Belonging to Bandera Read Online Free

fever to even be looking at another man. She should be crying; she should be devastated.
    Bandera handed her a tissue over the seat, which she took, but Holly knew she wasn’t going to need it.
    “How’s your adventure so far?” he asked.
    She met his gaze. “Getting better all the time.”
    A cell phone rang, and Mike answered it gruffly before handing it over the seat to her. “Want to talk to the groom? Last chance before we cross the county line.”
    She took the phone reluctantly, aware that Bandera was watching her every move, his eyes dark and hooded.
    He wasn’t even going to pretend not to be listening. Maybe he was more rat than gentleman, she decided. “Hi,” she said, her tone not happy nor encouraging.
    “Where are you?” Chuck demanded. “We’re all in the church waiting on you!”
    “Who is waiting?” She frowned, knowing that her side of the family all knew there was to be no wedding. Surely his family knew, too. How much room for misunderstanding was there in leaving your engagement ring behind?
    “My whole family and all my friends!” Chuck said, his voice rising in anger. “My side of the church is full, your side is empty. There’s not one single soul there, and I’m beginning to think that’s verysuspicious, considering we sent out two hundred and fifty invitations!”
    She realized Mason could hear her ex’s terrified voice when he pulled his hat down low over his eyes. There was only a foot of space between them, and he was obviously uncomfortable. “There’s not going to be a wedding,” she said, “at least not where I’m the bride and you’re the groom.”
    “What in the hell are you talking about?” Chuck demanded. “Everyone is here! Waiting on you!”
    “The minister?”
    “Well, no. I’m sure he’s around somewhere, though.”
    She breathed a sigh of relief. “Did you find the ring?”
    “What ring?”
    “The engagement ring you gave me. When you asked me to marry you and before you slept with my best friend.”
    Sudden silence met that comment. Glancing Bandera’s way, she thought she saw a small grin hover around his lips.
    “I did no such thing. I’m appalled you would even suggest it!” Chuck said, his tone self-righteous. “Is that why you’re not here? You’re standing me up in front of all my friends and family because of some stupid misunderstanding—”
    “I was there,” Holly said quietly. “There was nomisunderstanding. You’ll find the ring on the condom box.”
    There was another silence. “Listen,” he finally said, no longer trying to mask his annoyance. “If you had ever slept with me, if you hadn’t been so intent on that no-sex-until-we’re-married crap, I wouldn’t have had to go someplace else to get what a man deserves!”
    Everyone in the truck heard Chuck’s shout. Mason promptly cringed and Mike gave a deep sigh.
    She wondered how deeply embarrassment could sink into her soul. Then Bandera pulled to the side of the road, stopped the truck and reached over the seat to gently take the phone from her hand. She could still hear Chuck raging as Bandera held the phone up over the seat.
    “Let me show you how to put the past behind you,” he said kindly. “This is your past.” He closed the phone with a snap and handed it to Mike, who put it in his pocket. “See how easy that was?” Bandera asked Holly.
    She blinked. “Just like that?”
    He shrugged. “Over and out.”
    She stared into his eyes, which were dark and warm and understanding. Something peaceful melted over her, soothing the dark, hurt places. “Thank you,” she said.
    “Again, my pleasure.” He grinned. “Don’t ever leta man talk down to you like that. Now be a good girl and open that cooler your purse is resting on. Get Mike and Mason and yourself a beer, because you’ve all had a hard day.”
    “Are you talking down to me?”
    “No.” Bandera grinned. “I’m merely asking you to pass the boys a beer.”
    “I’ll go for that,” Mason