Good Husband Material. Susan Mallery

Gage via a note and running away.

      “Is she still mad at me for what I did?”

      He glanced at her, laughter lurking in his dark eyes. “She seems to have recovered.”

      “Okay. Then, I’ll pop over and congratulate her on the upcoming nuptials. I think it’s great that she’s found someone. No one should be alone.”

      As soon as the words fell from her mouth, she wanted to call them back. Obviously, both she and Gage were alone. She knew her circumstances—but what were his? He was the kind of man who had always attracted women, so the choice to be single must have been his. Why?

      She was about to ask, when he beat her to the punch.

      “So, why aren’t you married, Kari?”

      Before she could answer, he shrugged. “Never mind. I forgot. You weren’t interested in home and hearth. You had things to do and places to be.”

      She bristled. “That’s not true. Of course I want to get married and have kids. I’ve always wanted that.”

      “Just not with me?”

      He didn’t look at her as he spoke, and she didn’t know what he was thinking.

      “Just not on your timetable,” she told him. She sighed. “Eight years ago, you were right on track with your life. You had seen the world and were ready to settle down. I was a senior in high school with a lot of unrealized dreams. I was young and hopeful, and as much as I cared about you, I was terrified by your life plan. You seemed so much older—so sure of yourself. Everything you said was reasonable, yet it felt wrong for me at the time. I didn’t want to be like my mother and grandmother, marrying out of high school, having kids right away. I wanted my chance to see the world and live my dreams.”