Read Online Flying High by Gwynne Forster - Free Book Online Page B

have this woman in his home, lightening his burdens and loving Ricky as if he were her own child? Money couldn’t pay for that.
    “You’re a blessing, Lena,” he said, careful not to sound emotional. “You’re just what this house needed.”
    Her smiles were his thanks. “You’re a good man, sir, and you deserve the best I can do.”
    He walked with her down the stairs and on to the breakfast room where Ricky jumped from his chair and went to meet him.
    “We’re not having beans, Unca Nelson, ’cause I only shelled three.” He held up three fingers. “I was in Miss Lena’s way, so I drew this for Audie.”
    He looked at what he supposed was a tree with a bird in it. Ricky always drew birds. He’d have to take the child to a bird sanctuary. The thought that came to him brought a smile to his face; if he had to draw something for Audrey, it would probably make her blush. How did you draw a kiss? He brushed his fingers over Ricky’s hair.
    “You did good. Never let a woman forget that you think she’s precious.” And never forget where that leads, a niggling voice reminded him.
    * * *
    Audrey had looked forward to Nelson’s call, but she had anticipated talking with him after she had finished her dinner, enjoyed a long, delicious bath and could lounge in comfort while they spoke. There I go, wishing for trouble. It’s better this way.
    After dinner, she called her younger sister. “Wendy, did Aunt Lena call you today?”
    “Yes, and I’m suspicious. Aunt Lena thinks something’s wrong with you if you don’t have a man in your life.”
    “You telling me? I’ll bet she was a femme fatale in her day.”
    “I’m sure of it. She painted such an idyllic picture of Nelson Wainwright, his home, and his little nephew that before I knew what she was doing, she’d inveigled me into spending all day Saturday with a five-year-old. Not a five-year-old ready to turn six, mind you, but one who’s having his fifth birthday between now and then. I can hardly handle those ten-year-olds I have to deal with every day much less a five-year-old.”
    “Not to worry, sis, five minutes after you meet Ricky, he’ll have you eating out of his little hand.”
    “Girl, you’re fantasizing. Why’d you refuse to do it? Don’t tell me she didn’t ask you first, ’cause I know she did. There’s an eligible man over there. Pam’s married, and you’re next. What happened? Did he lay an egg with you?”
    She stifled a laugh. “I’d be surprised if Nelson Wainwright had any experience with eggs other than what he found on his plate. That man does not inspire disrespect, and mentioning him and eggs in the same breath is tantamount to exactly that.”
    “Whew! He must be some brother if he made that kind of an impression on you! I gotta see this one. Aunt Lena can definitely count on me . Be over there Saturday morning on time.”
    “You do that. If you’re smart, you’ll leave your heart in your car.”
    “I’ll leave my... What do you mean? Do you have a stake there, or is he bad new for a gal who wants a family?”
    She pondered that for a moment and decided to let it pass. If she answered truthfully, she would say yes to both, but she’d keep her thoughts to herself. In any case, she knew she could depend on Nelson to steer her sister in the right direction.
    “You’re on your own, and you be sweet to Ricky. You hear?”
    “Of course I will, and I’ll give you all the details, including what I think of the Colonel.”
    For reasons she couldn’t fathom, after hanging up she wanted to call Nelson. Wanted it badly. She cleaned and polished the bathroom mirrors, dusted the Venetian blinds, washed the lingerie and stockings she’d worn that day and wrote out a check for her credit-card bill. As she wrote, she had a sudden understanding about her desire to phone Nelson. Proprietary as sure as her name was Audrey. That call would be an act of possessiveness, of establishing her right to phone him, detain him and