Teacup Novellas 01 - Tea With Emma Read Online Free PDF Page A

told Howard, he could read the London Times online, but he much preferred to hold a newspaper in his own hands. He liked the smell of the ink and the rustle of the pages. He also wanted to be more cognizant of his Austin surroundings by a daily browsing of the local paper. Determined, he reached for the handrail and slowly hopped down on his good foot, one step at a time using only one crutch.
    “There now. That wasn’t so hard, was it?” He limped up the brick path, leaning heavily on the crutch. Looking around, he noticed the houses were all quite old but in excellent shape. A canopy of trees covered the narrow street. An American flag snapped in the warm breeze at the house next door. Ian might have smiled at the Rockwellesque feel of it all, but he wasn’t in the mood. It was too hot. Besides, yesterday’s angst still gnawed at him. Grasping the crutch with one hand, he leaned over to grab the paper.
    “It’s you!”
    A woman’s voice startled him. Losing his balance, he hung onto the crutch for dear life while trying desperately not to put any weight on his bad foot. Hopping around like an eejit, he finally regained his balance and stopped the dreadful dance.
    “Oh no! I’m so sorry—I didn’t mean to scare you!”
    The voice edged closer. Ian whipped his head around in time to see a flash of pastel pink crossing the street—an ankle-length cotton robe hovering over outlandish fluffy pink slippers.
    “Here, let me help you,” she begged, picking up the newspaper.
    “No, that’s not necessary,” he snapped, holding his hand up to stop the intruder. “I’m quite all ri—” The oxygen whooshed from his lungs when he recognized the fountain of blondish-red curls. The green eyes blinked back at him innocently. A growl erupted. “It’s— you!”
    Her eyes widened as a shy smile slowly crept across her face. She thinks I’m happy to see her! The woman is positively delusional!
    “Yes, I’m the one from the airplane yesterday and—”
    “I know exactly who you are!” he grunted. “And don’t think I’m not well aware of the fact it was the wheel off your suitcase that gave me this! ” Ian pointed to his bandaged foot. He could feel the vein on his neck pulsing.
    “Actually, no, it was Lanie’s wheel. You see—”
    “It doesn’t matter! I knew the two of you were trouble the minute you got on that plane. All that non-stop prattling and ridiculous giggling. Outrageous behavior for women your age. Absolutely outrageous! And if that weren’t enough, you go fumbling through the terminal, dropping your bags, causing mayhem—and breaking my foot!” He straightened, as if just pronouncing them guilty as charged in a court of law. He snatched the paper from her and started clomping back toward the steps.
    “But if you’ll just let me explain, I’m sure you’ll see that it was just an accident! I was horrified when that wheel came off and starting rolling toward you!”
    Ian stopped in his tracks without turning. He jerked his head to face her. “Do you mean to tell me you knew the wheel had come off? You saw it rolling toward me yet said nothing?”
    “I—I, well you see—”
    “Barbaric. Positively barbaric! You Americans have a lot to learn about common decency. You should be ashamed of yourself.” He hadn’t noticed he’d gotten in her face, mere inches from her. The realization stopped him cold.
    She dropped her head, lifting a palm to her forehead. When she looked up, her eyes glistened in the morning light. “I’m so sorry,” she began quietly. “I wanted to do something—say something, but Lanie thought we should—look, it doesn’t matter what happened. It was wrong of us. I’m trying to apologize as best I know how. I had no idea you might break your foot. Is it terribly painful? Are you all right?”
    Ian fought the urge to surrender. He fought the melting sensation drifting through him. He was much too close to her; her face even more lovely than he remembered. Not