Fool's Gold (Contemporary Romance) Read Free Page B

on the back. “That’s my cell.”
    He slid the card toward her, then brushed her hand as she claimed it. “Have a good night, Victoria. It was a pleasure to hear you.”
    A shiver went through her. “The pleasure was all mine.”
    Trent rose and slipped away, striding toward the front of the restaurant. He moved confidence and grace, and she couldn’t take her eyes away until he was out of sight.

Chapter 3
Parents

    B EING  in his parents’ house always put Beta’s nerves on edge. It wasn’t the framed picture of Jesus that watched over the dining room or the refrigerator covered in Bible quote magnets. It was the way his mother always looked at him like he was one revival from heaven.

    “Benjamin, I talked to Sister Spooner this morning after services and she said she saw you at Appleburys last week.” Beta’s mom perched on the edge of her chair, a bone white cup of coffee steaming between her equally pale hands.
    “I have to eat somewhere.” Beta speared a piece of asparagus with his fork.
    “Well, Sister Spooner said you were with a girl, and the way she described her, it made me think you were seeing that Strauss girl again.”
    Beta took a deep breath and held it, forcing himself not to smart off to his mother. “I had a very lovely evening with Victoria, yes. Did your nosy friend follow us to get ice cream afterward, too?”
    “Benjamin, don’t speak to your mother like that.” Beta’s dad was gruff, paternal and had a voice unspoiled by the taint of nicotine or alcohol.
    “Like what? It’s not like I’m in high school. I don’t even live here anymore. If I want to have dinner with someone, why should your church judge me? Why should you judge me?”
    “We’re not judging you, dear.” His mother put her mug on the table and stared at him intently. “Only the Good Lord judges. We’re just concerned about you. Why, I was talking to Sister Francis and she was telling me about her daughter, Jenny. Do you remember Jenny Francis?”
    Beta shook his head. Not only did he not remember, he didn’t really want to hear about this girl, either. They were all the same. Every six months his mom found him a girl that would be “just perfect” and she tried to set him up with a date. Every one of them had a stick up their butts and wouldn’t know a good time if it came with a burning bush and a billboard.
    “Well, Jenny is in school down at Southwest Baptist and she’s getting her teaching degree. Sister Francis says--“
    “That’s great, mom. I’m not looking for a girlfriend right now.”
    “But you were just out with that horrible Victoria Strauss and I thought--“
    “She’s not horrible, and--“
    “Well, be that as it may, Jenny is going to be here this Saturday.” His mother smiled triumphantly. “You should just pop in. You could talk to her over a scone, see if you have anything in common.”
    Beta snorted. How would Jenny feel about using super-capitals as bait? Or php vs python for back-end development? He had a feeling she wasn’t going to make a case for java web services.
    “I think, I’ll pass, but thanks for the offer.” Beta set his fork across his plate and pushed the plate back a few inches. “Mom, Dad, lunch was great, but I have some stuff to do this evening. I really need to run.”
    His dad sat up straighter. “Nonsense. Your mother hasn’t even served dessert yet.”
    “It’s bread pudding, Benjamin. Your favorite.”
    It wasn’t his favorite. It hadn’t ever been his favorite. “Uh...”
    “Please, Ben. Stay a few more minutes. We won’t talk about girls, I promise.” His mother hustled to the kitchen without waiting for a response.
    Beta slumped into his chair. “Why doesn’t she spend more of her time trying to find a husband for Christine?”
    His dad picked at his food, but didn’t respond.
    Beta’s mother came back from the kitchen with dessert plates. “Your sister doesn’t need any help finding men.”
    “She finds them just fine on