Read Online Fourth of July by Cami Checketts - Free Book Online Page A

shards of crystal on the patio below.
    Alexis wished she could crawl into a hole.
    Chris chuckled. “Sorry, didn’t mean to startle you.”
    “No, no, it’s okay.” Alexis shook her head. She admired the way he filled out his tuxedo. “I just wasn’t expecting anyone, and you were so close...” She looked away. “I’d better go clean that up.”
    Chris arched an eyebrow. “In that dress?” He shook his head. “I don’t think so. I’ll find someone to take care of the mess when I go back inside.”
    “Thanks.” Alexis didn’t trust herself to say more.
    “Would you like another drink?” An amused expression played on his firm lips. “What was it—wine, champagne?”
    “Orange juice,” Alexis murmured. She felt blood rushing upward.
    “Orange juice?” His smile broadened. “That must have been a special request.”
    “Not really.” She squirmed, uncomfortable. “Several specialty drinks are made with orange juice.”
    “Why no alcohol?”
    “Well...” Alexis hedged, watching the cars creep down the wide street below.
    Should she explain her religious convictions to Chris? Would he think she was a fanatic? Was it possible he might have the same beliefs? The only way she would know would be to speak up.
    “Well,” she began again, turning her concentration to the night skyline. “I don’t drink alcoholic beverages.”
    “Why not?”
    She risked a glance in his direction. He appeared interested. “I’m a Christian.”
    She studied his face for understanding, but his eyes darkened to granite. They weren’t warm in any sense of the word. “I know Christians who drink alcohol.”
    Alexis nodded. “I’m sure you do, but the church I go to takes the Bible pretty literally. In the Old Testament the Lord commanded Aaron and his sons to not partake of any strong drink.”
    Chris held up a hand, stopping her. “I know the Bible.” His voice was clipped; his mouth drawn into a thin line.
    “You do?”
    He nodded curtly. “I know a little about religions like yours.”
    “Something tells me the ‘little’ you know isn’t good. You’ve had a bad experience with a Christian?”
    Chris started. “Oh, no, nothing like that. Christians are fine.” His eyes withdrew from hers. “I think highly of the Christian people I know.”
    “So, you understand why I don’t drink alcohol?” Alexis asked, trying to understand the conflicting messages his words and eyes were conveying.
    There was a long pause. Finally, he looked in her direction again.
    “I understand.” He smiled, but it didn’t reach his eyes. “Let me guess. You want to share scriptures with me.”
    “Well...” He didn’t seem very receptive.
    “Need to get some missionary work in?” Chris asked. This time his smile was teasing.
    “Every chance I get,” she retorted.
    “That’s a good little saint.” He winked. “Okay. Give me the spiel. Why don’t you drink?”
    “I don’t think you want to know,” she said, having a hard time recovering from his wink.
    “Come on.” He straightened his lips, but a sparkle still lit his dark eyes. “I really want to know.”
    “No, you don’t.”
    “You’d better give me the speech or you’ll be thrust down to outer darkness for missing this golden missionary opportunity.”
    She opened her mouth to protest. A person who had a grudge against religion was not a golden missionary opportunity.
    “So, tell me. What’s wrong with a little alcohol?”
    “Nothing, if you want to make a fool of yourself and die from liver disease.”
    “Oh.” He arched one eyebrow. “Somebody’s told you not to drink, and you just blindly follow?”
    Alexis folded her arms across her chest. “I have a testimony of my own. I don’t blindly follow anything.”
    His lips twitched. “Uh-huh. So what else aren’t you supposed to partake of?”
    “Alcohol, illegal drugs, tobacco, any harmful substance.”
    “No wonder you look so good.” His eyes never left her face.
    Alexis’ eyebrows