Pinky Promise (Riverbend Romance 2) Read Online Free PDF Page A

seniors.”
    “Sounds good. I think Sophie and I will give it a try Sunday.”
    “It starts at ten thirty, and there’s children’s church during the service. Elena loves it.”
    “Then I’m sure Sophie will, too.”
    Because the two were practically joined at the hip like real twins. Whatever one voiced, the other immediately approved, like an echo. Was Kelly really up for this?
    The girls waited at the street corner. “Can I push the crosswalk button, Mommy?”
    “Hang on a minute.” Kelly glanced up at Ian. “Waiting is not Elena’s strong suit.”
    A dimple creased his cheek as he winked at her.
    “She has strong opinions. About everything.”
    He bumped her arm. “Does she get that from anyone I might have met?”
    Kelly’s face flushed. “Maybe. I guess I should ask my mother how she taught me tact. And appropriateness.” Given with whom she was speaking at the moment — and what they were saying — maybe her mom hadn’t managed to teach her anything at all.
    “Kelly, we don’t need to let those kids bully us into anything. They’re just being children and don’t understand what they’re asking.”
    Did that mean Sophie was begging him the way Elena was begging her? Oh, man. How embarrassing.  
    They arrived at the corner, Elena pushed the button, and the girls dashed across and down the block, once again leaving Kelly with Ian.
    “I guess what I’m trying to say is, all they see is their own wants.” He shrugged. “They aren’t bad wants, of course, but the girls are only six. They don’t understand the entire scope of what they’re asking.”
    Kelly wasn’t so sure about that. “It’d be easier to derail them if we could convince them their schemes had no hope.” She felt his gaze on the top of her head, but no way was she looking up. It wasn’t a lack of interest, but it was too much, way too quickly, and he knew nothing about her. She’d always thought this impulsiveness in a relationship was in her distant past and that she’d learned her lesson. That one day, maybe, she’d meet a wonderful man and he’d court her and shower her with gifts and sweet words and eventually they’d marry. By the lack of her daughter in that daydream, she’d obviously assumed it would happen after Elena left home.
    Elena and Sophie skipped around the corner at the end of the block, holding hands.
    “This is a nice established neighborhood,” Ian said. “I can’t wait to get Sophie and me into a house again. I rented an apartment as there was no time to look before our move.”
    As they turned the corner into the cul-de-sac, Kelly pointed to the blue and white bungalow a few doors down. “That’s where we live.”
    “Nice!”  
    Once again, she could feel his gaze. Once again, she didn’t look up. Time for full disclosure, lest he think she was richer than she was. Though of course he could look up her salary with just a few clicks at the office. Maybe he already had. “I rent the basement suite from an older lady. She’s happy to let us use the backyard, so it works out well.”
    “Sounds good.”
    She tried to see the 1960s-era neighborhood through his eyes. Obviously he was used to something nicer. Newer. Or maybe she was inventing thoughts for him.
    The girls ran up the empty driveway and through the gate at the back of the house.
    “Where do you park your car?”
    Kelly took a deep breath and let it out slowly. “I don’t have one.” This time she sneaked a peek. “That’s one reason we live in this part of town. Close enough to walk to work, school, shopping.” Everything but church, really. That was clear across town.
    He looked thoughtfully around.
    “Look, if it’s not a good enough neighborhood for Sophie, I understand.” Or if I’m not good enough .
    Ian touched her arm. “Kelly, I wasn’t thinking any such thing. I’m not a snob.”
    She looked up into his brown eyes, bracing herself for pity, but it wasn’t there. He was looking at her, not her house. Not