My Very Best Friend Read Online Free PDF Page B

Scotch that’s not from Scotland.”
    He smiled. Goofily, my knees became weak. Ridiculous. I tried to straighten them. They wouldn’t straighten. My glasses fell off. He bent down and picked them up.
    “Thank you.”
    “You’re welcome.”
    He studied the house. “I see that the house has not weathered well over the years.”
    “No, it’s an unmitigated wreck.” I was becoming a wreck around him.
    “I must apologize to you. I didn’t know your house had gone on so badly. I should have checked. I don’t drive by here on the way to town. I don’t drive this way at all. The last time I went by was probably about two years ago, and it in no way looked as it does today. We did have a wind storm, harsh and completely unprecedented, last year. May be why the roof has dipped. How is it inside?”
    “It looks like a tornado entered, whirled everything around, followed by a rainstorm of mice, topped off with a hundred smelly cavemen who drank beer and ate legs of lamb and left everything to percolate for twenty years. It’s rumored there was at least one chicken killed inside. It is fully crammed.”
    He chuckled. “You’re still funny.”
    “Funny?”
    “Yes.”
    “I’m not funny.”
    “Yes, you are. Can I see inside?”
    “Please. But endeavor not to inhale deeply. The stench may knock you over.”
    We stepped into the house together. He put his hands on his huggable hips and surveyed the damage. “Damn.”
    “Yes, damn. I can’t believe it.”
    “Okay.” We stepped outside as he indicated with his arm for me to go first. “You’ve had a long journey. Come down to my home, I have a spare room. You’ll stay with me. We’ll get this”—he nodded toward the house—“cleaned up starting tomorrow. I have to call the Stanleys. They can fix this.”
    “I could not possibly stay with you.” I could, I so could, I-bet-you-have-extra-powerful-balls-Scotsman, but I would be awkward and make a fool of myself, as I have not been around men much in years, certainly never a man like you.
    “Why not? I’m still friendly.”
    That smile of his sucked my breath away. I hummed to cover up my lack of voice. “I can’t impose.”
    “Ah, Char, never could you impose on me. I have been looking forward to your arrival for weeks. I assumed you would stay with me. Come, Charlotte, I’ll make you a cup of tea. Home we go.”
    The way he said “home we go” almost made me blubber about again. As if we were going to our home.
    “I might not be a pleasant or interesting guest. Since I left Scotland I have become introspective, a loner, reclusive, and I can be moody.” And I wear dull panties. But I can take them off.
    He laughed. “I have missed your humor.”
    “I am serious.”
    “I’m not worried, Charlotte. I am introspective, also. I respect the loner in you and your moods never bothered me. You were always interesting. Pleasant?” He peered into the sky. “Pleasant is dull. You were never dull.”
    I took a deep breath. “That’s kind of you to say. I think I’m quite dull. But thank you, Toran. I’ll accept your invitation for one night only.”
    “Here, fine lady.” He held his hand out to help me into my rental car.
    “I can do it myself. I am a feminist now. You should know that about me.”
    “I’m not surprised you are, and you told me endless times when we were kids that you could do things by yourself. Let me help you anyway. It’ll make me feel useful. Besides, Scotsmen like to feel manly. You already threatened to spray mace in my face and turn my balls into pancakes. Allow me to be chivalrous.”
    He gently grabbed my hand. I let him. I wondered if I would shortly begin to pant.
    He closed the door when I was fully in. I tried to get the smile off my mouth. No sense grinning like a fool because a man opened the door of a car for me and helped me inside. Feeling protected by a man, having chivalrousness directed my way, hadn’t happened to me in years.
    I stole a peek at Toran as he