Read Online Nora Ray (Ray Trilogy) by Kelley Brown - Free Book Online Page B

take them to their table; she had never been where they did that before.
    As they were seated she saw all the tables covered with table cloths and cloth napkins to match. Real flowers in vases sat on each table with shiny silverware.
    Jeremy watched her as she looked around with stars in her eyes.
    “ It’s beautiful!” she exclaimed.
    “ I’m glad you like it. I wanted tonight to be special.” I think I’m getting this right.
    “ Thank you, Jeremy. You are so kind.”
    “ Finally,” he teased exasperatedly, “I’ve been telling you that for a long time.”
    She laughed as she teased back, “ I guess I let that slip. I’ll have to watch my tongue.”
    After they were seated, Nora sat forward hoping he would like the suggestion her dad made, “My dad and I talked about your little problem of college. I want to make a suggestion for you to think about, maybe it could be a solution for you.”
    “ I like solutions. What did you come up with?”
    “ If you went to college to get a degree in business administration and threw in horticulture as a minor or major with it. You would be a business owner and contractor. He couldn’t say you were nothing but a day laborer because you would have your own employees but yet you could contract and design landscaping, etc.”
    Jeremy sat there thinking about what she said. “I think I like it. I definitely will give it some thought.”
    The waiter brought them their food. Jeremy ordered prime rib and Nora had ordered chicken cordon blue. The food was delicious.
    After the meal Jeremy stood up and reached out his hand to her. “There is a garden behind the restaurant I want you to see.” Surely I can make this romantic enough to get her to accept my class ring.
    There were walkways through beautiful fragrant blooming flowers, pots full of plants, statuettes, and a wate r feature humming with rushing water. Near the water feature there was a bench to sit and enjoy the scene. They strolled through the garden hand in hand.
    Jeremy brought her hand up to kiss the back of her hand.
    She felt a melting sensation inside her. She leaned toward him to receive a kiss. He brushed a light kiss over her lips. They walked over and stood in front of the water feature for a minute, then he directed her to the bench and they sat down. He still had her hand in his. He didn’t intend to let this moment pass. He tilted her head back to kiss her again and he felt it. A sprinkle of rain fell right on the back of his neck. He opened his eyes and Nora was wiping the rain off her face and arms.
    In surprise they both burst o ut laughing. They took off walking hurriedly for Jeremy’s car. Nice try , he thought, there goes that .
    He started the car, thinking , there’s got to be a way to salvage this. I want to give her my ring. I know. I’ll take her to the greenhouse.
    He drove with wipers swishing over the wind shield. He noticed Nora’s dress was a little wet and she was wiping the rain off her arms again.
    He drove o nto the driveway at the front of the flower shop this time and a light of recognition lit up Nora’s eyes. “Oh,” she said. This is where we bought the flowers for our flowerbeds. I guess I didn’t realize it the last time you brought me here because we came in from the alley.”
    “ Neat,” was all he could think to say. How can I get her in a romantic mood?
    It was still lightly raining as they walked quickly to the greenhouse. He unlocked the door and ushered her in. He began rubbing his hands over her arms to wipe the rain off. Then he put his arms around her and pulled her into an embrace.
    She pushed back because he was really m aking her wet now. “Watch it, Jeremy, you’re making me wetter.”
    “ Oh! I’m sorry. That wasn’t my intention.” Oops, messed up there. He went over and picked up a long stemmed red rose. He took it over to the counter and slipped his class ring over the stem and tied a big puffy yellow ribbon around the stem below the ring to