie to help find a wife for the one man who sees through her careful facade.
For his business’s sake, Reese Bennett Jr. plans on making a sensible marriage. Preferably one without the unpredictable emotions that spring to life around Callie. Yet no matter how many candidates she presents to Reese, none compare with the vibrant, intelligent woman who is right under his nose—and quickly invading his heart.
Charity House: Offering an oasis of hope, faith and love on the rugged Colorado frontier
“We are friends, are we not?”
Reese nodded. “We are.”
“Wouldn’t you also agree that friends help friends?”
He ran a hand along his jaw. “I would.”
“I don’t mind if this puts us in close proximity.” Callie’s bow-shaped lips curved upward. “I enjoy your company.”
“I enjoy yours, too.” A little too much. And therein lay the problem. Reese really liked Callie. He especially liked this new Callie, the one who dressed in rich, bold colors that made her skin glow and her eyes sparkle.
Her transformation awed him. Her beauty stole his breath.
“If you will give me a chance—” she pulled her hand away from his arm “—I believe I can be of great assistance in your search.”
Hadn’t he already arrived at that same conclusion? “That is not the point.”
“What is the point?”
He couldn’t remember.
“I need a day or two to think this through,” he said, grasping for any reason to make his exit before he said or did something he couldn’t take back.
RENEE RYAN
grew up in a Florida beach town where she learned to surf very poorly. Armed with a degree in economics and religion from Florida State University, she explored various career opportunities, including stints at a Florida theme park, a modeling agency and a cosmetics conglomerate. She also taught high school economics, American government and Latin while coaching award-winning cheerleading teams. She currently lives in Nebraska with her husband and a large, fluffy cat many have mistaken for a small bear. Renee’s website is www.reneeryan.com (http://www.reneeryan.com). You can also find her on Facebook and Twitter, @ReneeRyanBooks (http://twitter.com/ReneeRyanBooks).
His Most Suitable Bride
Renee Ryan
www.millsandboon.co.uk (http://www.millsandboon.co.uk)
For the Lord does not see as man sees;
for man looks at the outward appearance,
but the Lord looks at the heart.
—1 Samuel 16:7
To my amazing, handsome, fabulous husband, Mark. Because of the love and grace you show me on a daily basis, writing romance is easy for me. I just have to look at you and know happily-ever-after is real. Love you, always and forever.
Contents
Cover (#u0bc2bf49-fadd-52df-8e65-e56f0a2857d5)
Back Cover Text (#u5e327566-96f2-5e2a-a97f-7a87ab890dad)
Introduction (#u24b1c892-211d-52a3-9a97-0a413d19568c)
About the Author (#u4ecedd77-1bc9-5124-a8fb-f73288d94abc)
Title Page (#ue203c213-9767-59e0-8fb1-df4a33d4ca0a)
Bible Verse (#u4dae2995-6b30-577d-9832-0769e500836b)
Dedication (#u8ccf22c6-d860-5d84-8c04-6f11f121ec0c)
Chapter One
Chapter Two
Chapter Three
Chapter Four
Chapter Five
Chapter Six
Chapter Seven
Chapter Eight
Chapter Nine
Chapter Ten
Chapter Eleven
Chapter Twelve
Chapter Thirteen
Chapter Fourteen
Chapter Fifteen
Chapter Sixteen
Chapter Seventeen
Chapter Eighteen
Chapter Nineteen
Chapter Twenty
Chapter Twenty-One
Chapter Twenty-Two
Chapter Twenty-Three
Epilogue
Dear Reader
Questions for Discussion
Extract (#litres_trial_promo)
Copyright (#litres_trial_promo)
Chapter One (#u04911a25-e76e-5d26-8597-4123190b43dc)
Denver, Colorado—1895
The Tabor Grand Opera House
Tonight should have ranked among the finest of Callie Mitchell’s life. Certainly all the elements were in place. She sat in a box seat, on a plush velvet chair, watching a world-class performance of Roméo et Juliette.
Based on William Shakespeare’s play, the popular opera consisted of five drama-filled acts with four—four!—duets between the main characters.
Callie was supposed be happy.
She was happy. Almost. But not quite.
Stifling a sigh, she took her gaze off the drama unfolding on the stage and glanced around. Horace A. W. Tabor had spared no expense in the construction of his opera house. The expert woodwork, elaborate chandelier and vibrant frescos made for a luxurious decor unrivaled by any other theater in Denver.
Perhaps therein lay the problem. Too many sights assaulted Callie, begging her to gawk in openmouthed wonder.
She was entirely too sensible for such a vulgar reaction. After all, she was the more levelheaded of the two Mitchell sisters, the boring one. Everyone said so.
Another sigh worked its way up her throat. Callie only had herself to blame for what people thought of her. She’d deliberately cultivated her uninteresting persona after her shameless act all those years ago when she’d attended school in Boston.
Fortunately, no one in Denver knew just how close she’d come to ruin. God may have forgiven her sin. Callie could not. Nor could she forget and thereby risk repeating the same mistake twice.
She closed her eyes for a moment—just one—and lost herself in the music. The heart-wrenching melody washed over her, each note more superb than the last. An urge to hum told her she was inches away from losing control.
She whipped open her eyes and focused on the woman perched on the chair beside her. A renowned beauty in her day, Beatrix Singletary’s golden brown hair held not a speck of gray. And her face barely showed that nearly two decades had passed since Mr. Singletary, now deceased, had won her hand in marriage.
Serving as the widow’s companion had come at a time in Callie’s life when she’d needed a change and a reason to focus on someone other than herself.
The music hit a crescendo.
Callie turned her attention back to the stage. This time, she did give into a sigh. The doomed Juliette had no idea the pain she would soon suffer because of love.
Callie knew. Oh, how she knew. Not only because of the incident in Boston, but also because of...him.
She didn’t dare glance in his direction, though he sat directly across the theater, in a box seat mirroring Mrs. Singletary’s. Don’t look, Callie ordered herself.
Do. Not. Look.
She looked.
The breath clogged in her throat. Her heart slammed against her ribs. Reese Bennett Jr. She knew every facet of that strong, handsome face. The full breadth of those wide, muscular shoulders. The dark, intense eyes that were the same rich color as his hair, a shade nearly as black as a raven’s feather.
He sat with his father and seemed a little too content for a man recently jilted. Not by Callie. She would never reject an offer of marriage from him. He’d proposed to someone else, and would have married that someone else had the stubborn girl not left town.
The fact that the person in question was Callie’s younger, prettier sister was a source of intense distress. Fanny had made a terrible mistake. And the longer she stayed away the harder it would be to rectify her rash decision.
Reese would not stay single for long. Not only was he a successful attorney, but he was also very masculine, so utterly appealing. Any number of women would happily take Fanny’s place.
Callie could not allow that to happen. He must remain free of any entanglement until Fanny came to her senses.
Stubborn, headstrong girl. How could she have rejected Reese? He was...so very...wonderful. Callie swallowed. Restrained another sigh. Felt her eyelashes flutter.
As if sensing her watching him, Reese turned his head in her direction.
Their gazes met. Held.
Callie nearly choked on her own breath.
Floodgates of emotion burst open, giving her no time to brace for impact. Sensation after sensation rolled over her. There was something else in the storm of feelings running through her, something truly terrible, a scorching pain in her heart. He can never be mine.
The thought itself was beyond inappropriate, perhaps even a betrayal to the sister she adored.
Pressing her lips tightly together, Callie set her hands in her lap and willed away the emotion threatening to take hold of her. A quick, sharp gasp slipped out, anyway.
“Something troubling you, my dear?”
“No, Mrs. Singletary.” Callie dragged her gaze away from Reese. Keeping her voice low enough for only the widow to hear, she added, “I...I was simply caught up in the music.”
“Ah, yes.” The widow swept a glance over the auditorium, stopping a shade too long on the box directly across from them. “Perfectly understandable.”
