Prelude to a Wedding by Patricia McLinn Read Free Book Online

There's one girl from
high school, Melody, who always checks in when she comes through
the area. And my assistant, Darla, has been a wonderful friend to
me."
    She broke off to give him further
instructions on where to turn. She could have let the topic drop
there, but she felt the need to explain further. She refused to use
the word justify even in her own mind.
    "You know how it is when you get into college
and get immersed in your classes and studying." She thought back to
some of his stories tonight; maybe he didn't know. "Setting up a
business is like that. It doesn't leave time for anything else. It
takes twenty-five hours a day just to get it off the ground. To
make it really fly, you have to be totally dedicated to that, and
that alone."
    He glanced at her as he made the turn into
her street and she knew he didn't agree.
    "What's the use of having your own. business
if you let it run you? The whole idea is to not have a boss looking
over your shoulder, telling you what to do and when to do it.
Work's fine, but there are other things in life. Ambition can take
over."
    She bristled a little at the implied
criticism at the same time she wondered if anyone could really be
that offhand and still make a go of a business. Experience had
taught her the demands of a successful business. And she had done
sufficient homework on Paul Monroe to know his business was
successful . . . even if her research had left out exactly what he
did.
    "This is it," she said coolly, "the one in
the middle of the block with the light on."
    He pulled into the driveway. "A house? You
own it?"
    "No. I'm renting this one, but I'm starting
to look for a place to buy." The next step in her plan. With the
business apparently on its feet, it was time to stop wasting money
on rent and start building equity.
    "It's nice, but you could use a
jack-o'-lantern."
    "Jack o'-lantern?"
    "You know, a pumpkin, carved to look like a
face, with a candle inside,"
    "I know what a jack-o'-lantern
is."
    "Good. Because that front doorstep of yours
could definitely use one. You know Halloween's getting close."
    "Yes, I know, but a pumpkin has not been at
the top of my list of priorities. I've been busy at—"
    "At work," lie finished for her.
    She glanced over, but saw no sign of the
humor she might have expected. His gaze was fixed with great
concentration on her bare front step.
    She prepared to say her thank-yous, but he
turned the engine off. For a blood-thundering instant she thought
he was going to turn to her, reach across the bucket seats, take
her in his arms and . . .
    Before her imagination could get too carried
away, he'd gotten out and come around to open her door. She thanked
him, but ignored his hand.
    She'd known him less than eight hours, but
sometimes that was all it took to see the flaws. He'd made no
effort to hide them. From his own words she'd learned he hated
schedules and put fun ahead ahead of responsibility. He hadn't
learned that achievement followed a plan.
    It all added up to one message: he was a man
to stay away from.
    Too bad her hormones didn't agree.
    "A hatchback, huh?"
    She followed the direction of his gaze to the
garage door windows. Hatchback. Car.
    "That's right. A total suburbanite, that's
me. It comes in handy for hauling things from the hardware
store."
    "But you don't drive in to the city?"
    "Not if I can help it. It's more efficient to
take the train. That way I can work during the commute and don't
have to worry about parking. You always drive?"
    "I like the freedom."
    Stepping within the pool of light at the
front door, she took a slow, steadying breath as she unlocked the
door then turned to him, holding out her hand.
    "Thank you, Paul. I enjoyed the evening.
Dinner was wonderful, and Mama Artemis's is a real find. I—"
    He ignored the hand and the speech. Grasping
her upper arms, he turned her to face him, startling her into
silence. He bent his head, so slowly she thought she might explode
from the waiting before he ever