Read Online A Table for Two by Janet Albert - Free Book Online Page A

ran out of here like the place was on fire." Tracy stretched her arm up and hung a sauté pan on the pot rack above her head. "I like Ridley a lot, don't you?"
    "Yeah, I suppose. She's okay."
    Tracy stopped what she was doing and faced Dana head on. "She's okay? Are you out of your mind? She's totally cute as in the cutest thing I've seen in a hell of a long time. Did you check out those sparkling green eyes and that dark auburn hair? I don't think I need to point out that she also has a fabulous body, do I?"
    "No. I did notice that, thank you very much." Dana stuck her tongue out.
    "I'll choose to overlook that childish gesture," Tracy said. "She is gay, isn't she? I'm sure she is because she hangs out with Laurie and Karen and they are."
    "That doesn't mean she is and besides, I don't know and I really don't care. I'm certain if she and I continue to be friends, there'll be no way I can avoid finding out all about her sexual preferences at some point." Dana picked up the dripping stock pot on the counter, dried it and set it on one of the back burners.
    "Well, I'd like to know." Tracy said as she started wiping down the counters
    "Why? Are you interested in her?"
    "No, I'm not. I'm just interested in her on your behalf."
    "Well then, feel free to ask her the next time you see her and if I happen to find out in the meantime, I'll report my findings to you immediately." Dana enunciated each word.
    Tracy put her hands on her hips. "You don't have to get snippy about it."
    Dana went over to the sink and wet a dish towel. "I'm sorry. She's definitely cute I'll grant you that, but she's nothing more than a potential friend. That's it, period. End of story."
    "Hopefully it's not the end of your story."
    "Listen to me, Tracy, I'm happy with my life the way it is and I don't want to mess it up." Dana shook the dish towel out and busied herself by wiping the counter tops with it. She wasn't sure why Tracy's comments had made her feel this irritated. Couldn't she meet an attractive woman and not have to think of her as a potential love interest? Why was it so important to Tracy that she have a girlfriend?
    "I already wiped all that."
    "You missed a few spots." Dana whipped her arm around so vigorously she knocked a large stainless steel bowl off the counter. She winced and covered her ears as it crashed onto the tile floor and shook noisily to a standstill like a renegade cymbal. She scowled as she bent over to retrieve it, embarrassed by her own actions. "If she is gay, you can bet she's not single. Someone like her would never be without a girlfriend."
    "And she didn't bring this girlfriend with her last Saturday night?"
    "Maybe she was out of town," Dana proposed. "Or maybe she had to work or she was sick or taking care of her ailing grandmother."
    "Try this. Maybe she couldn't make it because she doesn't exist. I hate to break it to you, but I got the impression Ridley was interested in you. It was obvious to me."
    "That's ridiculous." Dana felt her face heat up and she hoped Tracy wouldn't notice she was blushing. "She was just being friendly."
    "Then why couldn't she take her eyes off of you?"
    "So she's good at making eye contact. So what?"
    "Did you see how nervous she was, how she kept fidgeting with her hands and stumbling over her words? I swear she was blushing just like you are now," Tracy pointed out.
    "I'm not blushing, it's just warm in here and I think you're seeing things."
    "You think so? Tell you what we'll do. Let's call Karen and Laurie and find out if Ridley said anything to them about you or about coming here today."
    "We won't do any such thing. You're imagination's running wild, Tracy, and even if you're right, I'm not ready to get involved with anyone. I may never be."
    "Dana, you can't avoid romance forever. It's not normal or healthy. I know you were hurt by Sarah, but don't you think it's time to move on? Don't you ever feel lonely? And what about being close to someone and being physically intimate? It's