A Heart's Refuge. Carolyne Aarsen

Чтение книги онлайн.

СКАЧАТЬ arm through hers.

      “Since I’m wondering if you’re ever going to get a boyfriend again.”

      “A manicure isn’t going to do it and you know it.”

      “Oh, please, not another ‘look not for the beauty nor whiteness of skin’ lecture. I get them enough from Mom.” Leanne squeezed her sister’s arm. “If you spent more time on your hair and makeup, you’d get a guy lickety split.”

      “That’s a little simplistic. Besides, I have lots of guys.”

      “But they’re all just friends,” her sister complained. “I can’t believe you don’t care about guys. I know Trevor didn’t break your heart that much.”

      “He only dented it a little.”

      “So why don’t you two go out again? I heard he’s back.”

      “Trust me, he’ll be gone once the snow flies. I’m not going to date some guy who is just hanging around here, waiting for a chance to leave. This is my home and this is where I want to live.”

      “If you found the right guy, I’m sure he’d be able to talk you into leaving.”

      Becky tapped her little sister on the nose. “You see, that’s the problem. The right guy for me is one who doesn’t want to leave.”

      Leanne pulled back, frowning. “I think I get it.”

      “Let me know when you do.”

      “So how long do we have to wait for this Rick guy?” Leanne said, brushing her long brown hair back from her face. “I promised Donita I’d sit with her.”

      “Just a few more minutes.” Becky glanced at her watch, hoping Rick wouldn’t show. Now, or for lunch after church. But what she hoped even more was that he hadn’t read her Day-Timer. Like she’d read his.

      “Okay, Becks. New guy alert.” Leanne tugged on her arm, her eyes riveted to the door. “Shaggy hockey hair. Nice mouth. Gorgeous eyes.” Leanne added a dramatic sigh. “He’s wearing a suit, but otherwise he’s movie-star adorable.”

      Becky glanced toward the object of her sister’s gushing. And straightened as disappointment and a tingle of anticipation flitted through her. Rick’s suit gave him an authoritative air at odds with the haircut, or lack of it, that was currently labeled “hockey hair”—long enough to hang out the back of a hockey helmet. “He’s also my boss.”

      Leanne’s mouth dropped. “That’s Rick Ethier?”

      “Let’s go say hi and get that part over and done with.” Becky snagged her sister’s arm, and walked purposefully toward him.

      Rick stood in the doorway, looking, she had to concede, a little lost in the wave of people drifting past him.

      Someone caught her by the arm, halting her progress. Louise, a woman from one of the committees Becky was involved in. “Becky. Just wanted to know if you’ve had a chance to go over that banner idea Susan put together.”

      “Not just yet. I’ll check it out this afternoon,” Becky said.

      “I was thinking we could get your sister to help sew it.”

      Becky nodded, keeping an eye on Rick.

      “Sorry, Louise,” Leanne said, rescuing her. “We’ve got to catch someone before he leaves.”

      And it looked like he was about to. He had his hand on the door when they caught up to him.

      “Good morning, Rick,” Becky said, catching his attention. He turned to them and for a moment Becky saw a flicker of an unknown emotion in his blue eyes. Relief? Disappointment?

      “Welcome to the service,” Becky said with a forced smile. “Mom asked me to make sure you were properly greeted when you came.”

      Rick smiled back. “Well, tell your mother thanks.”

      “You can tell her yourself,” Leanne said, glancing from Rick to Becky with avid interest. “You’re supposed to sit with us.”

      Becky flashed her sister a warning glance, but Leanne studiously ignored her sister, her entire attention focused on Rick.

      “By the way, Rick,” Becky said, wishing her sister was more circumspect. “This is my little sister Leanne.” Becky put heavy emphasis on “little” hoping she would get the hint.

      But Leanne just ignored Becky.

      “That’s okay. I’m sure I can find a place,” Rick said.

      “No. Come and sit with us.” Leanne touched Rick on the shoulder, winking at Becky. “That way we don’t have to find you after church. Makes sense, doesn’t it, Becky?”

      “Perfect sense,” Becky said dryly. “Now we better go.”

      “Becky is going to be singing in the worship service later on. She’s got a great voice,” Leanne said as Becky led the way through the crowd.

      “I’m looking forward to hearing her,” Rick said.

      Becky’s heart sank at his words. When she had maneuvered him into attending church she had forgotten she would be singing this morning.

      And when she saw her family all sitting together, she regretted her impulse even more.

      Just about the whole shooting match was watching her as she and Leanne led Rick up the aisle to the empty spot beside her parents. The only ones missing were Colette and her boyfriend, Nick.

      “Hey Dad. Mom,” Becky said, flashing her brothers and sisters a warning look to dampen their sudden interest in the man behind her. As if that would help. Her family was as curious as magpies and just as nosy. Becky showing up with a man in tow was going to cause a lot of chatter and unwelcome questions.

      She dropped onto the pew, and started reading the church bulletin as if trying to show them by her disinterest that he meant nothing.

      But Leanne, the little stinker, had positioned Rick so he was sitting right beside Becky.

      “Are you going to introduce us?” her father asked, nudging Becky.

      Becky looked up at her father with a pleading expression, but his steady gaze reinforced years of ingrained manners. So with a reluctant sigh she turned to Rick, but he was looking away from her.

      She touched him lightly on his arm to get his attention. He turned to her then, his eyebrows arched questioningly.

      “Rick, I’d like you to meet my father, Sam Ellison. Dad, this is Rick Ethier. And my mother, Cora, you already met.”

      Cora leaned over and waved, then turned as her attention was drawn by one of the kids behind her. Sam leaned past Becky, shaking Rick’s hand. “Pleased to meet you finally. We’ve heard about you from Becky, of course.”

      “Really?” Rick’s gaze flicked back to Becky, his eyes glinting. “I didn’t СКАЧАТЬ