Married By Midnight. Judith Stacy

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СКАЧАТЬ was standing at the train station,” Amanda said, “waiting for a train.”

      Winnifred’s lips pressed together. “Was it raining?”

      “No.”

      “Were small animals with you?”

      “No.”

      “Were you wearing purple?”

      Amanda drew back slightly, eyeing her. “No.”

      “Hmm…” Winnifred’s eyes narrowed and her lips pressed together so tightly they nearly disappeared. A moment dragged by while she stared straight ahead, tapping her fan against her palm. “Aha!” she cried.

      Amanda jumped.

      “I know what your dream means,” Winnifred announced. “It indicates your dislike for certain kinds of food.”

      Amanda frowned. “It does?”

      “Certainly.”

      “Doesn’t it mean that I’m anxious to go somewhere? Or, perhaps, looking forward to the arrival of someone or something new in my life?”

      “Oh, no, no,” Winnifred said, waving away the idea.

      “But the train, and the train station…?”

      “Foods,” Winnifred assured her.

      “Well, all right…if you’re sure.”

      “Of course I’m sure. I told you, I’ve been blessed with a gift.” Winnifred gave a brisk nod, then levered herself out of the chair and walked away.

      She circulated through the room, chatting with the other guests, then gave a brief introduction as a pianist popular in the city made her entrance. Winnifred resumed her seat beside Amanda, and the performance began.

      Amanda clasped her hands in her lap, determined to focus her thoughts on the young woman seated at the piano. A full minute passed before she realized her mind had drifted.

      To Nick.

      To their kiss.

      So much for her vow to keep her distance from him. Not only had she jumped at the chance to spend the day with him, she’d allowed him to kiss her.

      Not that she could have stopped him.

      Not that she wanted to stop him.

      Determinedly, Amanda recalled ten years ago, when Nick had treated her so shabbily. When he’d broken her heart. Why hadn’t that incident made her hate him?

      Through the years, whenever the Hastings and Van Patton families had gotten together, the conversation always included news of Nick. His mother talked about how well he ran the family business, what a good man he’d become.

      And from all Amanda had seen since her arrival in Los Angeles, his mother had been right. Nick was a good, decent man. Maybe if he weren’t, Amanda could find an excuse to dislike him. If he had a major fault, she could point to it and tell herself that no, she shouldn’t involve herself with him, and here was the reason why. But so far she’d found nothing. No reason not to still care about him.

      What did it mean? That she herself suffered from some horrific personality flaw that wouldn’t allow her to forget him?

      The song ended and polite applause rippled through the room. Amanda forced her attention to the pianist and clapped her hands, smiling her appreciation, nodding in agreement when Winnifred cast a glance her way. The pianist took her seat again and resumed playing. Amanda slipped into her own thoughts once more.

      Today. Alone with Nick. Just the two of them rambling through town, then into the countryside. She’d told him things she seldom shared with anyone. He’d explained his Whitney project, as if he couldn’t wait to tell her about it.

      And then he’d kissed her.

      Amanda sighed deeply, remembering the taste, the feel of his lips. In the decade since he’d last kissed her, Nick Hastings had gotten better at it. Though their exchange this afternoon was little more than a brushing of lips, Amanda sensed a command, a passion that had caused her stomach to tingle—still, hours later.

      Applause again interrupted Amanda’s thoughts, and she realized the song had ended. Quickly she joined in, glancing around, hoping no one had noticed her lack of attentiveness.

      Voices drifted in as the applause died. Amanda turned to see the wedding party enter the room.

      Nick. Tall, sturdy, handsome Nick Hastings.

      Amanda’s heart thumped into her throat and hung there. Her stomach fluttered. She didn’t need Winnifred to interpret these signs. Amanda already knew what they meant.

      The dream she’d had so often in the past that she wouldn’t allow herself to share with Winnifred popped into her mind. Now, at this moment, the dream became a reality.

      Amanda in a crowded room. Nick entering. Would he ignore her, hold himself aloof, just out of her reach, as he always had in her dream?

      “Winnifred,” Amanda whispered, “do you believe that dreams can come true?”

      “Oh, of course,” she told her.

      Amanda’s pounding heart seemed to skip a beat as she watched Nick standing in the doorway. Ten years ago he’d kissed her, then ignored her. This afternoon after he’d kissed her, he’d announced they were leaving.

      Would he now treat her the way he had all those years ago? Once more, would he ignore her? As he always had in her recurring dream?

      Amanda drew in a fortifying breath.

      Nick’s gaze swept the room, landed on Amanda and stayed there. He smiled. Someone spoke to him, but he ignored the man and walked straight toward her.

      Her heart raced as he drew near, stopped in front of her and took her hand. Amanda rose, her gaze locked with his, neither of them aware of anyone else in the room.

      Her awful dream hadn’t come true.

      At least, not tonight.

      Chapter Seven

      “I love weddings,” Ethan said.

      “Is that so?” Nick grumbled as he stepped out of the house onto the rear lawn, where the wedding reception was under way.

      Late-afternoon sun shone brightly on the lawn, where a white, gauzy tent had been set up, crowded with tables covered with white linen and bouquets of fresh flowers. Fine china and crystal gleamed. Musicians played as elegantly attired couples swirled on the dance floor.

      “Absolutely,” Ethan declared, as he fell into step beside Nick.

      “Since when?” Nick asked, though he wasn’t much interested in the answer. Not with the problem that was on his mind, delivered to him just now from his office downtown.

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