Read Online Married in Seattle by Debbie Macomber - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Debbie Macomber
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trouble, he didn’t say, but Janine could guess all too easily. “I agree with you.”
“The less time we spend together, the better.” He paused when he noticed that she was standing in front of the bus stop.
“If we allow Gramps to throw us together, it’ll just encourage him,” she said. “We’ve got to be very firm about this, before things get completely out of hand.”
“You’re right.” Without asking, he took the rest of the packages from her arms, adding them to the bags and parcels he already carried. “I rented a car. I don’t suppose you’d accept a ride back to the inn?”
“Please.” Janine was grateful for the offer. They’d started off badly, each blaming the other, but fortunately their relationship was beginning to improve. That relieved her. She’d much rather have Zachary for a friend than an enemy.
They spoke very little on the twenty-mile ride back to the Bonnie Inn. After an initial exchange of what sightsthey’d seen and what they’d purchased, there didn’t seem to be much to say. They remained awkward and a little uneasy with each other. And Janine was all too aware of how intimate the confines of the small rented car were. Her shoulder and her thigh were within scant inches of brushing against Zach, something she was determined to ignore.
The one time Janine chanced a look in his direction, she saw how intent his features were, as if he was driving a dangerous, twisting course instead of a straight, well-maintained road with light traffic. His mouth was compressed, bracketed by deep grooves, and his dark eyes had narrowed. He glanced away from the road long enough for their eyes to meet. Janine smiled and quickly looked down, embarrassed that he’d caught her studying him so closely. She wished she could sort out her feelings, analyze all her contradictory emotions in a logical manner. She was attracted to Zach, but not in the same way she’d been attracted to Brian. Although Zach infuriated her, she admired him. Respected him. But he didn’t send her senses whirling mindlessly, as Brian had. Then again, she didn’t think of him as a brother, either. Her only conclusion was that her feelings for Zach were more confusing than ever.
After thanking him for the ride and collecting her parcels, she left Zach in the lobby and tiredly climbed the stairs to her room. She soaked in a hot scented bath, then changed into a blue-and-gold plaid kilt she’d bought that afternoon. With it, she wore a thin white sweater under her navy-blue blazer. She tied a navy scarf at her neck, pleasedwith the effect. A little blush, a dab of eye shadow and she was finished, by now more than ready for something to eat.
Zach was waiting to be seated in the dining room when she came downstairs. He wore a thick hand-knit sweater over black dress slacks and made such a virile sight she found it difficult not to stare.
The hostess greeted them with a warm smile. “Dinner for two?”
Janine reacted first, flustered and a little embarrassed. “We’re not together,” she said. “This gentleman was here before me.” Anything else would negate the agreement they’d made earlier.
Zach frowned as he followed the hostess to a table set against the wall, close to the massive stone fireplace. The hostess returned and directed Janine to a table against the same wall, so close to Zach that she could practically read the menu over his shoulder. She was reading her own menu when Zach spoke. “Don’t you think we’re both being a little silly?”
“Yes,” she admitted. “But earlier today we agreed that being thrown together like this could lead to trouble.”
“I honestly don’t think it would hurt either of us to have dinner together, do you?”
“No…I don’t think it would.” They’d spend the entire meal talking across the tables to each other, anyway.
He stood up, grinning. “May I join you?”
“Please.” She couldn’t help responding with a smile.
He pulled out the other
“The less time we spend together, the better.” He paused when he noticed that she was standing in front of the bus stop.
“If we allow Gramps to throw us together, it’ll just encourage him,” she said. “We’ve got to be very firm about this, before things get completely out of hand.”
“You’re right.” Without asking, he took the rest of the packages from her arms, adding them to the bags and parcels he already carried. “I rented a car. I don’t suppose you’d accept a ride back to the inn?”
“Please.” Janine was grateful for the offer. They’d started off badly, each blaming the other, but fortunately their relationship was beginning to improve. That relieved her. She’d much rather have Zachary for a friend than an enemy.
They spoke very little on the twenty-mile ride back to the Bonnie Inn. After an initial exchange of what sightsthey’d seen and what they’d purchased, there didn’t seem to be much to say. They remained awkward and a little uneasy with each other. And Janine was all too aware of how intimate the confines of the small rented car were. Her shoulder and her thigh were within scant inches of brushing against Zach, something she was determined to ignore.
The one time Janine chanced a look in his direction, she saw how intent his features were, as if he was driving a dangerous, twisting course instead of a straight, well-maintained road with light traffic. His mouth was compressed, bracketed by deep grooves, and his dark eyes had narrowed. He glanced away from the road long enough for their eyes to meet. Janine smiled and quickly looked down, embarrassed that he’d caught her studying him so closely. She wished she could sort out her feelings, analyze all her contradictory emotions in a logical manner. She was attracted to Zach, but not in the same way she’d been attracted to Brian. Although Zach infuriated her, she admired him. Respected him. But he didn’t send her senses whirling mindlessly, as Brian had. Then again, she didn’t think of him as a brother, either. Her only conclusion was that her feelings for Zach were more confusing than ever.
After thanking him for the ride and collecting her parcels, she left Zach in the lobby and tiredly climbed the stairs to her room. She soaked in a hot scented bath, then changed into a blue-and-gold plaid kilt she’d bought that afternoon. With it, she wore a thin white sweater under her navy-blue blazer. She tied a navy scarf at her neck, pleasedwith the effect. A little blush, a dab of eye shadow and she was finished, by now more than ready for something to eat.
Zach was waiting to be seated in the dining room when she came downstairs. He wore a thick hand-knit sweater over black dress slacks and made such a virile sight she found it difficult not to stare.
The hostess greeted them with a warm smile. “Dinner for two?”
Janine reacted first, flustered and a little embarrassed. “We’re not together,” she said. “This gentleman was here before me.” Anything else would negate the agreement they’d made earlier.
Zach frowned as he followed the hostess to a table set against the wall, close to the massive stone fireplace. The hostess returned and directed Janine to a table against the same wall, so close to Zach that she could practically read the menu over his shoulder. She was reading her own menu when Zach spoke. “Don’t you think we’re both being a little silly?”
“Yes,” she admitted. “But earlier today we agreed that being thrown together like this could lead to trouble.”
“I honestly don’t think it would hurt either of us to have dinner together, do you?”
“No…I don’t think it would.” They’d spend the entire meal talking across the tables to each other, anyway.
He stood up, grinning. “May I join you?”
“Please.” She couldn’t help responding with a smile.
He pulled out the other
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