Any Man of Mine Read Free Page A

heard the low murmur of conversation and then another burst of laughter. Neil picked up the phone again. “You comin’ right away after that, though? It’s okay with Chip.”
    Be still my heart.
    Tracy poked her head out of the door and gave me a thumbs-up to indicate that her car was ready.
    â€œI’ll be there as soon as I’m done,” I muttered asI got out of my car to help Tracy bring her groceries to hers.
    I snapped the phone shut, grabbed a couple of bags out of the car and brought them around the side of the building where her car was parked. She closed the door on the groceries in the backseat, then waited a moment as if she wanted to say something more to me.
    I knew I had thrown out the information about my move without much preparation, but at the same time I didn’t know a better way to tell her. Between working with kids whose first language was not found in any respectable dictionary and brothers who thought tact was something you used to spear notices to the wall, my diplomacy was worn thin.
    â€œWell, I don’t want to keep Casey waiting.” I waited another beat, then, as I turned to leave, Tracy caught me by the arm.
    â€œI’m sorry. I’m feeling a little pouty right now.” She gave me an apologetic smile. “I had visions of me and David and you and Someone Special growing up in Preston together and sharing recipes and swapping babysitting and all those kind of things that you see in life insurance commercials.”
    I knew full well what Tracy had grown up with and how she longed for a life that at least veered toward normal territory. And I knew she wanted me to be a part of that.
    â€œHey, you never know. Maybe I’ll meet the perfect man and he’ll want to move to Preston….”
    â€œAnd maybe your brothers will buy you red roses,” Tracy put in, referring to an ongoing joke.
    â€œIt could happen.”
    â€œI don’t want to think about you going yet. For now, I’m going to go home, unload my groceries and then sit down and start praying.”
    â€œNo fair,” I protested. “I have to do all my praying on the run. There’s no way I can compete with you.”
    â€œIt’s not a competition,” Tracy said.
    â€œWell, I know what you’ll be praying for,” I muttered. “For me to stay here.”
    â€œYou’re just guessing at that.” She grew serious and laid a hand on my arm. “I always pray for you, Danielle. I pray that God will keep you safe. I pray that you will find strength to do your job. Now I have to add that you’ll find someone here in Preston to love.”
    â€œThat’s unlikely,” I said.
    â€œWell, you make sure you get your brothers to help you unload that tire.”
    I laughed. “That would never happen. My brothers haven’t spent all those years teaching me to be self-sufficient only to jump in at this time of my life.”
    Tracy shook her head. “Someday, some woman is going to have one of those guys on the run. Mark my words.”
    â€œI will. And I’ll be there with pom-poms cheering her on.” I punched the air, underlining my comment.
    Thankfully the meeting with Casey turned intohis usual petty whine about me taking too much overtime and how I should learn to prioritize. I pulled out my “understanding” expression, listened dutifully for twenty minutes while I twisted my hands in my lap so I wouldn’t be tempted to hit him. Striking your boss does not look good on a resume especially if he’s the only reference you have. With Casey I had to tread extra carefully since I told him I was looking for other work. I had to make sure he had no reason to get petty. Soon I was back in my car headed back downtown. At the dry cleaner’s, I chatted with an old friend and made the appropriate admiring noises when she showed me her engagement ring. I knew the guy she was marrying, so jealousy