Love at First Date Read Online Free PDF Page B

the people around the room. The boy from yesterday had his eyes focused on an electronic device as his thumbs worked the buttons furiously. His mom sat next to him, flipping the pages of a magazine. Then I caught the elderly lady with the poodle eyeing Henry and me knowingly.
    Yeah. I wish, lady.
    “How’s that working out for you, Ellen?”
    Confused, I turned toward Henry’s inquisitive voice that Abby had probably gotten to hear intimately. “Huh?”
    He gestured toward my purse. “The online dating.”
    “Fine.” I cleared my throat, suddenly annoyed that he’d been so friendly to me in class yesterday when he’d really been interested in Abby Wilson. “Very well, actually. I have a date tonight that I’m really looking forward to.”
    Okay, did my voice sound as defensive to him?
    He opened his mouth to say something when Abby burst out of the back room clapping her hands. “Welcome to the second class of Simply Skilled, everyone!”
    His mouth closed and he turned toward the beautiful woman who was wearing baby blue velour sweats that showed off her curves. Quite the opposite of my flower-print button-up blouse and khaki pants, which were flattering and pretty in a more understated way.
    I wondered painfully what Henry’d been about to say. Did he care that I had a date with another man tonight? Had that made him as jealous as I felt over Abby Wilson?
    I hoped so. But, it was impossible to tell his thoughts from the blank look on his face.
    Chester’s tail thumped against my leg as everyone got up to follow Abby to the back room. I forced myself to stand and was surprised to find Henry waiting for me.
    “Is your friend Rachel on another date tonight?”
    I shrugged. “Not sure what her plans are.”
    “Ah.” He nodded. “You’re volunteering on your own tonight, huh? Still going for that Auntie of the Year award?”
    I took a step forward but my hand jerked backward when the leash resisted, so I checked behind me. Chester, it turned out, was smacking his mouth like he’d just licked something off the floor that had stuck to his tongue. Gross.
    “Something like that.” I shook my head at the canine garbage disposal. Was there anything this mutt wouldn’t put in his mouth?
    Henry waited for Chester and me to go through the doorway of the training arena. As he followed us inside, I purposefully picked the spot farthest from our bouncy instructor. To my surprise, Henry and Kenzie chose the spot to the right of us.
    “Yesterday, you taught your dog how to sit.” Abby’s voice rang out enthusiastically, her facial expressions animated. “Today, you’re going to teach him or her to stay, and only to come when you ask. Let me demonstrate.”
    She asked for a volunteer and a young guy with a bulldog offered right away. Probably had a crush on her, too. Admittedly, Abby was gorgeous—if you were into physical perfection, that is.
    But was she organized? Because a man would be hard-pressed to find a woman more organized than me. I mean, my checking account is balanced to the penny, my glass shower door never has a streak, and my unmatched sock basket is practically non-existent (no, I won’t toss the loner socks because their mates will surely turn up the day after I do).
    Any chance Henry considers Type-A to be the new sexy? Could be possible . . .
    As Abby waxed poetic about well-mannered pooches, I leaned toward Henry, determined to get to the bottom of his mysterious nocturnal activities. “Abby looks exceptionally pretty today. Don’t you think?”
    He looked uncomfortable at the question. “I guess.”
    Okay, that confirmed nothing about his night. Or, maybe it did. If they’d hooked up, he would have agreed a bit more enthusiastically. Right? The curiosity was killing me. “She seems very nice, too.”
    My stomach tightened as I braced for his answer because I only needed to know if he was into her, not any of the details.
    “She does.” He continued to watch Abby as she made the bulldog