A Dream to be Loved Kandi Jaynes Read Online Free PDF Page B

don't mind living by yourself?"
    "No. Not at all."
    "Don't you ever get lonely?"
    "Not really. Missy, Kelsie, and Sue don't give me much chance to be lonely."
    "They spend a lot of time there. I take it."
    "Kelsie is married now and Missy is engaged, so I don't see them quite as often as I used to but they still manage to come over once or twice a week. Sue practically lives there some weeks."
    "Where does she normally live?"
    "She has an apartment in town. She doesn't like living alone, but says it puts a cramp in her style to have a roommate. So keeping her own apartment and spending time at my house whenever she wants gives her the best of both worlds."
    "Doesn't it cramp your style to have her popping in and out of your place whenever she wants?"
    Kate laughed. A sound he would like to hear more often. "No. If you ask my friends they'd tell you I don't have a style to cramp."
    "Surely you date. A woman as beautiful as you can't possibly work around so many men and not have them standing in line to ask you out."
    She was instantly fidgety again and blushed deep enough he could see it clearly even as low as the lighting was. "Actually, I don't go out much. I do work with a lot of men, but I've known most of them for so long it would be strange to date them. I hang out at Pete's with them sometimes. We play darts and shoot pool. I'm just considered one of the guys."
    He watched her until she glanced up at him. "I had gotten the impression most of the men in the shop were quite intelligent, but if they think of you as one of the guys I may have to rethink my position."
    She swallowed hard and when she spoke her voice cracked. "Speaking of the shop," She took a sip of water. "You wanted to discuss the tool crib, didn't you?" Her voice was a bit more steady this time. Obviously she wanted to get back to less personal topics. He was willing to give on that, but he wasn't anywhere near ready to have this evening over yet.
    "Yes, I do have a few questions." He pushed his empty plate aside. "Are you finished?" He pointed to her plate.
    "Yes, I am."
    "Good." He waved toward their server and asked for the check. When that was paid, Drake stood up and stepped beside her. "Shall we?" he said, motioning to the door.
    "Where are we going?"
    "Not many people know this, but I have a terrible sweet tooth. I've been dying to try that coffeehouse ever since you told me about it. You can show me where it is and we can talk shop over dessert.
     
     

 
     
    Chapter Three
     
     
    Drake held the car door as she slid in. He was glad she didn't seem as nervous this time as she had earlier when he'd picked her up. As they drove the six miles to Pierceton, Kate told him about the coffeehouse.
    "Mick, the owner, is very unique. Most people's first impression is that he's kind of a sixties throw back. He drives a van painted in true flower power style. Complete with bright colors, large flowers, and a peace sign covering most of the back end. He has shoulder length hair, and a full beard. He's very laid back and just wants to have a place where people can come and enjoy themselves. He keeps board games and cards on hand for people to use, or you can bring your own. There's a smaller room in the back lit mainly with candles where they have live music on the weekends. Not full bands or anything. Usually just one to three people who come in and play guitar and sing bluegrass or old pop songs."
    "The main room is where you find what seems like a bizarre contradiction. Many people of the flower child mindset protested against war and didn't want to have anything to do with it. Except for the back room, the coffeehouse is scattered with civil war memorabilia. Mick travels with a group that does civil war reenactments. Coats, helmets, uniforms, powder horns, he has a whole collection hanging on coat hooks on every wall of the main room."
    Drake noticed as she spoke she started to relax again. He wasn't surprised after hearing about the owner of the