Read Online A Ghost of a Chance by Evelyn Klebert - Free Book Online Page B

connection to the restaurant that Monica had alluded to. He tried to move forward, but she had glued herself up against his side.
    “ Look Monica, we aren’t going to make much progress this way.”
    She allowed a slight separation. “Sorry Jack, I just love being next to that suit you’re wearing.”
    “ Wonderful.”
    She allowed him to walk forward, and they passed through the portal into a loud crowded establishment. His eyes quickly scanned the walls, hung with big large colorful sombreros.
    “ It can’t be.”
    “ I just love this place. You do like Mexican food. Don’t you Jack?” And then she added with excess, “It’s so hot and spicy.”
    “ This is the place you took Hallie with that Greg fellow and what’s his name.”
    “ Richard, but they’re not here tonight. Just you, me, Hallie, and her date of course.”
    And then, out of a cluster of people popped a short, fat, harried-looking Mexican waiter. “Hola Amigos! Ready to get a table?”
    “ No, we’re meeting someone. In fact, I see them over there.” Monica grabbed his arm and literally dragged him through a maze of crowded tables. He was so disoriented by her pushing and pulling amongst small groups of semi-intoxicated people that he didn’t see a thing until they were there. She stopped abruptly behind a man with jet-black hair in a dark, grey suit. “Well, we made it.” The man’s broad frame obstructed Jack from seeing the other side of the table. He rose slowly and turned to face them.
    Jack recognized the face immediately from Hallie’s previous dream. Samory held out his hand to him. “Glad you could make it Jack.”
    Of course, it was all unfolding now. Deliberately, Jack did not shake the hand extended. He was no hypocrite, at least not today. “I never shake the hand of a rival.”
    Samory smiled and bared a glimpse of his abnormally white teeth. He nodded, “Understood, but I believe you’ve already been claimed tonight by the adoring Ms. Quimby.”
    Monica took the cue and squeezed his arm a little too tightly with half of her body. He aggressively detangled himself from the embrace, “Yes, a little too adoringly. Now where is Hallie?”
    Samory smiled again, his dark eyes looking secure and triumphant already. “Why of course.” And then he stepped away so that Jack could finally see the other occupant at the table.
    He opened his mouth to speak but was struck dumb by the spectacle before him. It was Hallie all right, but she was dressed only in the old, well-worn, orange bathrobe that he’d seen her wander around the house in, with her hair completely done up in big round spongy curlers. Her face was completely devoid of make-up, actually looking a little splotchy as though she’d just woken up. “Why don’t you say hello to Monica’s date Hallie?”
    Looking completely befuddled, Hallie got to her feet quickly knocking over the half-drunken strawberry margarita in front of her. Out of nowhere, a tall skinny Mexican waiter appeared and yelled loudly across the restaurant, “Another accident at table five, third one tonight.”
    Jack saw Hallie visibly turn red. “Sorry, it’s just not my night. Nice to meet you Jack.” And then noting his impeccable appearance, that he sorely regretted now, she added, “Monica didn’t really tell me to dress up.”
    Samory put his arm around her protectively and chimed in, no doubt for everyone’s benefit, “That’s all right Hallie. I worship you just as you are.”
    Jack felt an anger rush in. They were banking on him being shallow, and damn it he wasn’t that shallow anymore.
    He reached out and abruptly grasped Hallie’s hand that for some reason he found a little sticky, and put it to his lips, speaking only to her. “I have always found natural beauty much more compelling than that which is manufactured.” Then suddenly, Hallie’s face squenched up and she let out a loud, “ACHOOO.”
    He felt the spray hit targets all over his designer suit and regretfully