Read Online A Dream to Cling To by Sally Goldenbaum - Free Book Online

so many years before.
    “Those aren’t just umbrellas, Brittany. Those are
umbrellas
—works of art. It was fascinating, didn’t you think? And the guys on the assembly line were terrific.”
    “And you asked enough questions to steal all their secrets and start your own company. I don’t think they know quite what to make of you, Sam.”
    “Well, Brittany …” He slipped one arm around her shoulders and whispered teasingly against her cheek, “It didn’t matter what they thought of me, because you were my ticket. They thought you were a present from the gods.”
    “Oh, Sam!” she groaned. “Don’t you ever stop?”
    “Nope,” he answered with the same disarming smile that played havoc with her concentration at the nursing homes. “And those good men also think a great deal about one Gordon Winters. Did you catch all those tales about the days when he managed the plant?”
    She nodded, her thoughts settling somewhere between his words and the nice feel of his body so close to hers.
    “Well, they loved him. I especially liked that story the older gent told about him bringing in a donkey on election day.”
    She laughed, remembering. “And afterward he raffled it off and gave the money to some fellow who had lost nearly everything in a poker game.”
    “I’m surprised you didn’t adopt it for Petpals.”
    “I wasn’t born yet.”
    “Ah. I knew there had to be a logical reason.” His laugh rippled through the crisp autumn air. “You know, Brittany, I’m looking forward to meeting your father.”
    “You two will get along fine. And I know he’ll like the game, no matter what I said about poker.”
    He grinned and without a thought hugged her close, then released her just enough so they could walk along through the late afternoon shadows. “You’re a pushover, you know. It’s taken less than a week to make a believer out of you.”
    “Now don’t count your chickens, Lawrence,” shesaid, her loose hair rubbing against the soft wool of his jacket. “I simply said he would like the game. However, he’ll probably never
play
it.”
    They had reached Sam’s small Volkswagen and he held open the door for her to get in. “Shall we wager a bet, my sweet Brittany?”
    “I don’t gamble, Sam.” She slipped into the car and looked back up into his laughing eyes. “Sorry.”
    “Never?”
    She kept her smile in place, but her mind slipped back over the years. Never? She had gambled once, a long time ago … And she had lost. But it was so very long ago. A lifetime ago … “Oh, I guess it depends, Sam. I’ll gamble on sure winners … maybe.”
    He strode around to the other side of the car and got in next to her. “Then it’s a bet.” He leaned over and brushed a quick kiss across her cheek to seal it, then straightened and started the engine. “Except you’re on the wrong side of the fence for this one.”
    Brittany scolded away the uncomfortable stirrings inside her. They were talking about games, after all. Nothing more, nothing less. And Sam was right: it was a sure winner. The game … nothing else …
    “Hungry?” he asked.
    He was studying her, his eyes reading deep. But his smile was so gentle, she settled back against the seat and nodded easily, the unsettling feeling beginning to vanish. “Yes.”
    “Good. And it’s no small wonder. I’ve dragged you from here to kingdom come today.” He reached over and playfully tickled her knee. He’d seen the look that had shadowed her smile a second ago, a distant look, and he wanted to chase it away. His fingers danced a jig on her knee. “Thanks for coming with me, Brittany.”
    Her heart was beating to his touch and she only smiled in answer.
    “I needed you there beside me in those places.” His fingers settled on her leg. “I needed you to charm thosemen into baring their souls—and to coax them into sifting through dusty memories. And you did it, Brittany.” His husky voice deepened dramatically and he swept his