Blind Faith by Kimberley Reeves Read Free Book Online Page B

slowly straightened up, unaware that she was holding her breath until her lungs started to burn.   There was only one person who could trigger that kind of tail wagging response in Rufus; the same person who sent her own emotions spiraling out of control.  
    “Will?”   She heard the chair between her and Rufus being pulled back and couldn’t quite contain her smile when he replied with a soft chuckle.   “What are you doing here?”
    “Shouldn’t I be the one asking that question?   What happened, did your friend bail on you?”
    “Yes…no…I mean…” Serena hesitated for a moment before blurting out the truth.   “I made it up, all of it.   I didn’t make plans to have dinner with a friend…in fact, she doesn’t even exist.   I just said that because I didn’t want to have dinner with you…no, that came out all wrong…”
    Will’s hand closed over hers.   “It’s okay.   You don’t have to explain anything.   I thought about it after you left this morning and came to the conclusion you fabricated the whole story because you were confused about what happened last night.   Listen Serena, I realize how difficult it is for you to open up, especially to a man, but trying to outrun your own emotions isn't the answer.       Eventually they're going   catch up with you.”
    “Now you sound like Rose,” she said with a groan.
    “You should listen to her; Rose is a very smart lady.”
    “Don’t you mean pushy and overbearing?”
    “That too,” he agreed.   “And now, Miss Cross, you have to make a very important decision.”
    “Will, I…need time,” she started but he cut her off.
    “I’ll give you two minutes.   You can stay here and brown bag it like poor Rufus had to do, or you can come home with me and have a delicious steak dinner.”
    “Steak sounds much more appealing…wait a minute,” her voice was suspicious, “how did you know Rufus ate half my sandwich?   Will Duncan, were you following me?”
    “Of course not,” he sounded genuinely offended.   “I just happen to be sitting outside the school when you left, and by sheer coincidence was driving this way.”
    “Hmmmm, that was over two hours ago.   What made you come back?”
    “Well, I…uh…didn’t exactly leave.   You see, I dropped in to get a book on…” he glanced around at the rows of books, desperate for a plausible subject when Rufus nudge d Will’s leg with his nose.   “Golden Retrievers,” he said with a note of triumph.  
    “Really?   You must have discovered quite a lot if you spent two hours browsing books about them.”
    “Yes, it was pretty fascinating stuff.   Did you know they originally came from Ireland… ?”
    “Scotland, you mean?”
    “Ireland, Scotland, whatever.   They have an instinctive love for water, which is why they’re such good hunting dogs, and they’re very intelligent.   Oh, and they are extremely loyal to their owner.”
    Serena arched a brow.   “So…based on what you read, Golden Retrievers are more of a one man, or woman, dog?”
    “Definitely,” he said with conviction.
    “And being so loyal to one person would also make them superb guard dogs then because they would naturally be suspicious of strangers?”
    “Yes, I’m sure several of the books mentioned they make excellent guard dogs.”   He eyed Rufus who didn’t seem the least bit concerned there were half a dozen people milling around the aisles.   “Or not,” he mumbled under his breath.
    Serena made a clicking noise with her tongue.   “You didn’t even look at any of the books on Retrievers, did you?   If you had, then you would know they make horrible guard dogs because they are too trusting and gentle and are usually as amiable to strangers as they are to their owners.”
    “Uh , oh, busted.   Okay, I admit I didn’t browse the canine aisle , but I did read the entire swimsuit edition of Sports Illustrated.”
    Serena bit back the laughter bubbling up inside her.