Dear Mystery Guy (Magnolia Sisters Book 1) by Brenda Barrett Read Free Book Online Page A

could slide into the car. "Have you thought about it?"
    Della's eyes skittered from his. She should have expected this. Mike must have been thinking about the proposal and thought that she had made an extra special effort to be dolled up for him.
    She swallowed and then turned around and looked at Mike wearily. "I thought about it."
    Mike nodded eagerly. "And?"
    "I don't love you, Mike," Della signed, "not like I should love a potential husband. And before I marry anyone I want to know who I really am."
    Mike stepped back from her, a disappointed slant to his mouth. "I figured that's what you would say. I thought you'd give me the we are too young argument too."
    "You did?" Della asked. She looked around in the parking lot. A car drove up and parked in front of one of the apartments. "You want us to go to Hope Gardens and talk?"
    "Sure. Why not?" Mike said, watching as she got into the car and closed her door. He went around to his side and turned to look at her. "But I hoped that...I don't know...I guess I was just being overly ambitious but we have known each other for over a year and you are a great girl."
    "And you like the idea of having a wife who can't speak," Della signed. "Hence, no nagging."
    Mike chuckled. "No. Well...there is that too but seriously everybody agrees that you would be a great catch so I didn't want to waste any time, you know."
    "Me?" Della mouthed. "Really?"
    "Yeah." Mike started the car. "You are smart and pretty and you have integrity. Remember last year when you found that purse from Sister Grandison at church and you gave it back with all her money?"
    Della frowned. "Isn't that the normal thing to do?"
    Mike shrugged. "I would give it back too but there are so many other people who wouldn't, even at church. And then there was Pastor Johnson; he told me if I didn't propose to you soon he would do it himself."
    Della's eyes widened and then she started laughing.
    Mike glanced at her as she hugged the side of the door. He was chuckling too. "Pastor Johnson is a good catch; he is not old enough to be your grandfather yet."
    "You are so funny," Della signed. She thought of the lovable and affable elderly pastor. He was recently widowed. He must have been egging on Mike to propose. 
    "I want us to stay friends," Della signed, "but we can't if you are holding out some kind of hope that we can be together."
    Mike stopped at a stoplight and looked across at her. "Friends. I can do that. You have to promise that you won't get jealous if I see somebody else, though."
    Della chuckled. "Promise."
    "I got a promotion last week." The stoplight changed and Mike drove off. "I am now the regional IT manager for the bank. The youngest manager at that level. At twenty-six that's not too bad, is it?"
    "That's great!" Della signed. "Really great."
    "I'll be stationed in St. Lucia for a short while." Mike grinned. "Maybe I can find a lovely St. Lucian woman to propose to."
    Della nodded. "That would be something."
    "Sure you are not jealous?" Mike asked again. "Because I am still on the market."
    "Sure," Della signed. "I want you to be happy."
    "Okay," Mike said. He drove into Hope Gardens and parked under a huge weeping willow tree.
    He turned to her. "So why are we here?"
    Della groaned. "Promise you won't be mad?"
    "Promise." Mike held up his hand. "Wait, you are not here to behead roses, are you?"
    "No." Della bit her lip and then mouthed, "I think God wants me to be here."
    Mike chuckled. "He does?"
    Della nodded. "I am sure of it. I am absolutely sure of it. There is this premonition, this feeling, this urging, this knowing, that this particular man I am going to spy on is vital to me somehow."
    "A man?" Mike raised his eyebrows. "We are here to see a man? I mean, spy on a man. Hmmm... How old is he?"
    "Youngish," Della said.
    "I can't believe this." Mike placed his hand over his heart dramatically. "This is heartbreaking. You really know how to cut a guy deep."
    Della signed rapidly. "I have to know why I am