Eleven Days: An Unexpected Love Read Online Free PDF Page A

greenery were some Azaleas bushes that surround the houses. Other than that , the only foliage was some dune grass splattered around the sand. Lana didn't mind the lack of grass because the beaches shouldn't look like the suburbs.
    Driving into her designated slot she noticed Mike's truck, and she wondered how long he'd been working, she hoped not long. Deep down she knew if he just got there, she would get to spend more time with him. She hooked all the plastic bags on her arms and toted them in the house. She eagerly looked forward to seeing him. To her surpris e he didn't greet her at the door . She put the groceries away, after a few loud noises she realized he was busy in the attic.
    She noticed the fire caught hold and she tossed in a couple of logs. Once the room warmed up she took off her jacket to tackle the salad. But first things first, she took a swig of chamomile tea. She bought several kinds, but that was her favorite. She loved to try many different kinds of tea. Many people love wine tasting, but Lana preferred tea. Sometimes she mix ed her own concoctions; lemon rind, honey, milk, and fresh or frozen fruit. Consummating the flavors is what she called it. Some concoctions turned out great and some not so great.
    The stairs squeaked with heaviness as Mike stomped down them. He mumbled and cussed under his breath about the heater. He walked in with a dirty face and grungy hands and carried a piece of round metal tube . Many times she helped her husband work on machinery and she knew right away it was the electric starter.
    With one eyebrow cocked he said. "It's the starter to the furnace and I'll have to run to town to replace the part ." He glanced over and noticed the fire and commented on it. "Wow, you started a fire, not too many women can do that , I'm impressed." He wanted to start a conversation with her , and the fire was the first thought that popped in his mind.
    "Well I guess I'm not a typical woman, and I guess I've been single for so long I only have myself to depend on," she answered with out glancing into his eyes. She didn't know what it was about his baby blues, but it sure was difficult to look into them. When she finally gathered the courage, her face turned red. His did too. She took a deep breath and added. "Besides if you get cold enough you can get a rip roaring fire started, its' called survival." Wow, she just couldn't get over how pretty his eyes were, and he even had dimples when he smiled. Her stomach fluttered and her heart skipped beats under his constant gaze. It's a good thing she didn't make a living pre dicting what people looked like because i n Mike's case she would go hungry. He looked nothing like she thought.
    Taking his time, he gathered up the part and headed for the door. Under normal circumstances he could think of a great excuse to stay or start a co nversation. His mind went blank. He couldn't talk to her about the part, she might be bored. Maybe he could talk to her about her trip but that seem ed desperate. He could revert back to college and ask her what her sign is. He laughed at himself about how stupid it was back then, and it's still stupid. Then his eureka moment happened. He would ask her to lunch, that 's what he'll ask her . He stopped dead in his tracks.
    With out paying attention, she tried to decide if she should invite him to lunch. Boom! She ran right smack into his back and tumbled to the ground. When she slammed into him, she felt like she had run into a brick wall. He quickly turned around and grabbed for her and he almost slipped and fell himself.
    They both laughed hysterically, and then he lent a hand to help her stand. "Are you all right?"
    "I only have a bruised eg o and maybe a bruised bottom. I didn't expect you to stop so quickly," she said as she rubbed her butt. Their laugh broke the ice. She noticed he held her hand just a few seconds longer than he had to, and she let him.
    Mike stood there for a few minutes deep in thought. Finally, in a