Read Online A Matter of Destiny by Bonnie Drury - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Bonnie Drury
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was catching on. Her co-workers were helpful and friendly, and the four of them often found themselves weak with laughter from a comment one of them had made.
Sharon accidentally dumped a bowl of whipped cream onto the counter one morning. Since it couldn't be used, she scooped up a handful and formed a white beard and mustache on her face, then let out a deep, "Ho, ho, ho."
Her boss tried to scold her for wasting food, but couldn't keep from laughing. As Esther leaned against the counter, gulping air between giggles, she suddenly stood upright and tried to pull herself together.
"Good morning, Mr. Reardon. Your usual coffee?"
"Thanks, Esther. Hi, Sharon." His voice was ripe with amusement.
Her smile froze as embarrassment burned her cheeks beneath the whipped cream. Sharon turned slowly, took one look at Joe, and ran.
His laughter followed her even after she banged the bathroom door shut. She moaned aloud as she stared at herself in the mirror.
"You idiot," she muttered. It was amazing that Joe still admitted he knew her. He must be convinced by now that she'd completely lost her mind, and she'd have to agree with him.
Esther gave Sharon a full six minutes before she stuck her head in and said, "Time to come out and face the music. You can't hide all morning."
Sharon worked steadily the rest of the day, ignoring Esther's occasional chuckle, except to smile to herself.
Sharon kept an eye on David and Luke during lunchtime whenever possible. David was still avoiding Melanie, or vice versa, but Sharon didn't think she should interfere.
Luke sometimes sat with the loud group of boys, and Sharon was afraid he might get into trouble again.
She didn't know what to do about it and mentioned her concern over an afternoon coffee break with Joe. It was the first time she'd talked to him since the whipped cream episode, and she could have kissed him for not bringing it up.
He answered her question about Luke.
"I'll have a talk with him," he promised. "At least he's too busy with sports to run around with that crowd after school."
"Yes, I'm glad of that." She tilted her head. "Have I ever properly thanked you for getting him into football?"
Joe scratched his head as he thought a minute. "No, not that I recall. You were ready to toss me out of the house when you first found out."
She laughed. "I was hoping you'd forgotten."
He covered her hand for an instant, just long enough for her to miss his warmth when he took it away. "I understand. You were upset at the time."
She stared into his rugged face. "Are you always so nice?"
His eyes were solemn as he gazed back. "No, sometimes I'm not nice at all."
"Why do you say that?" Her voice was almost a whisper.
Joe glanced down at his coffee cup and fingered the handle. "I'm only patient and kind when I want something very badly."
Sharon knew she shouldn't ask, but did anyway. "And, what is it you want?"
His eyes grew even darker. "Haven't you figured that out yet?" He reached over and ran a gentle finger down her cheek, then brushed her lips with his thumb. "Just remember I'm here if you need me."
He rose then and said he had to get back to class.
Sharon couldn't have replied if her life had depended upon it, so sensual was his touch. There was no way to misinterpret his meaning, unless he was playing a game. She didn't think he was that kind of man.
What was she going to do about it?
She liked being with Joe; there was no denying that. But if he wanted more than she could give, what then?
Sharon touched the place on her mouth where his thumb had rested and shivers skipped down her spine. Then she thought about her sons and knew she could do nothing without upsetting the delicate balance of their lives.
Joe berated himself on the way back to class. He'd lied to Sharon. He didn't feel patient at all, especially when he desperately wanted
Sharon accidentally dumped a bowl of whipped cream onto the counter one morning. Since it couldn't be used, she scooped up a handful and formed a white beard and mustache on her face, then let out a deep, "Ho, ho, ho."
Her boss tried to scold her for wasting food, but couldn't keep from laughing. As Esther leaned against the counter, gulping air between giggles, she suddenly stood upright and tried to pull herself together.
"Good morning, Mr. Reardon. Your usual coffee?"
"Thanks, Esther. Hi, Sharon." His voice was ripe with amusement.
Her smile froze as embarrassment burned her cheeks beneath the whipped cream. Sharon turned slowly, took one look at Joe, and ran.
His laughter followed her even after she banged the bathroom door shut. She moaned aloud as she stared at herself in the mirror.
"You idiot," she muttered. It was amazing that Joe still admitted he knew her. He must be convinced by now that she'd completely lost her mind, and she'd have to agree with him.
Esther gave Sharon a full six minutes before she stuck her head in and said, "Time to come out and face the music. You can't hide all morning."
Sharon worked steadily the rest of the day, ignoring Esther's occasional chuckle, except to smile to herself.
Sharon kept an eye on David and Luke during lunchtime whenever possible. David was still avoiding Melanie, or vice versa, but Sharon didn't think she should interfere.
Luke sometimes sat with the loud group of boys, and Sharon was afraid he might get into trouble again.
She didn't know what to do about it and mentioned her concern over an afternoon coffee break with Joe. It was the first time she'd talked to him since the whipped cream episode, and she could have kissed him for not bringing it up.
He answered her question about Luke.
"I'll have a talk with him," he promised. "At least he's too busy with sports to run around with that crowd after school."
"Yes, I'm glad of that." She tilted her head. "Have I ever properly thanked you for getting him into football?"
Joe scratched his head as he thought a minute. "No, not that I recall. You were ready to toss me out of the house when you first found out."
She laughed. "I was hoping you'd forgotten."
He covered her hand for an instant, just long enough for her to miss his warmth when he took it away. "I understand. You were upset at the time."
She stared into his rugged face. "Are you always so nice?"
His eyes were solemn as he gazed back. "No, sometimes I'm not nice at all."
"Why do you say that?" Her voice was almost a whisper.
Joe glanced down at his coffee cup and fingered the handle. "I'm only patient and kind when I want something very badly."
Sharon knew she shouldn't ask, but did anyway. "And, what is it you want?"
His eyes grew even darker. "Haven't you figured that out yet?" He reached over and ran a gentle finger down her cheek, then brushed her lips with his thumb. "Just remember I'm here if you need me."
He rose then and said he had to get back to class.
Sharon couldn't have replied if her life had depended upon it, so sensual was his touch. There was no way to misinterpret his meaning, unless he was playing a game. She didn't think he was that kind of man.
What was she going to do about it?
She liked being with Joe; there was no denying that. But if he wanted more than she could give, what then?
Sharon touched the place on her mouth where his thumb had rested and shivers skipped down her spine. Then she thought about her sons and knew she could do nothing without upsetting the delicate balance of their lives.
Joe berated himself on the way back to class. He'd lied to Sharon. He didn't feel patient at all, especially when he desperately wanted
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