Time to Love Again Read Online Free PDF Page B

does it bother you so much that they play in your yard?"
    "I just want to be left alone. Is that too much to ask?"
    "But playing in your yard isn't anything, Rose. I mean it's not like they're knocking on your door and running away. Making you get up or anything like that. They're not talking to you. Don't you remember how our kids played in everyone's yard, especially when they were building snowmen? They'd start in one yard and roll the ball of snow into yours." Louise's look said she thought there was more to it.
    "There's no more. The old man next door came with Sarah to apologize and that was that." Rose stirred her coffee a little too vigorously. A habit she hated– but had developed when she felt nervous or tense. "Well, except for earlier when I made a complete fool of myself in front of him."
    Louise nodded and waited for Rose to continue.
    "I was hurrying to get away from him, and I slipped and fell. Groceries went flying everywhere. Then he tried to help me up. I swear he felt halfway up my leg, looking for broken bones." Rose shivered at the memory of his warm, gentle hands.
    "So how did you make a fool of yourself?"
    "By falling, what do you think? I must have looked like a beached whale laying there on the ground."
    "A beached whale?" Louise laughed. "Honey, you don't look anything like a whale. Haven't you looked in the mirror lately? You've lost so much weight, you almost look anorexic."
    "Oh, right!" Rose sipped her coffee. What the heck did Louise mean anorexic? Sure she had lost some weight, but really. "To make matters worse, he gave me a rose."
    "What do you mean he gave you a rose?" Louse smiled.
    "There's nothing to tell. He said the rose was for friendship. Like I need a friend. Harrumph."
    "So, tell me more about the old man? How old is he?"
    Rose took a sip of coffee, trying to still the quivering sensation in her stomach. "His name is Stephen. Stephen Daniels." She shivered just saying his name.
    "Well, how old is he?"
    Rose knew Louise wouldn't rest until she told her everything she knew about Stephen. "I don't know about my age, a little older."
    Louise nodded. "That old, huh. Almost ancient." The look on her face caused Rose to laugh.
    "There's nothing more, honest, Louise. Will you quit looking for a match for me?"
    "What does he look like?"
    The picture of Stephen popped up in her mind. She saw every detail about him. "He's tall– dark haired with graying temples. Has gray eyes." Smokey gray eyes and a cocky look that smiled even when he looked serious. A tremor ran through Rose at the memory of those eyes, and the way his hands move up her legs looking for broken bones. Truth be told, it felt good. Hell, it felt more than good. She almost snickered at the memory. Heat burned her face at the thought, and Rose knew it turned bright red.
    "Uh huh. And?"
    "And what? I made a fool of myself that's what. Not once but twice."
    "Twice, what happened the second time. Don't tell me you fell again?"
    "No, once was enough, thank you. I was going over there to complain about the kids, and he showed up with Sarah and a plate of cookies before I had the chance. She apologized, and they left. That was that. Quit trying to make more out of it than there is. Okay?"
      Rose looked at the clock. George would be home soon for dinner. She stood to go, hoping to avoid another of Louise's lectures about getting out in the world. About making friends with Stephen. She'd heard that sermon one too many times. She was tired of Louise's matchmaking efforts. Not that she ever agreed to meet any of them.
    "Are you sure you won't stay for dinner. George and I would love to have you." Louise invited.
    "I can't. I have some errands to finish." Rose lied. She didn't want to intrude, even though she knew her friend meant what she said. No, Louise would probably enjoy her company. But sometimes Rose thought George got a little tired of Louise's strays.
    "Sounds to me like you're attracted to this Stephen Daniels. Why not give