Her Lifelong Dream by Judy Kouzel Read Free Book Online

safe investment. And we're a bank, not a fairy godmother."
    She winced. She knew she was wearing her heart on her
sleeve and she did not want to. "This is all good advice,"
she said. "But the restaurant business is not the same as ...
say, opening up an antique shop or a gas station. There
are health code standards and payroll issues that are unique
to food preparation, not to mention the high degree of
competition between restaurants and the fickleness of the
customers. I've worked in this business for a long time,
Mr. Foster, and, believe me, there are a million variables
to think of. I've tried to take everything into account and
I think I've done a fairly good job of it."
    "You have," he said. "But my field of expertise is strictly
on the business and finance side of things. That's something
that every business needs to consider. And I think I can
help you put things in focus."
    "Okay," she said. "What do you think I need to do to
get my restaurant off the ground?"
    "It's funny you should ask," Terry said and held up a
yellow pad of paper. She could see that several pages were
already filled with small, neat handwriting. "After you left
yesterday, I took a second look at your loan application
and jotted down a few notes."

    Leedy scanned the first page. "I can't do all these
things!" she said. "It would take forever."
    "You can too do all those things," Terry said. "You can
and you will. Because you, Leedy Collins, are the kind of
woman who will make her restaurant dream come true.
Whatever the costs. It may take years for it to happen,
but ..."
    "Years?" Her heart sank.
    "Years-and the sooner you get started the sooner you
will be ready."
    Leedy definitely didn't like what he was saying, but she
had to admit the items listed on the yellow pad made sense.
She nodded and watched him from across the small table.
He smiled and, once again, she wished he would lean over
the table and kiss her. An inappropriate gesture perhaps,
but she wished for it all the same.
    "Okay," she said, finally. "I guess it wouldn't hurt to
consider your notes. I'm not promising I'll follow through
with all of your suggestions. But I'll consider them."
    "Good enough," he said and sipped his iced tea.
    She flipped through the pages of the legal pad as they
silently ate their lunch. Terry watched her with a look in
his eye that she couldn't quite identify. Was it admiration?
Sympathy? Desire?
    Finally he looked at his watch. "Oh, boy," he exclaimed,
suddenly jumping up from his chair. "I lost track of the
time! I'm in big trouble."
    "What's wrong?" Leedy asked.
    "I'm late. I promised Deanna I would take her shopping
for shoes." By the pained expression on his face, she knew
Terry was not thrilled with the idea.
    "That sounds like fun," Leedy offered.

    "For you maybe," he groaned. "I'm not much of a shopper. Oddly, it seems to be Deanna's favorite pastime. And
since I have all the credit cards, she's most insistent that I
tag along. Besides, you can never have enough shoes, can
you?"
    "No," Leedy said, smiling. Deanna was certainly a girl
after her own heart. "You really can't have enough shoes."
    He stood up, apologizing for leaving so abruptly. She
assured him it was quite all right. She was surprised how
her feelings for Terry had gone from worry to warmth in
a matter of moments. She stood up and shook his hand.
"Thank you for stopping by, Mr. Foster," she said formally.
    "Thank you," he said. He looked her in the eyes and
suddenly took her by both of her shoulders and gently
shook her. "And, for the last time, my name is Terry!"
    "Terry," she said, grinning.
    "See you around," he said.
    He made it as far as the coffee station before he turned
back and walked toward her. "By the way," he said. "A
night class called Small Business Management starts next
week at the University. You may want to consider signing
up.
    Leedy shrugged. "I guess it couldn't hurt."
    "Good," he said, turning to go. "I'll