Isabel and the Wolf: (Part 3) Read Online Free PDF Page A

slogan.
    “Ever onward and upward!” she said to the mirror. It had been Kara’s high school motto, but she generally applied it to her dating habits these days.
    Isabel went back into the dance hall and found Kara and Jed dancing together. They were doing a jive that fitted bizarrely well with the country pop that was playing. Kara was an adept dancer, the product of years of lessons, and Jed was doing a good job of keeping up with her. Isabel had a pang of jealousy watching them. They looked good together, both tall and lithe, with blond hair and wide, white-toothed grins. At last, Kara caught sight of Isabel and disentangled herself from Jed’s grasp as he span her around, so she hurtled into Isabel. Isabel braced herself so she didn’t fall over backwards.
    “You think I’m a crash barrier, or something?”
    “Sorry,” Kara said, looking anything but. She was panting from her exertions. “Jed’s awesome! He’s a really cool guy!”
    “Yeah, he is,” Isabel replied. Kara stared at her hard.
    “Hey – no – you can take that look right off your face! He’s obviously really into you. I would never come between you and a guy.”
    “I do know that,” Isabel replied. “I was just being silly, because you guys looked so good together.” Kara laughed.
    “I’m sure we look like brother and sister. Unless incest is your jam! And, guess what – he was talking about you the whole time, girlfriend!”
    “He was?” Isabel said, smiling.
    “Uh huh. He was asking all about our friendship and how long we’d known each other. So, you were going for shots, and then you were off to the restroom. What’s up?”
    “Oh, I don’t know. I was having a moment. I do like Jed, but I feel like I’m still, you know, attached to Peter.”
    “No, I don’t know. Number one, he’s gone disappearos, and number two, you were just hooking up with him, so you were never obligated to any kind of exclusivity thing!”
    “I guess,” Isabel said, her eyes finding Jed. He was dancing with a petite, gray-haired woman in her fifties, doing twirls. The woman’s cheeks were flushed with pleasure, and her eyes sparkled.
    “Your move down here is all about enjoying yourself, not mooning over some pain-in-the-ass guy!”
    “You’re right. Isabel said. “Ok, shots!” She pulled Kara over to the drinks table.
    They came back with three Tuacas and handed one to Jed.
    “Thanks!” he said, flashing Isabel a grin. As he came close to her, she picked up the faintest hint of fresh perspiration. It was appealing; intimate, somehow. Briefly, she wondered what his body would look like glistening with it in the middle of making love. They knocked the shots back, toasting Kara’s visit. “This is hot work!” Jed said, taking his hat off and wafting his face with it. His hair was damp and mussed, and Isabel had an overwhelming urge to reach out and smooth it over.
    “Yeah, I don’t think air-con has made it to the church hall yet,” Kara said. The music changed abruptly to Crocodile Rock and Jed extended his hand to Isabel.
    “Can I have this dance?” he asked, with exaggerated formality. Isabel hesitated, her heart screaming yes , at the same time that a tidal wave of shyness hit her. The prospect of being so close to him was too much.
    “Ah, you’d be disappointed after dancing with Kara,” she said, shaking her head. She took a large step back, but didn’t miss the disappointment in his eyes. He shrugged good-naturedly.
    “Looks like it’s you and me, pardner,” Kara yelled, catching his hand. She pulled him into another jive dance, and they were soon spinning each other around at crazy speed. Isabel watched them, laughing. They were causing quite a stir, with other couples backing to the edges of the area and watching them too. Kara hooked her arm into Isabel’s elbow as she hurtled past and pulled her in between them.
    “You looked like you could use a sandwich!” she said close to Isabel’s ear, not loud enough for