Dreams Don't Wait (Contemporary romance) by EC Sheedy Read Free Book Online Page B

Her voice trailed off. "Anyway, for a while there, I had the insane, and highly unproductive, urge to rehabilitate him. Hence the introductions. I failed so... Excuse me for a second, will you?"
    Evan heard Caressa turn away from the phone. She was one of the top interior designers in Victoria and too busy for her own good. Her voice whispered over the lines as she issued instructions to her harried assistant. Evan played with a pencil and waited.
    She hadn't liked what Caressa had told her, nor did she understand it. She'd been thinking about Linc all morning, wondering about his sharp edges, his hostile reaction to her, and his deliberate attempt to shock her this morning. She should dislike him, and his moody, sullen attitude; instead she was intrigued. Not smart. Not smart at all.
    Caressa came back on the line. "Evan? Look, I'm sorry, but I've gotta run. I've got a meeting in ten minutes. Can we talk about big brother another time?" Caressa sounded rushed and frustrated.
    "Sure. I'll be seeing you Thursday night anyway."
    "Thursday? What's Thursday?"
    Evan could hear the rustle of paper coming through her receiver. "Reading group? Eight o'clock?" Evan smiled before adding the coup de grace. "At your place?"
    Silence. "Oh damn!"
    "Caressa Stewart, I'm surprised at you. You mean you didn't remember?"
    "Is that perverted delight I hear in your voice?"
    "It is. See you Thursday." Evan started to hang up when she heard Caressa's call.
    "Evan! What in hell are we supposed to have read?"
    "Byron, Fame and Infamy. It was your idea to read a biography as I recall. But don't worry, it's only about six hundred pages."
    An exasperated sigh flew over the line. "Great. Just great."
    Evan replaced the receiver and grinned. The grin melted when she realized the call hadn't gone exactly as she'd intended. She'd wanted to know about Linc, but she was no closer to understanding him now than she'd been this morning—other than learning he liked women of "flexible virtue." That description put her firmly out of the running. The last time she'd been flexible, she was eighteen. It hadn't paid off then, and she doubted it would now. All she had to do was stay out of Linc's way until the cabin was ready. It was a big house and property, so that shouldn't be a problem. Resolved, she turned back to her keyboard.
    * * *
    Evan hadn't crossed paths with Linc since Monday. There'd been a chance for overtime this week, and she'd taken it, working every night until close to ten. By the time she got home, he was either out or holed up behind the closed door of his office.
    She pulled the brush through her freshly washed hair and pinned its length behind her ears. She was clipping on a pair of silver earrings when Cal strode in her open door.
    "Reading night, huh?" he asked, watching her clip on the second earring.
    "Uh-huh."
    "What dull old book is on for tonight?"
    Evan smiled. "Byron, and he's anything but dull."
    Cal rolled his eyes. Evan glanced in the mirror to apply lipstick before turning to face him. "What's your plan? I hope it's not another dead-zone night watching television."
    "Nope. I told Linc I'd help him set up his new computer. It came today."
    "You're sure he wants you there, that you're not intruding?" She gave him a pointed look, she knew Cal's thirst for all things digital was unquenchable.
    "No way. I told him I knew a little bit about computers, and he asked me to help."
    Evan cocked her head. "Poor Linc. 'A little bit about computers'? That's what you told him?"
    Cal smiled innocently and leaned down to kiss her cheek. She'd never get used to him being so much taller than her.
    "Have a good time tonight—with boring Byron."
    Watching him go out the door, she swallowed, first a warm chuckle when she thought about Linc and his new computer, then a lump of mother's pride.
    Her son. Her incredible and gifted son. He made up for every trial, every test, every hard knock she'd ever had. She'd give him the best or die trying.
    Then it