Read Online Learning to Ride by Erin Knightley - Free Book Online Page B

and she blinked over at her assistant. “I’m sorry?”
    Laurie Beth rolled her eyes and grinned. “Boss lady, you’ve been a million miles away this week. How about you take a break and come to my book club tonight?”
    As much as she wanted to deny it, Madeline had been distracted this week. She still felt rotten about what she’d said to Tanner, and how frosty their parting had been. The women at the office had invited her out a few times that week, but she’d used the unpacking excuse to sit at home and wallow in the misery of being stuck here. All she wanted was to get in the car and not stop until she saw New Jersey in the rearview mirror.
    “Thanks, but I think I’ll pass. I doubt I’ve read the book, anyhow.” Actually, she probably had read the book. Reading was her one true escape, and she’d devoured countless books since moving here. Thank God for e-readers, since there wasn’t a bookstore around for miles.
    Just another thing this town didn’t offer.
    Laurie Beth flapped a hand. “That don’t make no nevermind. We never stay on topic more than five minutes, anyhow. We’re really there for wine, Clarita’s famous cupcakes, and good old-fashioned gossip.”
    “Tempting, but no thanks.”
    Sitting in the chair on the other side of Madeline’s desk, Laurie Beth leveled a persuasive stare at her. “Now, Ms. Harper, I’m not one to pry, but I have it on good authority that you finished unpacking days ago. Mrs. White’s daughter Sierra said there haven’t been any more boxes in the trash since garbage pickup day on Tuesday.”
    Despite Madeline’s scowl, her assistant pressed on. “You need to get out and enjoy your new town! You’ll have fun, I promise. Oh, and Mr. Harvey over at the general store said you’re partial to chardonnay. Since Ms. Letty never hosts a book club without bottles of the stuff, I know we’ll have you covered.”
    Madeline let out a long breath. Would she ever get used to all the noses in her business here? She opened her mouth to turn down the offer again but found herself hesitating. She was a social person. All this solitude had long past worn thin. And it wouldn’t be a bad idea to put names to faces around here. At least then she’d know who was gossiping about her.
    Squaring her shoulders, she nodded. “Alright, fine. Text me the details and I’ll see if I can make it.”
    A triumphant grin lit Laurie Beth’s face. “Perfect! Why don’t I pick you up at a quarter to seven? Ms. Letty lives out in the boondocks, and I wouldn’t want you to get lost trying to find it in the dark.”
    “How about I meet you here and follow you over? That way we can leave whenever we are ready.” Though she’d agree to come, she wanted an escape plan in case the night didn’t go well.
    As it turned out, Laurie Beth hadn’t been exaggerating. By the time they pulled up to the quaint ranch house that night, Madeline was so turned around she doubted she could have found her way there with a police escort. She’d have to have Laurie Beth write out the directions home before she left.
    What was it with these people and their desire to live in the middle of nowhere?
    Shaking her head, Madeline stepped out onto the gravel drive and looked around. Muted laughter filtered from within the gaily lit house, while the late dusk light hinted toward wide-open spaces all around them. She took a bracing breath. This would be her first purposefully social experience in this town. She sincerely hoped it went better than her interactions with Tanner.
    She ducked back into the car to grab the bottle of wine she had brought—there could never be too much chardonnay at a party—before following Laurie Beth to the front door. Before they could knock, it was flung open by a short, well-padded older woman with bouffant white hair and bright-red glasses.
    “Goodness gracious, I thought y’all would never get here. Come in, come in,” she said, waving them both inside.
    Laurie Beth gave the