Devoted to Her (Dream Date Book 2) by Ivan Kendrick Read Free Book Online Page B

you’re coming
from, but I’m fine. I can assure you that’s not the case. Okay. Yeah. Tell Mom
and Dad I said hi. And Ryan too. Good. Bye.”
    Amanda hung up.
    “My grandparents. They just returned from a trip to Nashville.”
    Nathan nodded. He’d met Harold and Mildred Tilley
during the Christmas holidays. Amanda’s parents threw a big, but laid-back
party on the twenty-fourth. They were kind enough to invite Nathan and his
father. Harold, though, didn’t approve of him. He thought Nathan wasn’t enough
for his “sweet, beloved granddaughter.”
    Amanda caught Nathan’s expression.
    “Don’t worry about my grandpa, Nathan. He’ll come
around. You’ll see.”
    “I hope so, sweetheart. He wasn’t exactly welcoming
during Christmas.”
    “Grandpa’s always been highly protective of me. It
won’t take him long to warm up to you.”
    “I’ll try not to take it personal. It’s just that no
one’s ever looked at me like I’m from the ghetto or something.”
    Amanda scoffed.
    “That’s absurd, Nathan. I really don’t think Grandpa
thinks that of you. For a guy of your upbringing, you’re rather…refined.”
    Nathan chuckled.
    “At least your Grandma approves of me.”
    “Yes. She’s the most open-minded in our family. I
think Ryan takes after her.”
    Mildred told Nathan that she used to be a renowned
psychologist in their hometown, Joliet.
    “Let’s move on to other stuff, okay?” Amanda said. She
leaned toward Nathan, touching his shoulders.
    “Sure, sweetheart,”
Nathan said. He moved forward, meeting Amanda’s lips with his.
    Classes resumed the
following Monday. Amanda woke up early to get ready. After she and Emmy
finished eating breakfast, Amanda’s phone beeped. She pulled it out of her
purse and saw that there was a new text.
    Meet me in the parking lot when you’re ready.
    Amanda smiled to herself.
    “It’s Nathan, right?” Emmy asked her.
    “Yes. He’ll be waiting for me outside.”
    “You made a great choice. The way your eyes shine when
you think of him, it’s obvious you’re in love.”
    Amanda blushed, walking toward the bathroom.
    “Would you like us to give you a ride?”
    “No, thanks,” Emmy replied. “I’m driving to school
right now. Just so you don’t go looking for me when you come out.”
    “All right. See you there.”
    Amanda went to the bathroom to double-check that she
was ready. After that, she walked back to the living room. Amanda grabbed her
messenger bag from the sofa and headed outside.
    Nathan was waiting at the bottom of the stairs. He
looked up when Amanda approached.
    “Hi, love,” he said when she reached him. Nathan gave
her a quick kiss on the lips.
    “If that’s the way you’re going to greet me every
morning, I will be one happy girl.”
    A smile broke across Nathan’s lips. He took hold of
Amanda’s hand.
    “I can think of other ways to make you happier.”
    The two started walking to the parking lot.
    “Do tell me what you have in mind.”
    “I’d rather surprise you.”
    A breeze came in from the west. Amanda shivered.
    “Brr. It’s pretty cold out here.”
    Nathan put an arm around Amanda as she adjusted her
scarf.
    “You’re not used to winters in this state, right?”
    “I should be, but I come from Illinois, after all.
Winters there weren’t much different.”
    Nathan and Amanda drove to Cornell together. When they
got there, they once again walked hand in hand. There was nothing like the
feeling of dating the girl of your life. At least, that was what Nathan
thought.
    As they walked across the campus, Nathan noticed that
they were drawing stares. His eyebrows furrowed.
    “Why is everyone looking at us?” he asked, looking at
Amanda. She scanned the faces of people nearby.
    “I have no idea. Did you make the front page without
letting me know?”
    Nathan laughed.
    “Maybe they’re just jealous that I’m dating such a
bombshell.”
    Amanda looked at him with wide eyes.
    “So I’m a bombshell