With All Josie's Heart, стр. 10

“All right,” he finally agreed.

She hopped in, waited until they had both buckled up, and then shifted the car into Reverse. She hit the gas pedal hard and the car zoomed to the end of the driveway. She stomped on the brakes, and they lurched to a stop.

“Whiplash,” Michael called out.

Josie grinned.

Michael rolled his eyes. “Tell me again why I’m going to let you drive my brand-new Jeep?”

“Show a little trust, Michael. This is what any good fiancé would do.”

“Of course…that goes without saying.”

By the time they reached the main street, Josie had adjusted to the feel of the new car and drove with ease.

She glanced over at Michael. “Thanks for letting me take the wheel.”

“I’d forgotten you probably don’t get to drive much. Do you even own a car?”

“No. My apartment in London is a short train ride from the home offices. And when I’m visiting foreign sites, I hire a car or rely on a local contact to provide a driver. It’s funny the things I get homesick for. Like driving on the right side of the road in the country. Or strolling around Swan Lake. Or shopping at Woodland Hills Mall.”

“What else do you miss?”

Because he seemed genuinely interested, she continued her wish list. “Most of all, I miss long talks with Mom and Gran. I miss eating dinner with my parents. I miss knowing everyone who lives on the block. And I miss sitting in a church on Sunday morning where I’m surrounded by people I’ve grown up with.” Feeling suddenly vulnerable, Josie pretended to concentrate on the traffic ahead.

Good thing she’d stopped herself, or she would have told him she’d been missing Tulsa so much she was thinking about coming home, and if she found the right person, settling down and starting a family.

“We’ll do those things,” he said.

“Oh, Michael. I wasn’t trying to—”

“I know,” he interrupted. “But we need to spend time together. Why not kill two birds with one stone?”

“I’d just as soon not kill any birds.”

She glanced at Michael, and when he smiled she did, too.

Without warning, huge raindrops splashed the windshield.

“Seems like a good day for the mall,” he said.

“But don’t you want to eat first?”

“I’m betting you were too embarrassed to admit you still love fast food.”

Josie blushed.

“We’ll eat at the food court.”

Josie turned south, toward Woodland Hills Mall. Having spent hours hanging out there as a teenager, she could have driven to the intersection of Seventy-First Street and Memorial with her eyes closed. The recent mall renovations immediately impressed her. The cool marble floors, palm trees and skylights gave a spacious feeling. Most of all, she loved the white carousel located in the center of the mall.

A half hour later, Josie felt full and satisfied and suggested they work off the cinnamon roll she’d devoured for dessert.

Walking at a slow pace, they hadn’t gone far when they ran into several church members and then three of Michael’s previous students. Everyone welcomed Josie home and asked if she was here to stay. Each time, she coyishly hemmed and hawed, and people smiled knowingly. Speculation that Josie and Michael were back together would be the hot rumor by the end of the night.

Конец ознакомительного фрагмента.

Текст предоставлен ООО «ЛитРес».

Прочитайте эту книгу целиком, купив полную легальную версию на ЛитРес.

Безопасно оплатить книгу можно банковской картой Visa, MasterCard, Maestro, со счета мобильного телефона, с платежного терминала, в салоне МТС или Связной, через PayPal, WebMoney, Яндекс.Деньги, QIWI Кошелек, бонусными картами или другим удобным Вам способом.