Read Online Connecting Strangers (Discovering Emily) by Rachel Carrington - Free Book Online

someone is going to find his dead body in a ditch one day.”
    “I’d better get back to work.” I touch her arm to let her know I appreciate her support. When I turn, Adam is standing by the kitchen door, and I wonder how much of the conversation he’s heard.
    “You shouldn’t eavesdrop.” The reprimand falls on deaf ears.
    “Wasn’t. Needed some cream for my coffee, and my waitress was nowhere around.”
    “I believe you asked for black coffee.”
    A dimple appears when he smiles. “I did, didn’t I? I guess I’m busted. You’re good at catching me.” He winks before leaning in to whisper. “In truth, I just wanted to see if you looked as good going as you do coming.”
    I give him a little shove. “Go back to your coffee. I have other customers.”
    “I’ll pick you up at seven.”
     
    Francine’s gone shopping again, and the proof is littered all over my bed. Bags and bags of pants, dresses, shoes, everything. Tears spring to my eyes as I stand there in a towel, sorting through the wardrobe. Here I’d been in the shower wondering what I was going to wear tonight, and she swoops in again with a resolution.
    “Thought you might like some change of scenery.” Her husky voice has me turning around.
    I don’t know what to say to her so I just walk over and hug her. Emotion is clogging my throat so tightly I can’t speak anyway. Francine pats my back then pushes me gently away.
    “You need to get dressed. It’s already six-thirty.”
    Time is going too fast. I’d gotten home at a little after five which should have been plenty of time. But I spent thirty minutes on my make-up which is twenty-nine minutes longer than I usually take.
    “Oh, don’t worry if you’re running a little late. He’ll wait. Good things are always worth waiting for.” She winks and spins around toward the door. “Since you were traveling so light, I picked up some other essentials for you, too. In case you didn’t already see them, you’ll find them in the bathroom under the sink, and in the dresser, and there are a few more things in the closet.” Her voice trails off as she heads down the hallway.
    It’s a little hard for me to believe I’m going out on a date when less than forty-eight hours ago, I didn’t know if I’d make it out of my house alive. As I try on several outfits, my spirit grows lighter. Francine is right. I do deserve this.
    By the time I decide on a maxi skirt with high-heeled boots and a fitted cream sweater, I’m singing. I twirl in front of the bathroom mirror with a smile. I can’t remember the last time I sang, but, by this time tomorrow, I’m pretty sure I’ll have a whole lot more to sing about.
    Francine pokes her head back in the open doorway, grinning at my impromptu pirouette. “I forgot to tell you I put some condoms in that cute little purse hanging on the doorknob of the closet.”
    “Francine!” Though there’s heated denial in my voice, I can’t look her in the eyes. How is it that she knows so much when she isn’t that much older than I am? Unless she wears her age a hell of a lot better than I think she does.
    “It’s only dinner.” The words sound hollow.
    “To start with, but the way the two of you are together, I’ll be surprised if I see you again before Monday.”
    Sure my cheeks are burning, I turn to look at the purse behind me. “I have to work tomorrow morning.”
    “If you have other plans, I can cover for you.” She chuckles and starts to back away, but I call her name again. “Yeah, honey?”
    “I feel like I’m getting ready for the prom, and everyone knows what happens on prom night.”
    “And those who don’t go to prom are jealous as hell the next morning.” Her grin threatens to split her face. “Just go enjoy yourself. No one here is judging. I’ll be the jealous one sitting on the couch tonight.”
     
    Adam picks me up in his black, shiny truck with chrome fenders. It’s so high off the ground he has to help me up into the