Learning to Drive... Him Crazy Read Free

out a lot?"
    "I'm a police officer," he answered
quietly.
    Her eyes opened wide as she said, "You're
part of The Guard?"
    "The Guard?"
    "Sorry. That's what they call police
officers in Ireland."
    "Have you recently moved here?"
    "No, I've been here since I was twelve."
    "You still have the strong accent. I thought
maybe you were new to this country."
    "No, not really. And actually, there are
very few things I still use the Irish names for. Police officers
are one because my father was a member of The Guard." Alana grabbed
her purse and a light sweater, and John opened the door. He took
her elbow and escorted her out to his car. Still, he continued
their conversation without interruption. "So your dad was a police
officer in Ireland before you moved here?"
    "Yes, he was." She turned quiet for several
moments before continuing. "But he got sick and died. We didn't
really have any family left there, so when the company mum worked
for opened up an office over here, they asked her if she'd come
help run it, and here we are."
    John took her hand and gave it a squeeze,
before opening the car door for her. "I'm sorry to hear about your
dad. It must have been hard to lose your father when you were that
young. It sounds like you were proud of him."
    "I was," she quickly answered. "And I loved
him."
    He reached across her to snap her seatbelt.
Then he walked around to the driver's side and did his own belt as
well. "Then to move to another country had to have been
challenging."
    "Yeah, it was a bit," she agreed. "But we
made it."
    "That you did. You and your mother should be
proud of yourselves."
    "We were." She gave him a brief smile, then
she sobered again. "My mum was killed in an accident a couple years
ago."
    He reached over to give her hand another
squeeze. "It sounds to me like you've been through more than a lot
of people experience in a lifetime. I'm really sorry, Alana."
    "I think things happen for a reason. I think
my mum and pop missed each other tremendously, and now because of
that accident, they're together again. I think that's why it
happened after I was finished with college."
    John patted her hand, then started the
engine. Alana was silent, as she tried to gather her thoughts. "I'm
sorry," she said, shaking her head as though the simple action
would also clear the air. "I shouldn't have burdened you with all
that. I don't know what got into me. I don't normally tell people
that, and here I am blurting it all out the moment I meet you. I'm
sorry."
    He took his eyes off the road briefly as he
gave her a sweet smile. "You don't have anything to apologize for,
Alana. I've been told I'm a good listener, so anytime you want to
talk, I'll be happy to listen. I take it as a compliment that you
feel comfortable enough with me to tell me these things. I'm glad
you did, I feel like I know you better now."
    "Will you tell me about yourself so I know
you, too?"
    He pulled into the parking lot of a family
restaurant. “Let's go in and order some dinner. Then I'll tell you
anything you want to know."
    Alana approved of the restaurant he had
chosen. It was nice, clean, and respectable, but not too expensive
or romantic for a first date. She grabbed her purse to get out of
the car, but was startled when he told her to wait. She looked over
at him, but he got out of the car before she could ask why. He was
at her door an instant later, opening it and helping her out. With
his hand on her back, he led her into the restaurant. Almost
immediately a hostess showed them to their table and John helped
her with her chair.
    He sat down across from her and noticed her
happy expression. "What's the smile for?"
    "You want the truth?"
    "Absolutely. I always want the truth," John
said.
    He looked serious, rather stern, and she
felt a tingle run through her. "I'm not exactly sure. I'm not used
to such manners." Then she looked into his eyes, the smile replaced
with sincerity. "But I like it."
    "Good. I'm glad you do, because my mother
raised me this