Lakeside Sweetheart by Lenora Worth Read Free Book Online Page B

since it’s going up for sale soon. I’ve always liked that house, and it’s near the church.” He shrugged. “I’m outgrowing my tiny one-bedroom apartment.”
    â€œRight.” Blain rolled his eyes. “I was referring to the woman living there, not the house. Preacher, do you have your eye on Vanessa Donovan?”
    Rory didn’t want to squirm underneath the scrutiny of Blain’s eagle-eyed gaze. “She’s in a bad way, so I’ve tried to befriend her. Offer her my help and advice.”
    Blain nodded. “It’s amazing. All these years, I’ve never seen you go beyond being friends with a woman. You don’t even date. But since Vanessa rolled into town, you’ve seemed distracted.”
    â€œHow do you know that?” Rory asked, affronted. “You haven’t been around me that much when women are nearby.”
    â€œRelax,” Blain said. “I saw you on Easter Sunday, and Alec told me you and Vanessa seemed chummy at Easter dinner at his house.”
    Rory laughed. “What you and Alec call chummy, I call being friendly.”
    â€œOh, okay. We’ll go with that then,” Blain said. “It’s nice to know you’re human after all. You could do worse. She’s cute, and Rikki says she’s nice, too.”
    Rory rubbed a hand over his choppy hair. “Really? I hadn’t noticed.”
    Blain shook his head. “Right. I’ll shut up now. Are we still on for pizza Thursday night?”
    â€œAs always.”
    â€œAnd we are gathering at the camp house for my bachelor party in two weeks?”
    â€œYou better believe it. And I do have surprises lined up for you.”
    â€œWhat? Choir rehearsal and memorizing Bible verses?”
    â€œAfter we play a serious game of tic-tac-toe, yes.”
    â€œWild night. Love it.” Blain shook Rory’s hand and headed to the door. “Hey, Alec and I, we’ve been there. We should be the ones giving you advice these days.”
    Rory finally caved. “I might take you up on that offer. I like her. A lot. But...she’s not returning that feeling.”
    â€œGive her some time,” Blain suggested. “Like you said, she’s been through a lot. One thing I’ve learned, dealing with Rikki and her family, strong women don’t like to be messed with until they’re ready to be messed with.”
    â€œGot it,” Rory said, grinning at Blain’s down-to-earth assessment. “I’m learning that, my friend.”
    After Blain and Rikki left, he turned to Barbara. “Please tell me it’s quitting time.”
    â€œIt’s quitting time,” she said. “You know you officially have Mondays off, so why are you still here?”
    He shrugged. “Habit.” Then he went back in his office and tidied up. “I think I’ve signed all the proper checks and documents so yes, I’m taking off early. I might take a run around the lake or maybe go kayaking.”
    â€œGreat idea,” his secretary called back. “Me, I’m going to go home and piddle in my garden.”
    â€œOkay. See you tomorrow.”
    Barbara left by the side door.
    Rory locked up and was about to head to the garage underneath his apartment to get his kayak out when he saw Vanessa’s car moving up Lake Drive.
    She was home.
    * * *
    He was standing by his garage apartment.
    Glad she was wearing her shades, Vanessa noticed Rory out of the corner of her eye. She’d tried not to think about him, but he seemed to be front and center in her mind. Reminding herself that he did live and work right across the street, she chalked up this preoccupation with the cute preacher to being in such close proximity to him. Hard not to think about him when the pretty white church stood as a reminder every time she looked out the window.
    So she pulled her car into the drive and geared up for a warm, soothing bath and a bowl of ice cream.