Read Online Lucky Charm by Carly Phillips - Free Book Online Page B

gathering in case there was free liquor, rose to his feet.
    â€œMaybe that’s because Derek dumped her before he went off to college,” Chaz said.
    The dig got chuckles from the crowd. Chaz had been in Derek and Gabrielle’s graduating class. And even though he’d been drunk for most of his life, he was right about what had happened.
    Derek didn’t appreciate the public reminder and clenched his hands into tight fists at his sides.
    â€œYou did?” Holly pulled at his shirt. “You dumped Gabrielle?” his daughter asked.
    Derek groaned. “Way to go, Pop.”
    â€œWhat’d I do?” Hank asked.
    Derek shook his head. It was useless. His father wouldn’t understand that he had taken a calm, quiet talk and turned it into a mudslinging, embarrassing mess. Not until he’d calmed down and reflected on it, Derek thought.
    Gabrielle cleared her throat. “Tonight’s lecture is finished. Thank you all for coming,” she said, as she collected her notes from the podium in front of her.
    â€œDaddy?”
    Derek bent closer to his daughter. “Are you okay?” he asked her.
    She nodded. “Tonight was more exciting than I thought it would be!”
    At least she seemed unfazed.
    â€œTell me about you and Gabrielle,” Holly said, wide-eyed.
    â€œListen, I told you that Gabrielle and I were friends in high school. I’ll explain more to you later, but right now I need to talk to her and make sure she isn’t upset.”
    Holly nodded, wise for her years. “Please do. I’m sure Grandpa didn’t mean to hurt her feelings.”
    Derek gave his naive daughter a hug, then rose. “Dad? Take Holly home for me.”
    â€œHow will you get home? You drove here with us,” Holly reminded him.
    Derek cupped her chin in his hand. “I can get a ride with somebody here. Don’t worry, okay?”
    Holly shrugged. “Okay. But tell Gabrielle I said hello?”
    â€œI will. I’m sure she’ll really appreciate it.” He kissed her forehead and placed her hand in her grandfather’s. “Take her home.”
    â€œI only meant to protect our good name,” Hank said, his bluster gone.
    With people still snickering around them, Hank seemed to realize he’d embarrassed himself, the family and Gabrielle.
    â€œShe was always a nice girl. I never meant—”
    â€œI know.” Derek ran a hand through his hair. “Take Holly home. I’ll handle things here.” He’d done it before.
    Like his cousins, Michael and Jason, Derek had spent most of his youth responding to kids making fun of his family—how they weren’t real men since they couldn’t hold on to a woman. When Derek couldn’t ignore the taunts any longer, he’d fought back. While he didn’t appreciate his father’s approach, he totally understood the reasons for it.
    Derek watched his father wrap his arm around Holly’s shoulder and lead her out of the library, not pausing to talk to anyone.
    He blew out a deep breath and made a beeline for Gabrielle. Her friends, Sharon and Richard Stern, had circled around her in protective fashion, preventing anyone from heckling her further.
    Derek wasn’t just anyone. “Hi, Sharon.”
    She narrowed her gaze. “Derek. Haven’t you and your family done enough? Wouldn’t it be smarter to just go home?”
    â€œGive a guy a break. I just want to make sure she’s okay.” He gestured to Gabrielle by tipping his head toward her.
    Sharon frowned, keeping her body between Derek and her best friend. Even in high school, she’d been Gabrielle’s protector, even though Gabrielle hadn’t needed anything of the sort. These two women had a bond the likes of which he’d never seen. Though Sharon had been friendly enough to him since his return, now that Gabrielle was back in town, Sharon left no doubt as to where her loyalty lay.