Random Acts Read Online Free PDF

smile slipped from her face.
    Had he said something to offend her?
    Danielle pressed her lips together and bowed her head, seemingly studying the pile of leaves trapped at the bottom of the porch steps. After a beat of silence, she lifted her face, her expressive eyes radiating a deep hurt.
    What was going on in her pretty little head? He mentally shook away the thought. Never mind . It was too easy to get emotionally caught up with Danielle considering their shared past.
    “I’m sorry about your wife,” Danielle said, her words jarring him. “I should have sent a card, but then too much time had passed…” The words trailed off and she looked down, her lashes sweeping her smooth cheeks.
    “Thanks.” He let out a long breath. “It’s been a tough go.”
    “Gram told me you moved back last year.” Lacing her fingers in front of her, she came down the porch steps, closing the distance between them, her soft floral fragrance awakening his senses.
    “Ava and I tried to make a go of it on the base, but in the end we decided to move home. I needed Bunny’s help.” He stuffed his hands in his pockets and shrugged. “Not easy for a single dad to raise a daughter.”
    “I’m sure Bunny loves having her granddaughter to dote on”
    Patrick laughed. “After raising two boys, she’s in her glory. But you know Bunny. She loves Ava to pieces, but she refuses to be called Grandma. Kinda like how she never liked to be called Mom.” He leaned back on the railing and let his eyes take in her delicate features. “It’s great to see you.” He reached out and brushed away a strand of hair caught on the corner of her mouth. He sensed a subtle flinch, but she didn’t back away. “I wish it had been under different circumstances.”
    “Me too.” Pink colored her cheeks.
    “You haven’t been home in a while.”
    “Work keeps me busy.” A far-away look descended into her eyes. “And you were right earlier. It’s more than that. This town doesn’t exactly conjure up the best memories.”
    “I hope that doesn’t include me.”
    She glared down her nose at him before a playful smile brightened her face. “I see your ego’s intact.”
    “I never had a big ego.” He furrowed his brow and jerked his head back in mock indignation.
    Leaning in, her breath whispered across his cheek, taunting him. “Give me a break. The hot-shot high school quarterback. Didn’t you date the prom queen?”
    Patrick ran a hand across his chin. “I wonder what happened to what’s-her-name?”
    She swatted at him. “I have a feeling you left a lot of girls in your wake.” A serious expression darkened her eyes.
    He dared to trace a finger down her smooth cheek, his eyes drifting to her soft, warm lips. Her features stilled. “You were so young,” he said, his voice husky. “Had just graduated from high school. And my mother…” How could he put into words the confused emotions of a man barely out of his teens?
    Shaking her head, Danielle took a few steps. The dead leaves crunched under her feet. “I’m glad you figured it out for the both of us.”
    He scrubbed a hand across his face. “Man, we both were young.”
    “You’re right.” She lifted her palms, her expression growing hard. “No harm. No foul. It was just a summer fling, right? You already had Lisa back at college.”
    “Lisa and I weren’t dating that summer. I wouldn’t have kissed you if I’d had a girlfriend.” He reached out for her hand, but she stepped out of his grasp. “Is that what you thought?”
    “Does it really matter?” She waved him away. “It was a lifetime ago.”
    It did seem like a lifetime ago. He and Danielle had been strictly friends for almost four years. Then he came home the summer after she graduated from high school and realized his tomboy neighbor had grown into a beautiful young woman. His heart tightened at the memory.
    “I met Lisa the fall of my senior year in college,” he explained. “We had one of those whirlwind