Read Online A Love For Keeps (Truly Yours Digital Editions) by Janet Lee Barton - Free Book Online Page A
Authors: Janet Lee Barton
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I’m sure she will be very pleased with the work you do for her. She’ll also help spread the word.”
Meagan hated to see the meal end. It was the first time she’d spent any time in Nate’s company outside of the shop, besides at his bank and that one day at church. But that couldn’t even be counted because he’d only been introducing them. This was different somehow.
They said their farewells outside the hotel, and Meagan spent the rest of the afternoon thinking about Nate and what a very nice man he was.
Over the first couple of weeks in April, Meagan ran into Nate at several other places, and she liked him more each time. First, they saw each other at the post office, where they spoke for several minutes. He asked about her mother and sisters and told her how much Natalie was looking forward to her next fitting. The next time she ran into him was at Martin’s Dry Goods where she was picking up some thread and buttons and he was trying to select a doll for Natalie’s birthday.
“Is her birthday coming up soon?” Meagan asked.
“It is two weeks from this Saturday. She is so excited. I hope she likes this doll. Do you think she will?” He held it up for her inspection. The lovely doll had hair the color of Natalie’s and eyes the same shade as hers, too. She was dressed in the little girl’s favorite color and the latest style.
“Oh, I think she will love it. It is beautiful.”
“Good.” He smiled and nodded. “I trust your judgment. I’ll have it wrapped and sent to the house. My housekeeper, Mrs. Baker, will put it in my study.”
He was through with his transaction before she was, but he waited for her to finish and walked out of the store with her. “Would you have time for a soda? There is a soda shop just across the street by the Perry House Hotel.”
Meagan hesitated for only a moment. Her mother would be the first to encourage her to go. “I—I’d like that.”
He put a hand on her elbow while they crossed the street and went into the shop. It was fairly quiet this time of day, and most of the seats at the counter were free, as were the small round tables. Nate led her to one of those and pulled out a chair for her. She’d been in the shop several times, but it had been awhile, and she’d never been in there with a gentleman.
That’s exactly what Nate Brooks was—a very nice, gentle man. Yes, he was a banker, and she would always be thankful for all the ways he’d helped her and her family. But lately, she was seeing him as more than just a businessman. He was a wonderful father to Natalie, and he was easy to be around.
Much too easy to be around
, Meagan thought as he ordered their sodas and began telling her a funny story about Natalie.
She was laughing when their sodas were brought to the table.
Meagan felt more at ease around Nate each time she saw him, but this was the first time she’d actually had any real time with him alone. Conversation flowed easily between them until a clock in the shop chimed the hour.
Meagan realized they’d been there for over an hour. “Oh, I must be getting home. Mama will be getting worried about me.”
Nate stood and pulled out her chair immediately. “I’ll accompany you home and explain.”
“Oh, no, that’s not necessary. She will understand. But I’m sure she’s beginning to wonder what has kept me so long.”
“Well, I’d better let you go, then. Thank you for joining me this afternoon. I quite enjoyed it.”
“You are welcome—so did I. Enjoy it, I mean. Thank you for treating me. Sodas are one of my very favorite things.”
“I’ll have to take you to the Crescent one of these days. I’ve been told that they have a wonderful soda shop there.”
Meagan’s heart felt all fluttery at the thought of him actually taking her to the Crescent. As they left the shop and she started home, however, she told herself it was time to quit
Meagan hated to see the meal end. It was the first time she’d spent any time in Nate’s company outside of the shop, besides at his bank and that one day at church. But that couldn’t even be counted because he’d only been introducing them. This was different somehow.
They said their farewells outside the hotel, and Meagan spent the rest of the afternoon thinking about Nate and what a very nice man he was.
Over the first couple of weeks in April, Meagan ran into Nate at several other places, and she liked him more each time. First, they saw each other at the post office, where they spoke for several minutes. He asked about her mother and sisters and told her how much Natalie was looking forward to her next fitting. The next time she ran into him was at Martin’s Dry Goods where she was picking up some thread and buttons and he was trying to select a doll for Natalie’s birthday.
“Is her birthday coming up soon?” Meagan asked.
“It is two weeks from this Saturday. She is so excited. I hope she likes this doll. Do you think she will?” He held it up for her inspection. The lovely doll had hair the color of Natalie’s and eyes the same shade as hers, too. She was dressed in the little girl’s favorite color and the latest style.
“Oh, I think she will love it. It is beautiful.”
“Good.” He smiled and nodded. “I trust your judgment. I’ll have it wrapped and sent to the house. My housekeeper, Mrs. Baker, will put it in my study.”
He was through with his transaction before she was, but he waited for her to finish and walked out of the store with her. “Would you have time for a soda? There is a soda shop just across the street by the Perry House Hotel.”
Meagan hesitated for only a moment. Her mother would be the first to encourage her to go. “I—I’d like that.”
He put a hand on her elbow while they crossed the street and went into the shop. It was fairly quiet this time of day, and most of the seats at the counter were free, as were the small round tables. Nate led her to one of those and pulled out a chair for her. She’d been in the shop several times, but it had been awhile, and she’d never been in there with a gentleman.
That’s exactly what Nate Brooks was—a very nice, gentle man. Yes, he was a banker, and she would always be thankful for all the ways he’d helped her and her family. But lately, she was seeing him as more than just a businessman. He was a wonderful father to Natalie, and he was easy to be around.
Much too easy to be around
, Meagan thought as he ordered their sodas and began telling her a funny story about Natalie.
She was laughing when their sodas were brought to the table.
Meagan felt more at ease around Nate each time she saw him, but this was the first time she’d actually had any real time with him alone. Conversation flowed easily between them until a clock in the shop chimed the hour.
Meagan realized they’d been there for over an hour. “Oh, I must be getting home. Mama will be getting worried about me.”
Nate stood and pulled out her chair immediately. “I’ll accompany you home and explain.”
“Oh, no, that’s not necessary. She will understand. But I’m sure she’s beginning to wonder what has kept me so long.”
“Well, I’d better let you go, then. Thank you for joining me this afternoon. I quite enjoyed it.”
“You are welcome—so did I. Enjoy it, I mean. Thank you for treating me. Sodas are one of my very favorite things.”
“I’ll have to take you to the Crescent one of these days. I’ve been told that they have a wonderful soda shop there.”
Meagan’s heart felt all fluttery at the thought of him actually taking her to the Crescent. As they left the shop and she started home, however, she told herself it was time to quit
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