Twice Her Husband

Twice Her Husband
Mary J. Forbes

CAN TRUE LOVE STRIKE–TWICE?When Ginny Franklin returned as a widow to her Oregon hometown, her heart was shattered. Shattered like the home she' d left years ago. Shattered like her marriage with Luke Tucker, her first husband*#151;and first love.But this time Ginny had another man' s two beloved children at her side and nothing to lose. And nothing to gain.Except maybe her ex-husband.Brash and brainy, Luke had chosen a superstar law career over his wife years ago and lived to regret it. But now the woman he could never forget was back–with the family she' d always wanted. A family that wasn' t his. Yet…

“Luke.”

Ginny’s eyes searched the man’s face. “Do not get involved.”

“Did I say I would?” Luke asked.

“I know that look.”

“Then let me help.”

“You’ve done enough.” Balancing on one foot, Ginny unlocked the gate. “Which we need to finish here and now. Thank you for everything you’ve done. But your nights on the couch are done.” She gave him a sweet smile. Wrapped her warm hand around his forearm. “We’ll be okay, Luke. I promise.” She lifted on the toes of her good foot to kiss his jaw.

And just like that his head moved.

The corners of their mouths brushed.

Years fell away. All the loneliness of the past decade vanished. She was his wife again. His heart. His home…

Twice Her Husband

Mary J. Forbes

www.millsandboon.co.uk (http://www.millsandboon.co.uk)

For Chloe, sister beyond borders

MARY J. FORBES

grew up on a farm amidst horses, cattle, crisp hay and broad blue skies. As a child, she drew and wrote of her surroundings, and in sixth grade composed her first story about a little lame pony. Years later, she worked as an accountant, then as a reporter-photographer for a small-town newspaper, before attaining an honors degree in education to become a teacher. She has also written and published short fiction stories.

A romantic by nature, Mary loves walking along the ocean shoreline, sitting by the fire on snowy or rainy evenings and two-stepping around the dance floor to a good country song—all with her own real-life hero, of course. Mary would love to hear from her readers at www.maryjforbes.com.

Dear Reader,

I’ve known Luke since I conceived the “germ” of the Tucker brothers’ trilogy. He was always there, hovering in the background, hoping for his day in court, so to speak. And while I understood the reason behind Luke’s inner struggle, I had no idea how his story would unfold.

Still, I continued to type something each day, looking to discover the key to the final door that would conclude the trilogy of my beloved Tuckers. Finally, it came to me. Luke and his soul mate, Ginny, needed to face a discord—side by side. But what? What would force them to work as a unit?

One day while picking through my junk mail, I saw it: a slip of green paper, a homemade memo announcing the opening of a neighborhood preschool. Staring at that notice, an idea suddenly sprang to the fore like a pop-up on a page.

Would Ginny fulfill her dream? I wasn’t sure. But excitement had me hurrying to my computer as images and events leapt to mind. Oh, yes, Luke and Ginny were in for a grand fight. They were about to face down a long-held community myth, but more significantly they needed to find their way through heartache and loss, secrets and forgiveness together.

Won’t you join me on their healing journey?

Mary J. Forbes

Contents

Prologue

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

Prologue

West Virginia

Late April

S he was burying her husband.

Immortalizing him in his beloved Allegheny Mountains of West Virginia, far from where he’d grown up in Oregon. From where he’d known her family but had never known her—until she was divorced and living here in Kanawha County.

Ashes to dust.

Forever goodbye.

Forever goodbye, dear Boone.

God, she wanted to crumple to the ground, bay at the moon, beat her head with stones like the Comanche women of old.

Boone!