Read Online Cherished by Kim Cash Tate - Free Book Online Page B

Plenty of time to plot my revenge. You started all this.”
    Kelli chuckled. Somehow Logan the bachelor had landed at a table full of women, and they’d been giving him a hard time— naming people who’d be perfect for him or claiming him for themselves. He wasn’t necessarily Kelli’s type, but there was no question he was good-looking. She was dying to ask his ethnicity. Was he part Latino?
    â€œI’ll cut a rug with him,” said a woman who’d introduced herself as Hattie Cooper, “but I want it to be a slow number.” She looked twice his age, but she’d already told Logan he was a “handsome fella.”
    â€œI think we should hold an auction,” said the woman beside her. “A Dance with Logan. We could put some charity back in the black.”
    The table roared with laughter.
    â€œAre you blushing over there?” Cyd asked. “I don’t think I’ve ever seen you blush.”
    Logan looked elsewhere, trying his best to pay them no mind, but his face was the shade of tomatoes.
    â€œOkay, Logan, we’ll leave you alone,” Miss Hattie said. “But one question first, and I’m serious. What’s with the women at your church? Are they mostly old like me or married? Not a lot of singles?”
    â€œMiss Hattie,” Stephanie said, “there are at least two hundred single women at our church who’d marry him next Saturday if he asked.”
    Miss Hattie slugged Logan on the arm. “Well, son, why haven’t you picked one?”
    â€œWhoa! You’ve got some muscle,” Logan said with a laugh. “Miss Hattie, I’m only thirty-one. And to be honest, I’m not really interested in marriage right now. My time is filled with the same thing most everyone else here’s time is filled with—music. I guess you could say that’s what I’m married to.” He smiled. “But maybe one day, way down the road.”
    â€œAll right, young man,” she said, giving him the eye. “But don’t forget to give me your e-mail so I can connect you with my granddaughter.”
    Kelli snickered when she caught Logan peeking at Stephanie, mouthing, All your fault . Seconds later her phone vibrated. She’d thought it funny that so many of them had set their phones on the table, tweeting or updating their Facebook statuses. She brought her phone close to see who was calling.
    Miles. She’d avoided his calls all day while they were traveling and checking in, but she couldn’t delay much longer. She answered as she ducked out of the ballroom. “Hi.”
    â€œShe lives.”
    â€œI’m sorry. It’s been a busy day.”
    â€œBeen on the job hunt?”
    â€œUm . . .” Could she call it that? “Yeah. Taking different paths, trying to see which doors will open.”
    Several people had gathered outside the ballroom. Kelli moved farther away so he wouldn’t ask where she was. “How’d your presentation go?”
    â€œWay better than I expected. You were right. Preparation was key. I studied the material backward and forward and was able to answer all their questions. The team left excited about the kind of software we could develop for mobile access and management. And of course, my immediate supervisor was glad I made him look good.”
    â€œI had no doubt you’d knock it out of the park. You need to do something special to celebrate.”
    â€œI would, if you were here. As it is, my ‘celebration’ consists of a fund-raising dinner my parents are hosting for renovations of the children’s museum. And by the way, I can’t wait for them to meet you. I know they’ll love you.”
    â€œI look forward to meeting them,” she said, though she wondered what they’d think of her. From what she had gleaned, Miles’s people were old money—or at least “older” than anything she’d ever