Read Online Love Finds You in Victory Heights, Washington by Tricia Goyer - Free Book Online Page A

dedicated women. Women who were like a secret weapon, ready to jump into action when needed. Women who’d produced over one hundred B-17s in the last year alone—enough to give the Allies an edge.
    The song, “Kiss the Boys Goodbye,” wound down with a zipping trumpet solo, and then Nick limped to the mic. Rosalie couldn’t imagine anyone pulling off a limp with more style—even dreamy Frank Sinatra.
    “I hear history’s been made today!” Nick announced. The crowd roared their cheers. “Will the two ladies who broke the record come on up?”
    For the second time that day, Rosalie found herself onstage. She surveyed the beaming faces of her friends. As much as she hated the spotlight, the thrill of the day’s victory trumped her reluctance. Birdie grabbed Rosalie’s hand and lifted it up as if she were a boxer who’d won the title. The crowd cheered as Nick wrapped his arms around their shoulders and leaned into the microphone.
    “So tell me, ladies, what exactly did you accomplish today?”
    “They broke the national record!” Iris’s strong voice bellowed from somewhere in the audience.
    Rosalie scanned the room for her, but instead her gaze tripped on a familiar face. A man’s face. That reporter—Kenny. He was talking to the oh-so-cute Lanie but seemed distracted. His eyes darted past the new girl toward the stage. The way he looked at her made her stomach flip. His focus seemed stronger than it had been this morning—more caring too. His smile was becoming. But instead of making her eager to talk to him, the emotions stirring within made her want to escape.
    Without warning, the reporter’s eyes locked with Rosalie’s. And then he winked. Rosalie placed a hand over her stomach, surprised by the unexpected butterflies. He totally unnerved her—for the second time that day.
    Oh no. Smoldering heat rose from her neck to her face. Why did I let Iris talk me into giving him my number? She turned her head, glancing toward the crowd of her friends again, but it was too late. She knew he’d seen her blush.
    The anxiety of being onstage resurfaced. The euphoria over winning the contest and the anticipated satisfaction of making Bill and George grovel in apology tomorrow faded as she struggled to come up with an escape plan. Could she manage to do it without Kenny noticing? Maybe if she simply avoided eye contact, he’d lose interest and she could slip away.
    Birdie’s slim fingers tugged on her arm, and her voice filtered through the din. Birdie was saying something about needing help from men to break the record—or not needing them…. Birdie tugged on her arm, smiling. “Do you think so, Rosalie?”
    “What?” She tried to refocus. What had Birdie been saying?
    “Did we need help for what we did this afternoon?”
    Rosalie turned her attention back to the crowd and faked confidence she didn’t feel. “Nope, Birdie, we didn’t need any help!”
    The room hushed, and numerous pairs of eyes focused on her—a mix of surprise and pain.
    Birdie’s eyebrows scrunched; then she rose on her tiptoes to whisper in Rosalie’s ear. “Uh, Rosalie, maybe you heard me wrong. I asked you if we could’ve done it without the help of our sisters.”
    Rosalie gasped, embarrassed heat flooding her cheeks. She scanned the faces, seeing their confusion, wishing she could take her words back. She leaned toward the microphone. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean—” She couldn’t help but look at Kenny, to see his response. A sympathetic grin filled his face.
    “That’s all right, sweetie!” Iris called out. “We knew what you meant. You’re our Rosie the Riveter!”
    Kenny clapped along with the others, then coiled his fingers into his mouth to release a shrill whistle.
    Rosalie leaned in toward Birdie. “This is why I hate being in front of people. Never turns out good,” she mumbled.
    Birdie squeezed Rosalie’s hand as the cheers followed them from the stage. “It’s okay, sweets,” Birdie said.