Read Online Ready for Love by Erin O'Reilly - Free Book Online

neatly constructed plans for her and Ryan’s life. Her mind wandered back to the dinner she’d had with Rob and his wife several nights earlier.

     
    “How do you like the job so far?” Rob had asked her.
    “I like it very much.”
    “And, Dr. Evans…is she treating you okay?”
    Kylie saw Rob’s concerned look and nodded. “Yes, she does. Tell me about her. She seems awfully young to be the museum’s chief research archaeologist.”
    “In case you hadn’t noticed, she’s brilliant, and like most very intelligent people, she’s a bit quirky.”
    Kylie laughed. “She is at that. What’s her background?”
    Rob shook his head and rubbed his eyes. “My position at the museum demands that I not gossip about the employees. I will tell you that she’s a very private person, and I doubt you will ever get her to open up.”
    “I wasn’t gossiping, I just wanted to know more about her.”
    “I know.” Rob patted her hand before handing her a glass of wine. “If you want to find out more, why don’t you look her up on the Internet?”
    Kylie snorted. “I already did that and found very little. I would have thought there’d be more, given what a high-profile job she has.”
    “Some people just don’t want to share their lives that way.”

     
    Kylie looked in the mirror one last time. “I’ve wasted enough time trying to figure her out. She obviously wants anonymity. So be it.”
    The phone rang, and she hurried to answer it.
    “Hello. Kylie, am I interrupting?” her mother asked.
    “Hi, Mom. Is everything okay?”
    “Yes, dear. I just wanted you to know we picked Ryan up, and she convinced her granddad that we needed to have dinner out.”
    “Don’t tell me. You’re at Sonic and she’s having chicken strips and tater tots.”
    “Exactly. She’s even talked your dad into a getting her a chocolate milkshake.”
    Kylie laughed. “I guess junk food once in a while is okay.”
    “You don’t mind?”
    “No, not at all. She loves being with you guys.”
    “Have a great time tonight. You deserve it.”
    “Thanks, Mom. I’ll see you in the morning.”
    “Good-bye.”
    “Bye.” Kylie ended the call and smiled. She stepped into the garage, pressed the door opener, and got into her car. “Tonight is going to be fun.”

    †

    Lynne, Jodie, and Kylie went to The Rusty Nail Dancehall, which had been one of their favorite haunts during their years at the university. Entering the place was like going back in time—swinging saloon doors opened to a room with a twenty-foot mahogany bar complete with brass rail, spittoons, and a large mirror with a tantalizing nude painted on it. A dozen tables surrounded by chairs filled the room. Another archway led to the dancehall, which had numerous long tables and benches in the middle with others lining the side of the room. There was a large stage at one end with a dance floor in front of it. In another section against the far wall were two pool tables. The band, a group called Cassie and the Cassettes, was setting up against the wall on the other side of the bar. A section cut out of that wall allowed the bartenders to pass drinks through to the dancehall for the waitresses to pick up.
    Lynne returned from a trip the bar and placed three bottles of beer on the table. “Wow, this is great. It’s just like old times, isn’t it?”
    “Know anything about the band that’s playing tonight, Lynne?” Jodie asked.
    “I heard them play when Tim and I came here a few months ago. They have a decent sound, and the lead singer can really belt out a song. I think they’re probably regulars.” Lynne laughed. “Guess you will find out for yourselves soon enough.” She nodded toward the area where the band was going through a sound check.
    Kylie’s heart hummed with excitement. “This place hasn’t changed at all since I was here seven years ago.” She grinned. “I can’t remember the last time I went out just for fun. With Ted, it was always about being