Read Online April's Promise (Forever Love Series) by Karen Rose Smith - Free Book Online
Authors: Karen Rose Smith
Ads: Link
we?" Gabe asked as his gaze
didn't leave Nicholas for a second.
"A
beer isn't worth the effort you're putting into this today," Nicholas answered.
Low man
out always bought the winner beer at the local watering hole, where after the
game Gabe and Nicholas caught up on what had happened since their last game or
else just watched their favorite teams battle it out on the big-screen TV.
Gabe
kept remembering the fact that Nicholas and April were going out tonight.
"Want me to ease up?" He backed off a little, but still watched Nicholas
carefully.
"Not
on your life," his friend goaded with a smile as he tried to push past
him.
But
Gabe was ready for him, and when Nicholas tried to make a long shot, Gabe
caught the ball in one hand, dribbled fast to the basket and scooped it in
easily.
Nicholas
shook his head. "I'll buy the beers. There's no getting through or
around you today."
Knowing
he should feel a great deal of satisfaction, yet not experiencing any exhilaration,
Gabe tossed the ball to Nicholas. "Giving up already?"
"When
have you ever known me to give up?"
Too
true ,
Gabe thought. "Strategic retreat?" he suggested.
Nicholas
walked over to the bench and picked up his towel and slung it around his neck. "Not
exactly. But I thought after a beer, you might want to see my new house. I'm
having some work done before I move in, but I have the key."
"So
you're really going through with it?"
"Closed
on it yesterday," Nicholas said as he sat and pulled on his sweat pants.
"The house has been empty for so long they were glad to wrap up the deal
quickly. Let's get those beers," he suggested. "Then you can tell
me how good it will feel to be a land owner."
Gabe
wondered if Nicholas was really ready to settle down. And if he was, who would
he settle with?
****
Listening
for the doorbell, April attached gold hoop earrings to her ears. Her black
dress could easily be made casual or dressy. Tonight she was dressing it up by
slipping into black pumps. She'd thought about canceling tonight. She knew
Gabe would be relieved. But why would he be relieved? She wanted him
to put it into words. But she knew he wouldn't. And even if he did...
Would
she reveal what she knew about Stephie?
She'd
thought by staying here, her decision would become clearer. But instead, it
seemed to be getting more complicated. Maybe going out with Nicholas tonight
would help her put everything into a better perspective. She couldn't be
impulsive. She couldn't do anything until she was sure of her course. Because
once Gabe knew the truth, all of their lives could be changed forever.
When
the doorbell rang, April tossed her coat over her arm and picked up her purse.
But she was only half way down the stairs when Gabe reached the door ahead of
her and let Nicholas inside. Gabe had returned home about an hour before and
told her Nicholas had showed him through his new house. But that was about all
he'd said. Now his expression was neutral.
Nicholas
was dressed in a charcoal suit with a white shirt and black and gray tie. He
was a handsome man. Yet as her gaze went to Gabe in his T-shirt and jeans, she
wished she was going out with him tonight.
As she
reached the bottom step, Nicholas said, "You look terrific."
"So
do you," she returned with a smile. It was easy talking to Nicholas. Easy
joking with him. He was like the big brother she always wished she'd had.
"Where
are you taking her?" Gabe asked.
"A
new Italian restaurant. Do you like Italian, April?"
"Sounds
good to me," she said as she came to stand beside him. "I'm ready
whenever you are."
Nicholas
took her coat from her and held it so she could slip into it.
Gabe
just glowered.
As she
tucked her purse under her arm and belted her coat, she said to him. "I
have my key. So don't feel you have to wait up."
"But
you are planning on coming home tonight?"
She
felt heat rise quickly to her cheeks, whether from
didn't leave Nicholas for a second.
"A
beer isn't worth the effort you're putting into this today," Nicholas answered.
Low man
out always bought the winner beer at the local watering hole, where after the
game Gabe and Nicholas caught up on what had happened since their last game or
else just watched their favorite teams battle it out on the big-screen TV.
Gabe
kept remembering the fact that Nicholas and April were going out tonight.
"Want me to ease up?" He backed off a little, but still watched Nicholas
carefully.
"Not
on your life," his friend goaded with a smile as he tried to push past
him.
But
Gabe was ready for him, and when Nicholas tried to make a long shot, Gabe
caught the ball in one hand, dribbled fast to the basket and scooped it in
easily.
Nicholas
shook his head. "I'll buy the beers. There's no getting through or
around you today."
Knowing
he should feel a great deal of satisfaction, yet not experiencing any exhilaration,
Gabe tossed the ball to Nicholas. "Giving up already?"
"When
have you ever known me to give up?"
Too
true ,
Gabe thought. "Strategic retreat?" he suggested.
Nicholas
walked over to the bench and picked up his towel and slung it around his neck. "Not
exactly. But I thought after a beer, you might want to see my new house. I'm
having some work done before I move in, but I have the key."
"So
you're really going through with it?"
"Closed
on it yesterday," Nicholas said as he sat and pulled on his sweat pants.
"The house has been empty for so long they were glad to wrap up the deal
quickly. Let's get those beers," he suggested. "Then you can tell
me how good it will feel to be a land owner."
Gabe
wondered if Nicholas was really ready to settle down. And if he was, who would
he settle with?
****
Listening
for the doorbell, April attached gold hoop earrings to her ears. Her black
dress could easily be made casual or dressy. Tonight she was dressing it up by
slipping into black pumps. She'd thought about canceling tonight. She knew
Gabe would be relieved. But why would he be relieved? She wanted him
to put it into words. But she knew he wouldn't. And even if he did...
Would
she reveal what she knew about Stephie?
She'd
thought by staying here, her decision would become clearer. But instead, it
seemed to be getting more complicated. Maybe going out with Nicholas tonight
would help her put everything into a better perspective. She couldn't be
impulsive. She couldn't do anything until she was sure of her course. Because
once Gabe knew the truth, all of their lives could be changed forever.
When
the doorbell rang, April tossed her coat over her arm and picked up her purse.
But she was only half way down the stairs when Gabe reached the door ahead of
her and let Nicholas inside. Gabe had returned home about an hour before and
told her Nicholas had showed him through his new house. But that was about all
he'd said. Now his expression was neutral.
Nicholas
was dressed in a charcoal suit with a white shirt and black and gray tie. He
was a handsome man. Yet as her gaze went to Gabe in his T-shirt and jeans, she
wished she was going out with him tonight.
As she
reached the bottom step, Nicholas said, "You look terrific."
"So
do you," she returned with a smile. It was easy talking to Nicholas. Easy
joking with him. He was like the big brother she always wished she'd had.
"Where
are you taking her?" Gabe asked.
"A
new Italian restaurant. Do you like Italian, April?"
"Sounds
good to me," she said as she came to stand beside him. "I'm ready
whenever you are."
Nicholas
took her coat from her and held it so she could slip into it.
Gabe
just glowered.
As she
tucked her purse under her arm and belted her coat, she said to him. "I
have my key. So don't feel you have to wait up."
"But
you are planning on coming home tonight?"
She
felt heat rise quickly to her cheeks, whether from
Similar Books
