Read Online Out of the Shadows by Loree Lough - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Loree Lough
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end up in my waiting room.”
Maybe his friendliness was just that. Maybe those “longing looks” he’d been giving her were just her imagination.
But what about that kiss?
Oh, grow up, Patrice, she scolded herself. Look at him! He was gorgeous, successful, intelligent, witty…and single. Everything, enjoyable as it was, could very well be part of an elaborate act. Practiced scenes he’d played out with dozens of women over the years.
Patrice eased her hand from beneath his and used it to snatch a napkin from the dispenser on the table. “Well,” she said, standing, “thanks for breakfast. It was great.”
He tucked in one corner of his mouth and regarded her through narrowed eyes. “Don’t mention it,” he said in cool, even tones.
“Better get going,” she said, gathering up her purse and briefcase. “Have to make sure there are enough—”
“What?” he asked in response to her gasp.
“Cookies.” She plopped onto a corner of the bench seat and rested her forehead on a palm. “I baked dozens of cookies for the kids. They’re on the kitchen table!”
“Hmm.” Wade pursed his lips. “Is there time to go home and get them?”
She shook her head. “I have to set up the tables, make sure the volunteers are in place, hang posters….”
He took her hand again. “Easy, kiddo. My mom always used to say, ‘For every problem, there’s a solution.”’
Oh, really? she asked silently. For the life of her, she didn’t see a solution to this one.
“I’ve got an hour or so to kill. How ’bout if I pick ’em up for you?”
Slowly, she lifted her gaze. Surely she was hearing things.
No, the expression on his face told her that he’d fetch the treats if she asked him to. But why, when she was likely one in an endless parade of ladies in his life? “I couldn’t ask you to do that.”
“You didn’t ask. I offered,” he said matter-of-factly.
She opened her purse, riffled through her wallet. “Good,” she said, snapping it shut. “I have more than enough cash to buy some junk food, right here.”
He should have looked relieved to hear he wouldn’t have to make the trip to her house and back. She didn’t know him well, but if she had to guess, Patrice would say he looked… disappointed that she hadn’t taken him up on his offer.
She held out her briefcase and her jacket. “Will you watch my stuff while I see what’s on the menu?”
He took it, then gestured with a thumb over his shoulder. “I’ll wait out there.” And with a wink, he headed for the cafeteria’s outdoor picnic area.
Ten minutes later, as she hurried from the cafeteria, Patrice caught sight of him, straddling the wide white wall that cordoned the grass from the concrete walkways. Her jacket, slung over one of his broad shoulders, flapped in the crisp autumn breeze like a cape. My white knight? she wondered, smiling despite herself.
When Wade saw her, he raised a hand. “Find everything you need?” he asked, heading her way.
She held out the brown bag, filled to overflowing with doughnuts and cookies and tiny fruit tarts. “This oughta hold ’em over.”
Wade relieved her of the bag.
“But—”
He held up a hand to stanch her protest. “Humor me, will you?”
She returned his smile. “Okay, but it’s quite a hike to my office, especially carrying that.” She nodded toward her briefcase.
“If you can do it, I can do it.” He paused. “But what’ve you got in this thing? Rocks?”
“Bricks, actually,” she teased.
They walked a few minutes in silence before Wade said, “So what’re your plans for tonight?”
“Candy.”
“Candy?”
“It’s Halloween, remember?”
“Now that you mention it, I do.”
“I’ll be helping my dad and Molly hand out candy to the trick-or-treaters.”
“Who’s Molly?”
“Dad’s nurse.” After a moment, she added, “What’re you doing tonight?”
“Before or after I go trick-or-treating?”
Patrice laughed. “Before.”
“Same thing
Maybe his friendliness was just that. Maybe those “longing looks” he’d been giving her were just her imagination.
But what about that kiss?
Oh, grow up, Patrice, she scolded herself. Look at him! He was gorgeous, successful, intelligent, witty…and single. Everything, enjoyable as it was, could very well be part of an elaborate act. Practiced scenes he’d played out with dozens of women over the years.
Patrice eased her hand from beneath his and used it to snatch a napkin from the dispenser on the table. “Well,” she said, standing, “thanks for breakfast. It was great.”
He tucked in one corner of his mouth and regarded her through narrowed eyes. “Don’t mention it,” he said in cool, even tones.
“Better get going,” she said, gathering up her purse and briefcase. “Have to make sure there are enough—”
“What?” he asked in response to her gasp.
“Cookies.” She plopped onto a corner of the bench seat and rested her forehead on a palm. “I baked dozens of cookies for the kids. They’re on the kitchen table!”
“Hmm.” Wade pursed his lips. “Is there time to go home and get them?”
She shook her head. “I have to set up the tables, make sure the volunteers are in place, hang posters….”
He took her hand again. “Easy, kiddo. My mom always used to say, ‘For every problem, there’s a solution.”’
Oh, really? she asked silently. For the life of her, she didn’t see a solution to this one.
“I’ve got an hour or so to kill. How ’bout if I pick ’em up for you?”
Slowly, she lifted her gaze. Surely she was hearing things.
No, the expression on his face told her that he’d fetch the treats if she asked him to. But why, when she was likely one in an endless parade of ladies in his life? “I couldn’t ask you to do that.”
“You didn’t ask. I offered,” he said matter-of-factly.
She opened her purse, riffled through her wallet. “Good,” she said, snapping it shut. “I have more than enough cash to buy some junk food, right here.”
He should have looked relieved to hear he wouldn’t have to make the trip to her house and back. She didn’t know him well, but if she had to guess, Patrice would say he looked… disappointed that she hadn’t taken him up on his offer.
She held out her briefcase and her jacket. “Will you watch my stuff while I see what’s on the menu?”
He took it, then gestured with a thumb over his shoulder. “I’ll wait out there.” And with a wink, he headed for the cafeteria’s outdoor picnic area.
Ten minutes later, as she hurried from the cafeteria, Patrice caught sight of him, straddling the wide white wall that cordoned the grass from the concrete walkways. Her jacket, slung over one of his broad shoulders, flapped in the crisp autumn breeze like a cape. My white knight? she wondered, smiling despite herself.
When Wade saw her, he raised a hand. “Find everything you need?” he asked, heading her way.
She held out the brown bag, filled to overflowing with doughnuts and cookies and tiny fruit tarts. “This oughta hold ’em over.”
Wade relieved her of the bag.
“But—”
He held up a hand to stanch her protest. “Humor me, will you?”
She returned his smile. “Okay, but it’s quite a hike to my office, especially carrying that.” She nodded toward her briefcase.
“If you can do it, I can do it.” He paused. “But what’ve you got in this thing? Rocks?”
“Bricks, actually,” she teased.
They walked a few minutes in silence before Wade said, “So what’re your plans for tonight?”
“Candy.”
“Candy?”
“It’s Halloween, remember?”
“Now that you mention it, I do.”
“I’ll be helping my dad and Molly hand out candy to the trick-or-treaters.”
“Who’s Molly?”
“Dad’s nurse.” After a moment, she added, “What’re you doing tonight?”
“Before or after I go trick-or-treating?”
Patrice laughed. “Before.”
“Same thing
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