Read Online Taking Chances by Loni Flowers - Free Book Online Page A

about the same thing? Did Clair also emphasize that this was nothing more than dinner? Alex felt a twinge    of disappointment. He hoped Clair wanted it to lead to something more, just as he did.                              
    The sound of shoes clipping down the staircase drew his attention. He watched as Clair descended the stairs, steadying herself on the handrail with each step. He didn’t know what part of her to look at first. She appeared the same, but different. Her hair seemed full and soft, its rich brown layers flipping out in every direction, bouncing around her face and shoulders as she walked toward him. Alex’s eyes roamed down her neck, the purple blouse she wore was unbuttoned, hanging loosely over a black top that clung to her. The top was cut low enough to show only a hint of cleavage, intimating the fullness of her breast and her skin looked so soft, he wanted to touch it. Her jeans hung low, accentuating the smooth curve of her hips. A small gap of skin was revealed as she moved, her black shirt riding up past the top of her jeans. It was the simplest of outfits, but he thought she looked amazing.
    “Hi,” he said, smiling brightly. He took in the sight of her again before meeting her eyes. “You look great.”
    “Thanks. I guess I clean up okay,” she said, doubtful. Clair looked at his pants, “Should I change? Are jeans okay where we’re going?”
    “Yes... no… I mean, don’t change. I like your outfit,” he smiled as he felt his face flush.  “Are you ready to go?”
    “I think so.”
    She yelled a goodbye to Roz as Alex ushered her outside to his Jeep. Opening the car door for her, he helped her get in, lifting her hips with his hands.
    “So where are we going?” she asked.
    “Well, are you hungry now? Or do you want to wait a while?”
    “It’s only five, so we can wait a while if there’s something else you want to do?”
    Alex had no set plans. When he asked Clair for the date, it was on a whim and he never expected her to say yes. Tapping his fingers on the steering wheel, he thought for a moment of what they could do. “How about the park? We can take a walk and then decide on what to eat later?”
    “Okay, that sounds fun.”
    When she smiled this time, it spread to her eyes. It was the first time he’d seen happiness that came from within her and not just for show. He hoped that was a sign that tonight was going to be a good night. 
     

 
    Clair
    The park was similar to one she remembered from her youth. Its perimeter was lined with woods and there was a large pond in the center with a walking bridge that stretched across it. As they strolled along the bridge, the park around them was buzzing with activity. Several baseball games were being played on the fields to the left, while children screamed and chased each other around the playground to the right. People were also scattered on the banks of the pond fishing, reading or having picnics. Propping her arms on the railing of the bridge, she watched a group of children throwing chunks of bread into the water for the ducks. Each one swam back and forth gracefully in the water, vying for the next soggy piece. She smiled, thinking about all the times she’d done the very same thing with her dad.
    Alex leaned in next to her on the railing and looked at her with a somber expression. “Everything okay?”
    Clair gave a small laugh, nodding toward the kids with the bread. “Yeah, I was just remembering how many times my dad and I would do the same thing. He’d buy a whole loaf of bread just to see me waste it, feeding a bunch of stupid ducks.”
    “It made you happy though, didn’t it?”
    She smiled faintly. “Yeah, it did.”
    “Well, if it made you happy, it wasn’t a waste.”
    What a thoughtful thing to say , Clair thought. “That’s what my dad would have said. I remember it like it was yesterday, but it feels like that was such a long time ago.”
    “Good memories are the