LITMIR.BIZ

Скачать книгу

of him—but she was. It wasn’t fair that he distracted her when she didn’t want to be distracted. She barely heard the close of the service.

      They rose for one last song and Pastor Mike’s gentle benediction.

      “Thanks for sharing, Cassie,” Pam said, folding her end of the blanket into Cassie’s hands.

      “Yeah, thanks,” came from Peter as he, too, stood and stretched. His tone dropped to a low growl. “It was very nice of you. Excuse me, please. There’s someone I need to see.”

      “You’re welcome,” Cassie replied, trying not to watch him walk away. Trying not to let her disappointment of his quick abandonment show.

      Cassie admonished herself. How could she feel abandoned when she barely knew the man? Besides, she’d had his company for the whole service, hadn’t she?

      Pam stretched to her toes to scan the worshippers. “Now where did my boys get to? Can you see them? They promised to help carry chairs back. Then we’re off to see their dad’s parents. They don’t get out much anymore, and I try to get the boys over to see them about every week.”

      “I think they’re over there.” Cassie pointed to the outer edge of the crowd where a clutch of teens stood.

      “So they are. Okay. See you later.”

      Cassie finished folding the blanket, gathered her purse and glanced at her watch. It wasn’t even eight-thirty, and the whole day stretched before her.

      She could go to another Easter service. A more traditional one. Perhaps in the church where she and her father had gone. Yet that had little appeal.

      “Are you going for breakfast?” Cassie overheard someone ask another worshipper. A woman with a family in tow, she noted.

      “Yes, are you coming? We’re meeting at Chase’s, but we have to leave there no later than ten. Bill’s folks are doing dinner, it takes us an hour to drive it, and they don’t like us to be late.”

      Cassie hid a sigh. This was when she missed her parents most. She had no one left to spend holidays with. No one to ask her to dinner on Easter, or any special days. Yet she was taking steps to make new friends, wasn’t she? She’d joined New Beginnings. And she found it exciting and stimulating, both spiritually and in other ways.

      She looked around now as the crowd trooped down to the parking lot. Perhaps there were others who were as alone as she who wanted to spend the day together.

      Recognizing Lori, Sam Talent and Bonnie Sentry from the New Beginnings bunch, she edged toward them. Perhaps they’d want to go for breakfast if they didn’t have other plans.

      Before she could reach them, Cassie saw Lori make a beeline toward Peter and Pastor Mike, a bright smile spreading across her perfectly made-up face. Cassie stopped in her tracks. Should she continue? Lori might not like her interfering.

      Peter, his face wearing a blank expression, nodded at something Pastor Mike said as the two men turned and started slowly from the clearing.

      Cassie started forward again.

      “Well, good morning, Peter,” Lori greeted in a delighted voice. “It’s very good to see you this morning. A bunch of us are heading to breakfast at Dude’s, in Westport. Why don’t you come along?”

      Cassie stopped once more. Waited. She wished she was bolder, like Lori, but she couldn’t bring herself to insinuate herself on Lori’s invitation. Disappointed, she turned to head down the pathway.

      A hand clamped her shoulder and, startled, she glanced up. Peter had stopped her?

      Cassie’s heart started pounding. Peter’s flashing glance held a teasing command before returning to Lori.

      “Sounds good to me,” Peter answered. “I missed my coffee this morning, and this woman owes me one. Don’t you, um…?”

      His arm slid around her shoulders and Cassie stood perfectly still. In awe and wonder.

      “Cassie,” she reminded in a murmur, her heart beating like a kettledrum.

      “Are you free?” he muttered into her ear. His breath tickled her skin, and she caught a hint of expensive cologne. “Please say yes.”

      “Yes.” She was being used as a rescue date, but it didn’t matter. Saying no was not an option!

      Peter raised his voice to answer Lori. “Yeah, thanks. Cassie and I will join you.”

      Cassie had no idea if Lori was pleased at her inclusion or not. She was too busy staring at Peter. She heard Lori’s answer as a faraway bell, but couldn’t have repeated what Lori had said if offered a thousand dollars.

      “Do you know the place they’re going?” he asked with a quick wink. He slid his hand to her elbow.

      “I can find it.” Oh, her voice was actually quivering. He’d think her an absolute freak.

      “Where is it?”

      “In Westport.”

      At his blank look, she explained further. “Westport is a historical district in Kansas City. Near the Country Club Plaza. It’s a popular hangout on weekends for the, um, with-it people.”

      “Ah.” He nodded, a gleam of understanding in his eyes. No doubt he was familiar with such places, Cassie thought.

      Cassie had never been to any of the popular spots on a Saturday night. Dude’s was well known to draw the older singles crowd. A Sunday morning wouldn’t match what she imagined it to be like then, but she was curious enough to see it.

      Several men carried the same chairs down that they’d carried up just two hours before. Cassie spied a box of song sheets, and picked it up to take down to the trucks.

      “Are you coming, Pastor Mike?” Peter folded the few chairs he stood near, then hoisted a stack to carry.

      “Not this morning, Peter,” Pastor Mike said. “I only have a couple of hours before our formal church service begins, and I must go home to change. Maybe next time.”

      “Later?” Peter queried.

      “How about tomorrow? Call the office,” the minister suggested. “I’ll be there early.”

      “Good. I’ll do that.”

      Cassie briefly wondered what the two men had to talk about, but she let the thought go. Then her thoughts swirled on the date she’d suddenly acquired. She was to have breakfast with Peter….

      The parking lot rapidly cleared out as Peter helped load the equipment. Cassie ran back up the hill to scan the area for any trash that may have been left, then hurried back down.

      Peter pulled on his leather jacket and reached for his helmet. He reminded her of a knight putting on his armor before a jousting tournament.

      “Would you like to ride with me?” he asked.

      Cassie paused, her car key hovering above her car door. Her mouth dropped and she felt her eyes widen. On the bike?

      The motorcycle suddenly seemed to grow like a giant black insect, frightening in its unfamiliarity and remembered roar. She’d be forced to put her arms around his waist for safety…and…and hug him. The thought of climbing on the back of that monster and embracing Peter, of placing her cheek against his back as they rode, sent her into cascades of excitement.

      “Are you serious?”

      He ran an evaluating glance at her skirt and blouse, and then studied her face. “Actually, not this time. I have an extra helmet, but you should be wearing something more protective if we’re going very far.”

      “You could ride with me,” she offered, swallowing her disappointment. Would she really have the nerve to ride on that thing?

      That was her trouble, she admonished herself, and the very thing she’d promised herself to change. She’d

Скачать книгу