Starlight in Her Eyes Read Online Free PDF Page B

often eats peanut butter and grape jam. Actually, I consider peanut butter and jam a spectacular choice.”
    The pink in her cheeks deepened. “Smoked turkey with mustard. On wheat. To be exact.”
    He liked to make her blush. “Yes, you do like things to be exact, don’t you? Everything in its place. Here’s a thought. Why don’t you come with me Saturday night to the downtown mission? I’ve offered to help serve a meal, and there’s to be a time of singing. A pastor will speak afterwards.”
    Serena gnawed on a carrot stick as she surveyed him for a long moment. “Why are you flirting with me?” The corners of her mouth curled. “And making analogies between sandwiches and women?”
    His laughter echoed throughout the dimly lit, quiet studio. “Fine. I can be as forthright as you, love. Laying it all on the line, as you Americans like to say. I’d like to spend time with you, get to know you outside of work. I thought perhaps we—”
    “Am I a challenge to you? Is that it?” The little line between her brows appeared. Not a promising sign.
    “Give me something to chew on here,” he said. “What goes on in that mind of yours, behind those enigmatic blue eyes? We’ve worked together a few weeks, and I’d rather hoped your opinion of me might have perhaps been raised a notch.” Grabbing one of her carrot sticks, Colin began some gnawing of his own.
    Finished with her sandwich, Serena folded the plastic wrapper into a precise little square.
    When her persistent frown line refused to go away, Colin tamped down the overwhelming inclination to smooth it away.
    “I can admit I misjudged you when you first arrived,” she said. “Based on the kind and caring man I’ve gotten to know since you’ve been here.”
    “Thank you for that.” He considered her words a victory, but he also needed to know if she shared the strong attraction he sensed between them. “Can you look me in the eye and tell me you feel nothing romantically for me? Emotionally, intellectually, physically, and in every other way?”
    After Colin heard her sharp intake of breath, he was thankful Serena didn’t square her shoulders, slide down from her chair, and then swiftly depart.
    He leaned close and captured her eye contact. “If you feel nothing for me, then I suppose that’s the end of the discussion. A simple yes or no will suffice.”
    Serena held his gaze and then slowly inclined her head. “I can’t deny there’s something there, Colin, but I don’t know what to do with the attraction. There are overriding factors. Besides the fact that it’s inappropriate to date since we work together, I—”
    “From what I’ve seen, there’s quite a lot of fraternizing that goes on between station employees. I have yet to see anything written in stone that two co-workers can’t enjoy one another’s company outside of working hours. I know nothing about so-called overriding factors. You and the Liberty Bell, eh? Roped off and unapproachable?”
    “I wouldn’t say that.” She darted a quick glance at him before looking away. “Exactly.” She tossed the plastic wrapper at him.
    Chuckling, Colin ducked. “I’ll keep trying then.”
    Serena went back to studying her list. “You do that. What time Saturday night? I’ll meet you at the mission.”
    He broke into a wide grin. “We need to report for duty at five o’clock, the meal is served at six, and the meeting begins at seven. You’ll be home by nine, ten at the latest. Does that suit you?”
    “Yes,” she said, smiling. “It suits. I’ll look forward to it.”
    A few moments later, when Colin bent to retrieve the discarded wrapper on the floor, something in Serena’s handbag caught his eye. A child’s storybook of some sort, rather worn on the edges. No wonder she needed such a large purse. It didn’t take a detective to know that a woman who carted a child’s book in her purse was likely more than a nanny, a big sister, or an aunt.
    Did Serena have a child? If she