Be My Valentine by Debbie Macomber Read Free Book Online

indifferent.”
    â€œI am indifferent.”
    With a look of patent disbelief, Martha Janes shook her head. “I saw the way your eyes lit up when Steve walked into the house. You can fool some folks, but you can’t pull the wool over your own mother’s eyes. You’re falling in love with this young man, and frankly, I’m pleased. I like him.”
    Dianne frowned. If her eyes had lit up when Steve arrived, it was because she was busy trying to figure out a way to repay him for the roses and the teddy bear. What she felt for him wasn’t anything romantic. Or was it?
    Dear Lord, she couldn’t actually be falling for this guy, could she?
    The question haunted Dianne as she loaded the dishwasher.
    â€œSteve’s real cute,” Jill announced. Her daughter would find Attila the Hun cute, too, if he brought her a teddy bear, but Dianne resisted the impulse to say so.
    â€œHe looks a little bit like Hugh Jackman, don’t you think?” Jill continued.
    â€œI can’t say I’ve noticed.” A small lie. Dianne had noticed a lot more about Steve than she was willing to admit. Although she’d issued a fair number of complaints, he really was being a good sport about this. Of course, she was paying him, but he’d gone above and beyond the call of duty. Taking Jason out for a spin in the tow truck was one example, although why anyone would be thrilled to drive around in that contraption was something Dianne didn’t understand.
    â€œI do believe Steve Creighton will make you a decent husband,” her mother stated thoughtfully as she removed the warm apple pie from the oven. “In fact, I was just thinking how nice it would be to have a summer wedding. It’s so much easier to ask relatives to travel when the weather’s good. June or July would be perfect.”
    â€œMother, please! Steve and I barely know each other.”
    â€œOn the contrary,” Steve said, sauntering into the kitchen. He stepped behind Dianne’s mother and sniffed appreciatively at the aroma wafting from her apple pie. “I happen to be partial to summer weddings myself.”

Six
    â€œD on’t you think you’re overdoing it a bit?” Dianne demanded as Steve eased the big tow truck out of her driveway. She was belted into the seat next to him, feeling trapped—not to mention betrayed by her own family. They had insisted Steve take her out for a spin so the two of them could have some time alone. Steve didn’t want to be alone with her, but her family didn’t know that.
    â€œMaybe I did come on a little strong,” Steve agreed, dazzling her with his smile.
    It was better for her equilibrium if she didn’t glance his way, Dianne decided. Her eyes would innocently meet his and he’d give her one of those heart-stopping, lopsided smiles, and something inside her would melt. If this continued much longer, she’d be nothing more than a puddle by the end of the evening.
    â€œThe flowers and the stuffed animal I can understand,” she said stiffly, willing to grant him that much. “You wanted to make a good impression, and that’s fine, but the comment about being partial to summer weddings was going too far. It’s just the kind of thing my mother was hoping to hear from you.”
    â€œYou’re right.”
    The fact that he was being so agreeable should have forewarned Dianne that something was amiss. She’d sensed it from the first moment she’d climbed into the truck. He’d closed the door and almost immediately something pulled wire-taut within her. The sensation was peculiar, even wistful—a melancholy pining she’d never felt before.
    She squared her shoulders and stared straight ahead, determined not to fall under his spell the way her children and her mother so obviously had.
    â€œAs it is, I suspect Mom’s been faithfully lighting votive candles every afternoon, asking God to send me