Read Online Love Takes Time (Christian Romance) by Kaci Hart - Free Book Online Page A

not going to
take a chance making you wait now since I worked a yes out of you.  I’ve
been looking forward to this night for far too long to leave you to some random
taxi driver.  I can’t wait to see you tonight Chelsea.”  
     
    Ryder
winked at her, did an about turn and left her to her students.  If she
wasn’t mistaken, he had a huge smile plastered all over his face. 
     
    ***
     
    Ryder
had just gotten to the restaurant and was speaking to the maître d’.  He
was thankful at least that he called ahead and had the table reserved. 
All she had to do was give them his name and they would escort her to his VIP
section. 
     
    “Ah,
Mr. Chatham.  Your guest is waiting for you now sir.”
     
    Darn
it.  She’s already here.
     
    “Thanks
David.”
     
    Ryder
was upset with himself for running late; unfortunately, work could get that way
sometimes.  It was about fifteen minutes after seven p.m. when he rushed
into the back room of the restaurant and saw her.  She was sitting at his
regular table looking around while twisting her hair carelessly. 
     
    He
took a minute to study her from afar before approaching.  She was stunning
in a black cocktail dress that was beautiful on her.  If this was her not
having anything to wear, then he couldn’t wait to see her when she was  really  made
up.  He was convinced then that she was more perfect that night than she
had been on the few occasions when he had seen her before.    
     
    Her
skin was smooth and flawless, conveying both youth and the work required to
take good care of one’s appearance.  Her face finally fell upon him and
the corners of her lips turned up in a demure smile when their eyes met. 
He strode over and she stood, embracing him in a light hug.
     
    “I’m
so sorry I am late.  Did you have to wait for a long time?”
     
    “Nope. 
Actually I just got here a little bit ago.  Literally I just sat
down.  If you’d gotten here five minutes earlier, you would have been
waiting on me instead.” 
     
    “That’s
a relief.”
     
    She
smiled at him and he thought she looked as excited as a kid in an amusement
park. 
     
    “Ryder,
this place is nice on a ridiculous level.  I didn’t know how nice it is
until I got inside.  Then there’s the service.  All I did was gave
them your name and their eyes lit up.  Next thing I know, they are
treating me like I could do no wrong while they brought me around here. 
Who would have imagined that a restaurant this nice would still have a special
section?  You must have some kind of reputation around here.”
     
    “Well
I do come here enough.  This is where we bring the clients that are  really  full
of it.  I want to say thank you for waiting around for me even for that
short time.  I don’t know what I would have done if you hadn’t.  Probably
would have cried myself to sleep.  That’s a sad sight I tell you.”  
     
    He
heard her soft laughter as he stepped behind her to help her with her
chair.  
     
    “You
expect me to believe that a self-assured guy like you would be sitting at home
on some fancy, expensive couch boohooing?  No way buddy.  Plus even if I did want to leave, then I’d have to find a
new date for the wedding so I’d be stuck anyway if I wasn’t already looking
forward to tonight, which I am.  Maybe even more than you.”
     
    “Oh
I highly doubt that being a possibility but I’m glad to hear you wouldn’t have
left.  I haven’t cried since the first time I saw Mufasa die in  The Lion  King.  No that’s a lie.  I did try making a
chicken dish a few weeks back.  “
     
    “It
was that bad?”
     
    “No. 
I’m a very good cook thank you.  It was the onions.  They take me
there every time.  By the way, don’t worry about the wedding.  A
promise is a promise so even if tonight’s date is not the undeniable success
that I know it’s going to be I stand by my promise one hundred percent.
 Plus, going to the wedding with you