Yearning for Love Read Online Free PDF

reaction over news that shouldn’t be taken lightly.
    “Um, Patty, am I missing something?  You appear to be happy about their breakup.”
    “I am freaking ecstatic,” she said dancing around happily. “The witch is gone—the witch is finally gone from our lives.  “God, I hated that woman and I think she knew it.”
    “Wow, I have never seen two people so happy to have a person ousted from existence.”
    “Walker wasn’t devastated when he told you?”
    “No, he was calm as a cucumber and seemed relieved.  I mean he said the way she did it was tacky, but he didn’t appear broken over it at all.”
    “He hides his emotions from people, including family.  It probably affected him a little, but he refused to let her know how much.”
    “If that is the case, why didn’t he stand up to the ex-husband and declare his love for the woman?”
    “He doesn’t love her ass. It was her kids he’d become attached; not her.”
    “Oh yeah, he did say they had kids together.”
    “Did he say anything else about Mary Ellen and Gary?”
    “I shouldn’t be telling his business, Patty.”
    “You’re right.  He confided in a stranger instead of his brother.  Well, I’ll have to wait until he is ready to talk about it, and I won’t pressure him.”
    Nicole gave the bathroom counter a once-over making sure nothing was left behind. “I’d be prone to believe you if you’d remove that smirk from your face.”
    Patty slapped her cheeks. “Smirk is gone and I will behave. I promise I will not open my mouth because I was a Girl Scout and we don’t renege on promises,” she said holding up two fingers.
    Nicole laughed opening the bathroom door. “If I can’t trust a Girl Scout, then whom can I trust?”
    Walker was standing across from the ladies’ room holding Nicole’s coat open for her to slip into. “Is everything okay?” He asked adjusting the coat over her shoulders.
    “We were talking.  You know how it is when two women get together in a bathroom,” Patty answered before Nicole could open her mouth.
    “I got worried for a minute then I heard laughter. Ms. McLin if you’re ready to go, my chariot waits in the parking lot.”
    Buttoning her coat, she didn’t make eye contact with Walker. “Thank you.  It is nice to know not all men believe chivalry is dead.”  She hugged Patty.  “I’ll make sure he is back in time for dessert.”
    Patty winked her eye at Walker.  “I will come by your room soon as I’m done here.  We’re still having girl’s night in my suite as my bachelorette party.”
    “I’m looking forward to it,” Nicole said.  A flash of heat prickled her skin as Walker’s hand rested on her lower back as they walked through the lobby of the restaurant.  Nicole felt such a touch was allocated for people comfortable in each other’s personal space.  They were strangers and she couldn’t imagine she would learn the personal side of Walker during the next forty-eight hours.
    *****
    The temperature had dropped to near zero when they exited the restaurant.  Nicole placed the hood of her coat over her head to block the freezing cold and blowing snow from whipping around her head.
    Walker stepped off the curb and stopped. “Stay here while I’ll get the car.  The snow is ankle-deep, and your dainty boots are not made for treading through this stuff.”
    Nicole stuffed her hands in the pockets of her coat. She had left her gloves on the front seat of the rental car parked at Patty’s house.  “I’d prefer to walk with you than stand here and freeze.”
    Walker pulled off his thick gloves handing them to her.  “Put these on if you’re gonna walk with me.”  She didn’t refuse the heavy fur-lined pouches of warmth.  “I walk fast,” he said bending his arm at the elbow for her to take hold of. “Give my arm a tug and I’ll slow down for ya.”
    She slid her arm through his as they sloshed through the deep snow covering the parking lot. “I walk fast myself and