Be My Valentine Read Free Page B

fair to me. The dinner starts at seven and should be over by nine. I suspect fifty dollars an hour is more than you’re earning now.”
    â€œAh…”
    â€œI know what you’re thinking, but I promise you I’m not crazy. I’ve got a gold credit card, and they don’t issue those to just anyone.”
    â€œWhat about a library card?”
    â€œThat, too, but I do have a book overdue. I was planning to take it back tomorrow.” She started searching through her purse to prove she had both cards before she saw that he was teasing her.
    â€œMs….”
    â€œDianne Williams,” she said stepping forward to offer him her hand. His long, strong fingers wrapped around hers and he smiled, studying her for perhaps the first time. His eyes softened as he shook her hand. The gesture, though small, reassured Dianne that he was the man she wanted to take her to this silly dinner. Once more she found herself rushing to explain.
    â€œI’m sure this all sounds crazy. I don’t blame you for thinking I’m a nut case. But I’m not, really I’m not. I attend church every Sunday, do volunteer work at the grade school, and help coach a girls’ soccer team in the fall.”
    â€œWhy’d you pick me?”
    â€œWell, that’s a bit complicated, but you have nice eyes, and when you suggested I sit in your truck and get out of the rain—actually it was only drizzling—” she paused and inhaled a deep breath “—I realized you were a generous person, and you just might consider something this…”
    â€œâ€¦weird,” he finished for her.
    Dianne nodded, then looked him directly in the eye. Her defenses were down, and there was nothing left to do but admit the truth.
    â€œI’m desperate. No one but a desperate woman would make this kind of offer.”
    â€œSaturday night, you say?”
    The way her luck was running, he’d suddenly remember he had urgent plans for the evening. Something important like dusting his bowling trophies.
    â€œFrom seven to nine. No later, I promise. If you don’t think a hundred is enough…”
    â€œA hundred’s more than generous.”
    She sagged with relief. “Does this mean you’ll do it?”
    Steve shook his head slowly, as though to suggest he ought to have it examined for even contemplating her proposal.
    â€œAll right,” he said after a moment. “I never could resist a damsel in distress.”

Three
    â€œH ello, everyone!” Dianne sang out as she breezed in the front door. She paused just inside the living room and watched as her mother and her two children stared openly. A sense of quiet astonishment pervaded the room. “Is something wrong?”
    â€œWhat happened to you?” Jason cried. “You look awful!”
    â€œYou look like Little Orphan Annie, dear,” her mother said, her hand working a crochet hook so fast the yarn zipped through her fingers.
    â€œI phoned to tell you I’d be late,” Dianne reminded them.
    â€œBut you didn’t say anything about nearly drowning. What happened?”
    â€œI locked my keys in the car—I already explained that.”
    Jill walked over to her mother, took her hand and led her to the hallway mirror. The image that greeted Dianne was only a little short of shocking. Her long thick hair hung in limp sodden curls over her shoulders. Her mascara, supposedly no-run, had dissolved into black tracks down her cheeks. She was drenched to the skin and looked like a prize the cat had dragged onto the porch.
    â€œOh, dear,” she whispered. Her stomach muscles tightened as she recalled the odd glances Steve had given her, and his comment that it must be “one of those days.” No wonder!
    â€œWhy don’t you go upstairs and take a nice hot shower?” her mother said. “You’ll feel worlds better.”
    Humbled, for more reasons than she cared to admit,