And Then He Kissed Me Read Online Free PDF Page B

table, and she would be in the corner trying to corral the dust bunnies.
    â€œI’m waiting,” he said. “Three reasons you can’t throw caution to the wind and go with me.”
    She had a sneaking suspicion he knew what she would say, and was prepared to bob and weave, and block her at every turn. “Okay. My classes.”

    â€œIt’s Saturday. You don’t have a class today.”
    â€œBut I’m up to my ears in homework, and Sarah may have plans and need transportation.”
    â€œSo do your homework this afternoon and I’ll alert Ma to be on call with the Beamer for Sarah tonight. What’s your third excuse?”
    â€œThe health department.”
    â€œWhat?”
    â€œThey’re going to shut this place down if I don’t clean it.”
    She squirmed uncomfortably when his black eyes narrowed on her. “You’re reaching with that one. What are you afraid of, Abby? Me?”
    â€œOf course not.” That was only half-true. She was cautious of him, or rather spending time with him that wasn’t work-related.
    She understood work, and her place in the scheme of things. He was proposing a Cinderella scenario. Take her to dinner—translation, the ball. Let her have some fun and see how the other half lives. But at midnight the fairy tale would be over. He was right. She was afraid—to see the other side. Afraid of facing life after her matching horses and golden coach turned back into a pumpkin and dust bunnies.
    Nick Marchetti was Prince Charming in a business suit. He was handsome, funny, and didn’t have to worry about paying his electric bill if he used too much power during a heat wave. He was so far out of her league, it wasn’t funny. When it was her turn at the plate, she wanted to swing away. She wanted to have fun. She wanted to date. She wanted enough time to nurture a budding relationship.
    It wouldn’t be easy to take the first step; so she would wait until her life simplified and she had the
time to devote to a man. She had enough scars to convince her that unless she waited for her turn, the romance in her crystal ball was doomed to failure. When she had a clear field, she would give it a try. But what guy could compare favorably to Nick?
    All of that wasn’t the worst. What scared her most was that the delicate balance between work and friendship would be somehow altered. After her parents had died, she’d assumed adult responsibilities. She hadn’t known how to handle the legal matters, let alone how or what to do with the house. Nick had stepped in and advised her. Besides her sister, their relationship was the brightest part of her life. Knowing he was there, whether she needed him or not, had gotten her through the rough times. She didn’t want to jeopardize what they had.
    â€œLook, pal, I’m only talking about a couple of hours. An evening. A belated twenty-first-birthday dinner. You would be doing me a favor.”
    â€œOh, really.” A grin broke through. She loved watching Maneuvering Marchetti in action. And what a stretch! Two and a half years after the fact, how was he going to turn her belated twenty-first birthday celebration to his advantage? “How?”
    â€œLet me count the ways.” He held his hand up and touched his index finger. “Number one—clear my conscience. Number two—make my star employee happy. A happy employee is a productive employee.”
    â€œSo this is all about you?”
    â€œNot entirely. You haven’t heard number three yet.”
    â€œOkay. Lay it on me.”
    He held up three fingers and wiggled them. “If you don’t lighten up and have a little fun, you’re heading for a midlife crisis of astronomic proportions. As an
honorary Marchetti,” he said, pointing at her, “you’re entitled to a free, all-expense-paid dinner where you will be instructed by yours truly in the finer art of celebrating a