Wednesday's Child Read Online Free PDF Page B

thinking?”
    “Maybe I could get Kyle to take me there. That way if this Liam makes a move you don’t like, Kyle can do his superhero bit and save you, too.”
    Jacqui chuckled at the image of Kyle in tights, shorts and a cape that sprang into her mind. “That’s not necessary, but if you two just happened to be there around six or so, it’d be good. I’m meeting him there—figured if I took my own car I could leave whenever I wanted and he wouldn’t have to drive me home.”
    “All right, we’ll be there. Just promise me you won’t do anything you’ll regret.”
    “I promise. Liam is a nice enough guy, but he’s married. I’m not going to cross that line, no matter what.”
     
     
     
     

3
     
    Liam glanced up from the menu to the woman sitting opposite him. He smiled, still surprised she agreed to come and still unable to believe he’d actually asked her. Keep in mind this is just an apology and nothing else . “What would you like?”
    Jacqui smiled back. “I think I’ll have the Hawaiian.”
    Does she know how pretty she is when she smiles? I don’t suppose she does. “That happens to be my favorite. Shall I order a large and we can share?”
    “Sounds good. Can we have onion rings as well?”
    “Of course, with potato wedges?”
    Her smile grew. “Is there any other way to eat pizza?”
    “If you’re my brother-in-law, yes there is. Jared eats it with a knife and fork.”
    Jacqui’s laugh was beautiful like the rest of her. What was it about this woman that made him feel so out of control? And why? He didn’t want to get involved with anyone, especially someone who reminded him so much of the past.
    The waitress came over and he ordered the pizza, a side of onion rings, potato wedges, and salad. He glanced at Jacqui. “What would you like to drink?”
    “Diet lemonade.”
    Shaking his head in amusement, he turned back to the waitress. “A diet lemonade and a regular one, both with ice and a slice of lemon, please.” He grinned at Jacqui after ordering.
    “What?”
    “We’re having pizza, which is about as fattening as you can get, never mind the onion rings and potato wedges, and you want diet lemonade?”
    “I just got a taste for the diet stuff when I worked abroad.”
    “I don’t like the aftertaste. Give me the sugar and calories any time.” Liam watched as she beamed and waved at a couple sitting three tables away from them. “Friends of yours?”
    Jacqui nodded. “That’s Holly and Kyle. They go to the same church I do. They’re getting married in the autumn.”
    “Cool.”
    She smiled. “They’re fortunate. Being married beats being alone like I am.”
    Liam shifted slightly in his seat. He really didn’t want to discuss marriage and its pros or cons tonight. He was as alone as she seemed to be. He changed the subject. “You said you worked abroad. What did you do?”
    “I spent six months in Africa, doing design work for a mission in a remote area...”
    Africa? His breath caught fading her voice into the background. Did she know I was there?
    Then reason took over. Africa was a huge continent, made up of at least fifty countries—more if you include the ones that are technically part of Europe, even though they are on the African plate. She probably wasn’t even in the same country as him.
    Her voice resurfaced. “…and then the company funding the project ran out of money, and we had to come home before we finished.”
    He picked up his coaster turning it over on its side and twisting it end over end on the table. “Know how that is. The credit crunch is affecting everything. Which mission?”
    “One of the small ones in Botswana. A group of us were sent out by my church.” Her fingers went to her necklace.
    That was the second time she’d mentioned church in as many minutes. His gaze followed the movement of her hands as she toyed with the necklace. “It’s pretty.”
    “Thanks. My parents gave it to me for my birthday.”
    The drinks came, and he