Lorie's Heart Read Online Free PDF Page A

the Amish pacifists? Okay, so she might not hit him, but she would surely laugh in his face.
    Time to get out while the getting was good. He turned to go back the way he came and ran smack into a soft, sweet-smelling form. Instinctively he reached out to steady the girl as something cold trickled between them. Something liquid and filled with ice. And clear. Hopefully water.
    â€œI’m sorry,” he said.
    â€œIt’s allrecht. ” She pulled away from his grasp.
    He knew that voice. He lifted his gaze and met deep brown eyes. “Here,” he said, both glad and remorseful that he had found her. “Let me buy you another drink.”
    â€œIt’s fine, really.”
    â€œI insist.”
    She shook her head, but he persisted.
    â€œIt’s the least I can do after spilling it all over you.”
    â€œIt is only water.”
    â€œPlease.” What was wrong with him? Maybe he had been out in the sun too long, but the day was pleasantly cool for mid-May, a perfect day to be out and about.
    She hesitated a split second, then nodded her head. He bit back his smile of joy and nodded toward the tent. “Something from here?”
    â€œI’ll get it.”
    â€œIf I let you get it, how is that me buying you another drink?”
    She smiled at him again, and it seemed as if the sun was coming from inside her. Oh, brother. He’d better get himself under control and fast. Any sappier and they could bottle it and pour it over pancakes. “My family owns the restaurant,” she said. “It would be my pleasure to buy you something to drink.”
    She disappeared into the back of the tent and came out a few seconds later carrying two to-go cups. “Sweet tea?” she asked, handing him one.
    â€œPerfect.” He took a sip. “Really good. Did you make this, too?”
    â€œMy sister Cora Ann did.”
    They automatically started walking through the tents. Zach let her lead the way.
    â€œIsn’t there a park just a little ways from here?” he asked.
    â€œ Jah, but—” She bit her lip and stopped.
    He took two more steps before he realized she wasn’t at his side. He doubled back. “But what?”
    The wind stirred the untied strings of the funny little hat she wore. He had noticed since he’d been in Wells Landing that all the Amish women wore one.
    She chewed on her bottom lip some more. He was making her uncomfortable. What a jerk he was. She hadn’t wanted to come with him, but he had insisted. But only because he wanted to spend a little time with her. All he had done was make her nervous. She wasn’t a regular girl like he normally dated. She lived by a different set of rules that had her dressing like a matron and covering her pale blond hair to the point almost none of it showed.
    â€œI’m sorry,” he said, taking a step closer to her and then one back. “I didn’t mean to make you uncomfortable.”
    â€œIt’s okay,” she said.
    She smelled of lavender and fried chicken. That should have been weird, but somehow it wasn’t.
    He was working too hard. Yep, that was it. He’d been studying like crazy these last couple of weeks. And studying for his college finals was exactly where he should be at this very moment. But his mom had wanted to buy an Amish quilt for her bed and a wall hanging for the common area at the retirement center where they worked.
    â€œI think I should go.”
    â€œNo!” He tempered his voice. “You don’t have to. I mean, I don’t even know your name.”
    â€œLorie. Lorie Kauffman.”
    â€œHi, Lorie, I’m Zach. With an h. ” Gah! Could he have said anything lamer?
    â€œNice to meet you, Zach with an h. Enjoy the rest of the auction.”
    Before he could say another word, she turned on her heel and disappeared into the crowd.
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    â€œDo you have something you want to tell me?” Sadie asked that night as they