Read Online Courting Disaster by Joanne Pence - Free Book Online Page B

action. “There aren’t any railings. You don’t want to tumble into the bay, do you?”
    Her voice was gentle and light, much as he’d expected it might be. For sure, she’d never cackle.
    He moved away from the edge.
    â€œI didn’t mean to startle you,” she said, “I’m sorry.” She looked chagrined, yet her eyes sparkled as if she were laughing at his discomfort.
    He stood straighter. “What are you doing out here?” he asked.
    â€œIt’s my lunchtime. I came out to see if a friend was here, a homeless man who calls himself Shelly Farms. He usually hangs out around the docks and used to check in with me regularly. I haven’t seen him for a week and I’m worried.”
    Stan looked around. Except for the two of them, the area was empty. “Sorry, it’s only me here.”
    She smiled. “That’s fine, too. You can also be my friend.”
    He liked that.
    She moved toward the bench she used the first time he’d seen her and sat, unwrapping her sandwich.
    He’d followed as surely as a puppy on a leash. “What is it?” he asked, hovering near.
    â€œTuna. The smells make everything around here taste fishy. It isn’t an area to try to eat baloney, for instance. Or peanut butter.”
    Stan winced at the thought.
    She chuckled. “Luckily, I like tuna.”
    He nodded. “Me, too.”
    â€œWhy don’t you sit and talk to me while I eat?” She patted the bench. “You seem like a nice fellow.”
    â€œI do?”
    â€œYes.” She twisted open a bottle of Aquafina. “And you have a beautiful fiancée.”
    â€œFi—? Oh, you mean Angie. She’s not my fiancée. We’re just friends. Neighbors, actually.” He nodded and fidgeted; nervous, shy, and unable to believe he was finally talking to her. As she ate, he tried to fill the silence. “She’s marrying someone else, and I just go along with her now and then for moral support. Her mother is planning a big engagement party for her, you see, and the two made a deal that Serefina would stay out of the wedding plans if she could handle the engagement, but then she took it a step further and is keeping everything a secret from Angie, so now the whole thing is driving Angie crazy and she’s going all over San Francisco asking restaurant owners if they have a party scheduled for May fifth, and…”
    The woman’s brows kept rising higher and higher as Stan talked, as if nothing he said made sense to her.
    â€œI know,” he admitted with a small smile. “It’s weird.”
    â€œSomeone else is your special girlfriend, then?” she asked, continuing with her sandwich.
    â€œNo. No one.”
    She looked at him curiously. “I’m surprised.”
    He felt his cheeks redden. His lack of companionship wasn’t anything he liked to talk about. “Tell me,” he said, changing the subject, “when is your baby due?”
    â€œYesterday,” she replied, and then burst into laughter at his stricken expression. “Not really! I’ve got three weeks yet.” She had a beautiful laugh, warm and hearty. Her slight shoulders shook with mirth. Everything about her was a delight. He didn’t understand this strange reaction at all.
    â€œShould you still be working?” he asked. “I mean, shouldn’t you be lying down? Or in the hospital or something?”
    â€œI’m fine. Everyone says it’s okay to work up to one or two weeks before the due date. Anyway, I need the money. It’s going to be hard after the baby is born. I’m trying to save for that.”
    As much as he didn’t want to know, he had to ask. “What about the baby’s father? Are you married? Doesn’t he work?”
    She shook her head. “He’s no longer involved.” Her eyes clouded and she looked away.
    â€œOnce, I saw you and the waiter arguing,”