The Reluctant Bride. Kathryn Alexander

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СКАЧАТЬ she replied and paused, looking up at his serious expression. “So I guess the answer is yes.”

      “If you're too late for your bus, I could call a taxi--”

      “No, thank you,” she said quickly, a little too quickly. Micah did not have money for cab fare, and she was not going to let this irritating young attorney offer to pay.

      “It's too bad Mrs. Winslow isn't here. Perhaps she would have offered you a ride home,” he suggested with the mischievous slant of his mouth brightening his otherwise dark features.

      “I'd rather walk,” Micah responded. The tone she had intended to be sharp somehow softened as she stared into his eyes.

      “Yes, I suspect you would,” Rob remarked with a quiet laugh. “I'll be leaving soon. If you'd care to take a chance on my driving, Spring Blossom Avenue is not far out of my way.”

      Spring Blossom Avenue. Her street. “How—”

      “It's in your file,” he answered. “I dictated the letter to ‘Michael.’ Remember?”

      “Thanks, anyway, but I can catch the bus.” She started to leave. Part of her wanted to rush away from this situation, but her feet seemed firmly planted in the doorway, reluctant to move. “I'm sorry I couldn't help with your case.”

      Rob shrugged as if it was of no consequence. “You were honest,” he commented as that smile slowly faded. “I have a feeling that's all you ever could be.”

      Honest. That's all she dared to be. The past had been difficult enough to put to rest. Micah had no plans to complicate her future. She stepped through the exit, letting the door fall shut behind her, and hurried away from the suite of offices and the young attorney she would not soon forget.

      “Well? What did you think?” Carole asked the moment Micah opened the front door of her apartment to let her best friend enter. “Did you talk to him?”

      “Yes. He's nice enough. Come to the kitchen, and I'll get you some lemonade.”

      “And good-looking? Didn't you think he was adorable?”

      “Adorable, no. But he has a nice smile.” Too nice, Micah thought

      “Come on, Micah. Lighten up! Rob Granston is the man for you, and I've known it since the day I met him. He did such a great job of handling the purchase of my tanning and hair salon—”

      “I know, I know,” Micah stated with a laugh. “I think you've mentioned that a time or two.”

      “And he's handsome and intelligent and funny and successful—”

      “Okay, what is this? A commercial?”

      “He's nearly perfect, Micah. I'd be interested in him myself if I didn't think of you every time I saw him. I'd feel like I was trying to take something away from you,” Carole explained. “And think of what a strange chain of events has brought you two together! Maybe this is God's plan for your life. Isn't that what you're always looking for?”

      “Really, Carole,” Micah began as she pulled a pitcher from the refrigerator. “I think I can figure out God's plan for me, and I don't think it will be revealed through car accidents and appointments with attorneys. Be serious.”

      “I am. I mean, who would have thought that ‘Old Yeller’ would finally crash into some poor, unsuspecting soul, and you're the only witness!”

      “I really wasn't a witness,” she said as she retrieved two glasses from the cupboard. “I saw very little. I told Mrs. Winslow that very thing the night of the accident when she asked for my name and address, and I told the same thing to Mr. Granston this afternoon.” She dropped several ice cubes into each glass.

      “Mr. Granston? Come on, Micah. His name is Rob.”

      “And her name is Mrs. Winslow, not Old Yeller.” Micah reminded her friend as she handed her a glass of lemonade.

      “Don't get self-righteous on me. You've called her Old Yeller plenty of times yourself when you've seen her coming.”

      “That was before I found out her name and before she ended up in the hospital with an injured back. She's no longer just the terrible driver of that big yellow car. She's a real person with real aches and pains and real problems—”

      “And a real cute lawyer,” Carole added before taking a sip of her drink.

      Micah sat down at the kitchen table and tasted the lemonade she had poured for herself. “Anyway, I told Mr. Granston—”

      “Rob. His name is Rob.”

      “We didn't get that friendly,” Micah insisted. “You're the one who's dated him.”

      “A very casual luncheon date. Nothing to be jealous of.”

      “Jealous!” Micah exclaimed. “I'm not—”

      “Listen, I've gotta go,” Carole interrupted. “I've gotta be back at the shop for a seven-o'clock shampoo and set.” She grabbed her purse and headed for the door. “Thanks for the lemonade. I'm sorry you and Rob didn't get off to a better start.”

      “There's nothing to start, Carole. I made an appointment like the letter requested, I answered his questions and left his office. End of story.”

      “That's what you think,” Carole responded emphatically as she waved a quick goodbye before adding, “if I have my way, this is only the beginning.”

       Chapter Two

      “Meet me there at noon.”

      “Carole, I have a ton of work to do. Are you sure we can be in and out of that place in an hour?” Micah held the telephone receiver between her shoulder and ear, wiping flour-covered hands on a dishcloth as she spoke to her friend.

      “Positive,” came Carole's quick response. “It's a good restaurant. Great food, fast service.”

      “Okay,” Micah answered. Baking needed to be done and her neglected painting stared at her from the corner of the workshop, but she was getting hungry. “We'll need to hurry.”

      “No problem. Everyone in there will probably be in a hurry. Lots of business and professional people from downtown eat their lunches there. Lots of them.”

      “You're late,” Carole observed aloud as Micah rushed into the crowded restaurant lobby over an hour later.

      “I know, I know.” Micah adjusted her skirt and blouse quickly. “I had to wait for the pies to come out of the oven.”

      “Pies?”

      “Shepherd?” The hostess summoned them. “Party of two?”

      “Yes,” they replied simultaneously.

      “You gave my name?” Micah asked.

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