Read Online Anonymously Yours by Shirley McCann - Free Book Online Page A
Authors: Shirley McCann
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other one. “What exactly did you have in mind?”
We’d left the house soon after I agreed to consider spending time with Uncle Bob. I had slapped a few sandwiches together, tossed a bag of potato chips along with a six pack of soft drinks into a picnic basket, then accompanied Justin outside to his car. As soon as he’d popped the lid on the trunk, I noticed the assortment of fishing poles and tackle.
“For some reason, I pictured us snuggled together in some isolated corner of a movie theater, watching a romantic movie,” I answered.
Of course, I was joking. I knew Justin well enough to realize he’d never sit through a romantic movie. He preferred action movies, which was rather ironic when I thought about it. I was the one with the gun, but yet, I’d rather sit and watch a love story.
Justin started the engine and eased the car onto the highway. “I just figured a day at the lake might be more adventurous for you than sitting in some dark movie theater.”
I jerked my head toward him, my eyes wide. “Are you saying you don’t think of me as the romantic type just because I want to go after the bad guys?” That really hurt. Maybe I didn’t know Justin as well as I thought I did. Or maybe he didn’t know me. Either way, once again I was beginning to wonder what kind of a future we could possibly have together.
Justin rolled his eyes. “That’s not what I meant at all,” he snapped. He blew out a long breath between pursed lips. “Denise,” he said, “we’re both a little stressed right now. I admit it. I’m worried sick about this thing with Michael Black. But we both promised we wouldn’t talk about it today.” He looked my way and smiled. “Truce?”
I smiled back. “Truce.” I didn’t want to fight. I’d always wondered what would have happened if Justin hadn’t gone off to college right after graduation. Maybe now I had a chance to find out.
“Good. Because I’ve already scouted out a romantic little hideaway near the river for our picnic lunch.” He reached across the seat and put his hand on mine. “This is supposed to be our time together—just the two of us. Let’s make a fresh start, okay? I think we owe it to ourselves.”
“I agree,” I told him. I leaned back against the headrest. At least we’d be alone where we could talk out our problems, I realized. A smile warmed my cheeks when another pleasant thought came to me. Justin thought fishing in a secluded area was romantic. That was a pretty good start.
Justin let out a long breath and turned the steering wheel onto a tree-lined street. “But first I want to show you something. We’ll just need to make a little detour on the way to the lake. So close your eyes until I tell you when to open them.”
I had no idea what he had in mind, but I closed my eyelids anyway, listening to the melodic beat of the music on the radio. With the windows rolled down, the summer breeze slapped playfully against my cheeks.
About five minutes later, I felt the car come to a stop.
“Okay,” Justin said. “You can open them now.”
I opened my eyes in the driveway of a cozy, one-story brick house with wooden shadow boxes beneath the windows. A For Sale sign perched in the parched front lawn. “What’s this?” I asked. “Why are we stopping here?”
Justin held out a set of keys. “It’s my new house,” he said. His proud smile lit up his face. “Wanna have a look inside?” He jingled the keys and smiled even wider.
He yanked the sign from the lawn, then met me at my door and reached for my hand. “I’ll give you the grand tour.” When I stepped out, his arm wrapped around my waist in a comforting gesture.
“It needs a little work,” he said before opening the front door. “The owners were anxious to sell, so I got it for a good price. And it’s close to the school, so I won’t have a long commute to work.” He seemed anxious to have my approval.
“I thought you said you were apartment hunting,” I
We’d left the house soon after I agreed to consider spending time with Uncle Bob. I had slapped a few sandwiches together, tossed a bag of potato chips along with a six pack of soft drinks into a picnic basket, then accompanied Justin outside to his car. As soon as he’d popped the lid on the trunk, I noticed the assortment of fishing poles and tackle.
“For some reason, I pictured us snuggled together in some isolated corner of a movie theater, watching a romantic movie,” I answered.
Of course, I was joking. I knew Justin well enough to realize he’d never sit through a romantic movie. He preferred action movies, which was rather ironic when I thought about it. I was the one with the gun, but yet, I’d rather sit and watch a love story.
Justin started the engine and eased the car onto the highway. “I just figured a day at the lake might be more adventurous for you than sitting in some dark movie theater.”
I jerked my head toward him, my eyes wide. “Are you saying you don’t think of me as the romantic type just because I want to go after the bad guys?” That really hurt. Maybe I didn’t know Justin as well as I thought I did. Or maybe he didn’t know me. Either way, once again I was beginning to wonder what kind of a future we could possibly have together.
Justin rolled his eyes. “That’s not what I meant at all,” he snapped. He blew out a long breath between pursed lips. “Denise,” he said, “we’re both a little stressed right now. I admit it. I’m worried sick about this thing with Michael Black. But we both promised we wouldn’t talk about it today.” He looked my way and smiled. “Truce?”
I smiled back. “Truce.” I didn’t want to fight. I’d always wondered what would have happened if Justin hadn’t gone off to college right after graduation. Maybe now I had a chance to find out.
“Good. Because I’ve already scouted out a romantic little hideaway near the river for our picnic lunch.” He reached across the seat and put his hand on mine. “This is supposed to be our time together—just the two of us. Let’s make a fresh start, okay? I think we owe it to ourselves.”
“I agree,” I told him. I leaned back against the headrest. At least we’d be alone where we could talk out our problems, I realized. A smile warmed my cheeks when another pleasant thought came to me. Justin thought fishing in a secluded area was romantic. That was a pretty good start.
Justin let out a long breath and turned the steering wheel onto a tree-lined street. “But first I want to show you something. We’ll just need to make a little detour on the way to the lake. So close your eyes until I tell you when to open them.”
I had no idea what he had in mind, but I closed my eyelids anyway, listening to the melodic beat of the music on the radio. With the windows rolled down, the summer breeze slapped playfully against my cheeks.
About five minutes later, I felt the car come to a stop.
“Okay,” Justin said. “You can open them now.”
I opened my eyes in the driveway of a cozy, one-story brick house with wooden shadow boxes beneath the windows. A For Sale sign perched in the parched front lawn. “What’s this?” I asked. “Why are we stopping here?”
Justin held out a set of keys. “It’s my new house,” he said. His proud smile lit up his face. “Wanna have a look inside?” He jingled the keys and smiled even wider.
He yanked the sign from the lawn, then met me at my door and reached for my hand. “I’ll give you the grand tour.” When I stepped out, his arm wrapped around my waist in a comforting gesture.
“It needs a little work,” he said before opening the front door. “The owners were anxious to sell, so I got it for a good price. And it’s close to the school, so I won’t have a long commute to work.” He seemed anxious to have my approval.
“I thought you said you were apartment hunting,” I
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