A Gentleman's Agreement Read Free

year?”
    Blake tossed a glance
at the door. “Ah, no. We decided to take a break.” More like it was decided for
him, but honestly, he was okay with it. Really okay with it.
    “I am so sorry to hear
that, son. But sometimes these things happen for the best.”
    If he didn’t know any better,
his mother was smiling on the opposite end of the phone.
    “Since you’re single, I
have a nice girl I want you to meet. I think you’ll really like her. She’s
really pleasant and as cute as a button.”
    Oh, no. Not again. “Actually,
I am kind of seeing someone new.” God, he hated lying to his mother. But this
time, it was for a good cause. ’Cause he didn’t want his mother playing matchmaker.
    “Really? Tell me all
about her.”
    Shit . Blake muddled
along for the next ten minutes describing to his mother his phantom woman.
Every detail he supplied seemed to make her happier and happier. He could
practically feel the warmth of her smile over the phone.
    “Oh, honey, she sounds
absolutely lovely. I don’t believe I’ve ever heard you speak so lovingly about
a woman you’re dating. And I can’t wait to meet her on Friday.”
    Blake jolted forward. “What?
I mean…I’m…not sure she’ll be able to make the trip this go ‘round. With the
holiday and all. I’m sure she’ll want to spend Thanksgiving with her own family.”
    “Oh. I understand.”
    The sadness he heard in
his mother’s voice pulled at his heartstrings. “I’ll tell you what, pretty
lady. I’ll see if she’d be able to fly down for the anniversary party. How’s
that?”
    “Wonderful. And she can
fly back in time to have Thanksgiving with her family. Though, if she wanted to
celebrate with us, we’d be more than happy to have her. Hint. Hint .”
    Blake laughed. “I’ll
see what I can do.”
    After saying goodbye to
his mother, Blake reflected on the description he’d given her of his imaginary
woman. Who in the hell did he know that could encompass all of those qualities?
Then it hit him. He hadn’t described a phantom woman at all. She actually
existed.
    Eunice .
    His lips curled into a smile. Who
better to play his lover than the woman who knew him almost better than he knew
himself? He scrubbed a hand over his head. But would she?

Chapter 2
     
     
    Eunice Howard tried to
focus on her meal—the term used lightly—and not the buffoon across from her. She
hated to label people, but in this instance, it was warranted. The man in front
of her exemplified a glowing example of why she didn’t do blind dates.
    Again, she’d allowed
her aunt, of all people, to hook her up. A woman notorious for attracting Grade
A losers. Eunice groaned to herself. When would she learn? She was beginning to
believe attracting losers was hereditary. She’d attracted her fair share and so
had her mother.
    Eunice felt a
tightening in the pit of her stomach as an image of her mother filled her head.
Twenty-two years and she still missed her mother so much she ached. Her aunt
had loved her like her own child, but that love had never filled the gaping
hole her mother’s death left. With Thanksgiving swiftly approaching, that hole
would soon start to feel more like a bottomless well.
    For the first time
since Eunice could remember, she would be all alone for the holidays and one of
the most difficult times of the year for her. With her aunt on a two week
cruise and her best friend, Trevor, spending Thanksgiving abroad, she’d have no
one to turn to when the memories of her mother flooded her like a burst dam.
Maybe she should plan a trip. But that wouldn’t solve her problem. She’d still
be alone.
    “Your food okay, shawty?”
    Her dinner companion freed
her from the morbid thoughts. “Excuse me?” she asked absently.
    Clindon Davis, a
southern gentleman—as described by her aunt—pointed to her bowl. “Your gumbo any
good?”
    Eunice stirred at the brown
sludge. When it first arrived, she braved a taste. The mix of vegetables,
sausage, shrimp,