Read Online Rocky Mountain Valentine by Carol Steward - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Carol Steward
Ads: Link
don’t have her phone number, so I can’t call her.”
His brother’s voice lowered to a near whisper. “Where could she have gone?”
“If I knew, would I be calling you?” Adam snapped. “Never mind, I’ll find her.” He dropped his phone into his pocket and headed back outside.
CHAPTER EIGHT
A DAM LOOKED DOWN the street. Most of the stores were closed. He glanced the other direction toward a school and a beauty shop, both of which would be closed on a Sunday. He headed toward the business district, zipped his coat and unfolded the collar.
He found her sitting in a coffee shop a block away, reading the newspaper.
“Ahem.” Adam leaned one hand on her table.
She lifted her gaze to his gloved hand and quickly followed his arm up to his face. Her eyes widened. “Adam!” Lisa looked at her watch. “You said two hours. I didn’t think you’d be so quick and I was craving a latte. Would you like one?” She motioned toward the barista and smiled at him.
“No, thanks. I—Katarina...” he stammered. “This storm is getting worse. I need to head back to the ranch.”
She grabbed a lid from the nearby island. “I’m sorry. I didn’t dream you’d be done so soon.” Lisa yanked her coat from the back of her chair and Adam held it while she put it on. “I’m so sorry, I planned to meet you back at the truck at ten-thirty.”
Despite his anger, he remained calm. “I was afraid I’d said something to send you running.”
She turned toward him and her eyes brightened with merriment. “It takes a lot more than a little growling to chase me away. Haven’t you figured that out yet?” She zipped her coat and pulled the hood over her head.
“I guess you’ve made that clear. Haven’t you?” Adam wasn’t sure whether to be angry at her or himself. At Lisa for not giving up on the story, or himself for being cowardly enough to wish she would.
A few minutes later, Adam pulled into Katarina and Alex’s driveway feeling more unsure of himself than he had in years. He wondered if it would be terribly rude to drop her off and head home. Right now he didn’t even care if it was. He just wanted to wake up three days earlier, before Lisa walked back into his life and rekindled dreams he thought he’d put to rest permanently.
While Katarina eagerly escorted Lisa inside, Adam slipped his boots off on the front porch to keep from getting their brand-new house muddy. Kevin met Adam at the door and handed him a stack of clothes. “Alex thought you might need these,” Kevin said, examining Adam’s pants. “Where in the world did you and that tire have the run-in anyway?”
Adam tucked the bundle under his arm. “South of Elk Creek Draw. Thanks for bringing these. I’ll be right back.” He tiptoed through the kitchen to the mudroom and closed the door, shutting out the joyous sounds of the family reunion.
Walking up to the house, Adam wished he and Lisa had met in another time, another place. He wished family connections weren’t so strong. Even showing a casual interest could lead to a lifetime of awkward family gatherings. In that regard, he had probably already blown it last night when he’d almost kissed her.
When he’d finished dressing, Adam considered asking Alex for a different pair of jeans. Surely he had a pair that wouldn’t be so snug, even if Adam did have to roll the legs like a kid wearing hand-me-downs.
Adam moved around a bit, then pulled the flannel shirt on and buttoned it, leaving it untucked. Maybe no one would notice. He looked around the adjoining laundry room, picked up a spray bottle then misted the jeans with water and knelt down to stretch them. After rolling his muddy slacks into a bundle, Adam wrapped them inside the less-soiled shirt. He opened the door to the kitchen. “Katarina, do you have a bag for these muddy pants and shirt?”
Lisa was the only one in the room.
She gave him the once-over and bit her lower lip, as if to hide her smile.
“Don’t you dare
His brother’s voice lowered to a near whisper. “Where could she have gone?”
“If I knew, would I be calling you?” Adam snapped. “Never mind, I’ll find her.” He dropped his phone into his pocket and headed back outside.
CHAPTER EIGHT
A DAM LOOKED DOWN the street. Most of the stores were closed. He glanced the other direction toward a school and a beauty shop, both of which would be closed on a Sunday. He headed toward the business district, zipped his coat and unfolded the collar.
He found her sitting in a coffee shop a block away, reading the newspaper.
“Ahem.” Adam leaned one hand on her table.
She lifted her gaze to his gloved hand and quickly followed his arm up to his face. Her eyes widened. “Adam!” Lisa looked at her watch. “You said two hours. I didn’t think you’d be so quick and I was craving a latte. Would you like one?” She motioned toward the barista and smiled at him.
“No, thanks. I—Katarina...” he stammered. “This storm is getting worse. I need to head back to the ranch.”
She grabbed a lid from the nearby island. “I’m sorry. I didn’t dream you’d be done so soon.” Lisa yanked her coat from the back of her chair and Adam held it while she put it on. “I’m so sorry, I planned to meet you back at the truck at ten-thirty.”
Despite his anger, he remained calm. “I was afraid I’d said something to send you running.”
She turned toward him and her eyes brightened with merriment. “It takes a lot more than a little growling to chase me away. Haven’t you figured that out yet?” She zipped her coat and pulled the hood over her head.
“I guess you’ve made that clear. Haven’t you?” Adam wasn’t sure whether to be angry at her or himself. At Lisa for not giving up on the story, or himself for being cowardly enough to wish she would.
A few minutes later, Adam pulled into Katarina and Alex’s driveway feeling more unsure of himself than he had in years. He wondered if it would be terribly rude to drop her off and head home. Right now he didn’t even care if it was. He just wanted to wake up three days earlier, before Lisa walked back into his life and rekindled dreams he thought he’d put to rest permanently.
While Katarina eagerly escorted Lisa inside, Adam slipped his boots off on the front porch to keep from getting their brand-new house muddy. Kevin met Adam at the door and handed him a stack of clothes. “Alex thought you might need these,” Kevin said, examining Adam’s pants. “Where in the world did you and that tire have the run-in anyway?”
Adam tucked the bundle under his arm. “South of Elk Creek Draw. Thanks for bringing these. I’ll be right back.” He tiptoed through the kitchen to the mudroom and closed the door, shutting out the joyous sounds of the family reunion.
Walking up to the house, Adam wished he and Lisa had met in another time, another place. He wished family connections weren’t so strong. Even showing a casual interest could lead to a lifetime of awkward family gatherings. In that regard, he had probably already blown it last night when he’d almost kissed her.
When he’d finished dressing, Adam considered asking Alex for a different pair of jeans. Surely he had a pair that wouldn’t be so snug, even if Adam did have to roll the legs like a kid wearing hand-me-downs.
Adam moved around a bit, then pulled the flannel shirt on and buttoned it, leaving it untucked. Maybe no one would notice. He looked around the adjoining laundry room, picked up a spray bottle then misted the jeans with water and knelt down to stretch them. After rolling his muddy slacks into a bundle, Adam wrapped them inside the less-soiled shirt. He opened the door to the kitchen. “Katarina, do you have a bag for these muddy pants and shirt?”
Lisa was the only one in the room.
She gave him the once-over and bit her lower lip, as if to hide her smile.
“Don’t you dare
Similar Books
