Read Online Something About Sophie by Mary Kay McComas - Free Book Online Page A

think?”
    While she sputtered playfully, he offered Sophie a wink and his hand, which she took, knowing as well as he did that if they didn’t keep moving, they might never get out of the house.
    â€œNow, how did I know you’d be such a culinary snob about this, Jesse?” He gave Mike a fond, reassuring squeeze on one shoulder and pushed the screen door open to let Sophie out. “So purely to keep you happy, I also made a reservation at Tony’s. He said he’d hold it until nine o’clock when I called to push it back, which means we should probably get going or we’ll end up out on the curb eating leftover spaghetti off paper plates. In which case Burger King would start looking good.”
    â€œOh, like Tony wouldn’t stay open all night if you asked him. Don’t let them fool you, Sophie. Two more unlikely friends you’ll never see. Tony’s a mountain-sized football player who turned his fondness for food—”
    â€œWhoa. Whoa. Whoa. This is my date. If you tell her everything, I won’t have anything left to say. She’ll think I’m dull as dirt and it’ll be your fault.”
    â€œOh, please.” She tsked, pretending to be indignant. “Fine. Go. Leave me with the ungrateful child.” She threw her arms around Mike’s neck from behind and he let her. “Be back before dawn.” Mike rolled his eyes and started pushing the door closed. “I don’t want to have to explain anything to the neighbors, but I do expect a full report when—”
    They were both laughing going down the steps to the sidewalk, still holding hands. Drew stopped, turned to her, and heaved a sigh. “Hi.”
    â€œHi.”
    â€œSorry I’m late.”
    She smiled. “I appreciated the call. Your patients can’t exactly call in to schedule a crisis. I hope it went okay.”
    He gave a nod. “In case I don’t mention it every time I think it tonight, you look beautiful.”
    â€œThank you,” she said, happy to hide her heady flush in the twilight—it not being in her color wheel and all. “New dress.”
    â€œMm. It’s nice, too.” His second compliment caught her off guard and the double flush that came in response was almost painful, though apparently the dusk wasn’t as concealing as she’d hoped. He grinned perceptively and moved on, ignoring her stunned silence. “I hope you like Italian. Tony cooks a bit of everything, otherwise he’d never make it in a town this size; but he loves eating Italian, so that’s what he cooks best.” He pulled the iron gate open and let her pass through. “He’s likely to come out of the kitchen, brag about his secret recipes, and even tell you what you should eat, but feel free to order what you want or he’ll—” He stopped when she did and frowned at her expression. “What?”
    â€œThat truck.” She nodded sideways to the big blue one parked up the block. She wasn’t sure if she should stare back at the man seated inside to show she wasn’t troubled by his presence—which was a lie—or casually look away to withhold any satisfaction he might be getting if he was indeed stalking her. “I saw it . . . him” —if the cap he’s wearing is green —“this morning. Across from the hospital.” The rest of what she was thinking was too strange to say out loud; and yet, with the sickening drain of blood from under her skin that left her feeling clammy and queasy, she couldn’t help herself. “I think he’s watching me.”
    Drew’s hesitation to believe her was so brief she almost kissed him. “I’m pretty sure that’s Cliff Palmeroy. I . . . well, wait here a second. I’ll be right back.”
    â€œNo, don’t,” she said, totally without heart, instinctively following him into the street. “I mean, it could