Carol's Image Read Online Free PDF Page B

affair, with townspeople coming in and out, greeting each other, catching up on each other’s lives. Tom discovered it was hard to talk during breakfast in the busy diner and craved a chance to be with her alone. Looking over at Carol, he noticed her eating slowly and deliberately, as though afraid of eating too quickly. Hmm, maybe she is trying to prolong this meal to spend time with me.
    After a few more minutes Carol pushed her plate away, and as the waitress walked by, she called for their check.
    Tom’s eyes darted over to her face, confused by her hurry, when half of her breakfast was still on her plate. Damn, guess she’s not trying to prolong the meal after all!
    “What’s your hurry, Carol?” he asked, trying to keep the pouting out of his voice.
    She looked up in surprised, realizing that she had asked for the check when he still had more to eat. Blushing, she rushed to explain. “I’m sooo sorry. I’m so used to eating by myself and grabbing the waitress whenever I can.” Shyly she looked back down at the food left on her plate.
    “Did you not like the food?” he asked gently, still looking for some clue to her behavior.
    Shooting her eyes back to his, she admitted, “Oh, I love the food here! It was just a long shift and I really need to get to bed.”
    Feeling foolish for forgetting that she had just come off of a night shift, Tom grabbed the check that the waitress just laid down on the table. Pushing his plate away he stood, reached for her hand and assisted her as she slid across the booth to stand. He didn’t let go of her hand as they wound their way through the crowded diner.
    She couldn’t remember the last time a man held her hand like that. Craving his touch, she kept her hand firmly in his, only letting go when he paid the cashier. Not sure what to do then, she let her hand hesitantly drop to her side.
    Without skipping a beat, he clasped her hand in his again as they exited the diner. Walking to her car she couldn’t help but notice how right it felt to hold his hand. It was so much larger than hers. It had so much power in its grip. But that power felt…comforting, not overbearing. Concentrating on the feeling of their entwined fingers, she was surprised when he pulled her to a stop.
    Looking up, she realized that they were already at her car. Blushing, she laughed nervously. “I guess I wasn’t looking where I was going.”
    “You seemed lost in thought. I hated to interrupt,” he admitted. “What were you thinkin’ on so hard?” Come on. This is where you tell me that you want to see me again. That you had a great time with me and you’ve changed your mind about dinner.
    Shaking her head gently, she just replied, “Oh, nothing of importance.” Not knowing what else to say, she nervously said, “Thank you for breakfast. It was nice to eat before heading home.”
    A strange, warm feeling washed over Tom. She’s gonna make me work for this. This thought was followed by the realization that he liked that.
    “When can I see you again? I still want to take you to dinner.”
    She realized that she wanted that more than she had wanted anything in a long time. I want to see him. I want to talk to him. I want him to hold my hand again. “Well, during the week, my life is basically sleep during the day, take a run in the park in the afternoon, then I go to work at night.” Shrugging her shoulders, she admitted, “Not much of a life, but it’s mine.”
    “What do you do when you are off work?” he asked, surprised at how curious and possessive he felt.
    “Usually I clean the apartment, read, run errands.”
    He looked down at the stunning beauty in front of him, honesty pouring off of her. No bar hopping? No clubbing? No dancing till dawn?
    “When are you off next?”
    Smiling that he still seemed interested, she replied, “I work three more night shifts and then I am off Thursday and Friday.”
    “I’ll pick you up on Thursday at six o’clock.”
    Sucking in her lips as