Read Online Happily Ever Afters Guaranteed by Lacy Williams - Free Book Online

glanced
pointedly at the front step. “I guess I should thank you for making
sure I get fed once a week.”
    He had seen her. A flush heated her cheeks.
“It’s no big deal. You don’t have to thank me.”
    She hadn’t done it for recognition. It had
started as a way to support him when he’d been unable to do much
for himself. Then it had morphed into a secret connection between
them. Even if he never found out she’d brought the meals for him,
she knew.
    He reached out and clasped her hand in his
larger, warm fingers. “I want to. Come in and eat with me, will
you?”
    She shouldn’t.
    He tugged on her hand, gently, and winked.
“I’ll even invite Kujo here in. I don’t have anything breakable at
his level anyway. Saves me from knocking knickknacks off with my
elbows.”
    Kate allowed him to tug her forward. She
waited momentarily as he navigated the incline at the bottom of his
driveway.
    She was really going to do this. Have dinner
with Brody.
     
    GO TO
PART SIX
     
     

PART FIVE
     
    Kate took a deep breath on Brody’s front
step. Her finger rested on the doorbell but she hadn’t pressed it
yet. She shouldn’t have come.
    What had prompted her to say “yes” to his
dinner invitation?
    He out-classed her.
    A light flicked on behind the door and the
knob rattled. Brody appeared, a welcoming smile on his face. No
turning back now.
     
    GO TO
PART SIX
     
     

PART SIX
     
    Kate followed Brody into a well-appointed
kitchen. The granite countertops and fine woodwork were so much
nicer than the Formica and buttercorn yellow cabinets at home.
    A reminder that she and Brody came from
different worlds.
    Brody wheeled up to one of the cabinets and
pulled out a couple of plates and then extracted silverware from a
drawer.
    “This is… really nice,” Kate said, looking
around.
    “After the accident, I had to have the
counters lowered and then rearrange the whole kitchen,” he said
with a self-deprecating smile.
    She’d never really spoken to him about his
disability. It hadn’t seemed appropriate when she was simply his
pool-girl. She didn’t really know if it was proper now, but the
words were already coming out of her mouth.
    “I hope you won’t think this is rude, but you
haven’t seemed to have that hard a time adjusting to… to…”
    “Not having use of my legs anymore?” he
finished for her. “You want to set the table?”
    She took the plates and silverware from
him.
    “I’ve had my moments,” he went on, removing a
dish from the box he’d set on the counter when they came into the
kitchen and pulling away the foil that covered the top. “Some
things have been harder to bear than others.”
    Brody put a folded towel across his lap and
settled the dish on top—a pasta casserole that was her mom’s
recipe. He motioned her to a doorway on the right. “The dining
room’s there. You probably noticed I’m a little nervous tonight. I
haven’t dated since the accident. I’m afraid I might be rusty…”
    His words ringing in her ears—he thought this
was a REAL date!—Kate moved on autopilot toward the doorway. One
glance into the formal dining room brought her out of her stupor.
The heavy, long table and expensive floral arrangement were so
fancy… It looked like it seated twelve! How could she be herself
when faced with this reminder of the differences between Brody’s
circumstances and hers?
    Thinking as quickly as possible, Kate called
over her shoulder. “Could we eat out on the patio? It’s a nice
night.”
    And it was. February in this area of Florida
averaged highs around seventy degrees, but today had been a bit
warmer. Beautiful, really. And she didn’t want to eat in that
stilted, formal dining room.
    “Sure, the patio’s fine,” came Brody’s voice
behind her. “Just go back through the living room.”
    She did, Keegan’s nails clacking on the floor
behind her. She’d almost forgotten that her canine companion had
been invited on this date with her. With any