Promising Angela Read Free Page A

all, but Dad felt walking into that ostentatious building gave him some prestige.
    She realized Ben still waited for an answer. She shook her head. “Uh-uh. My parents aren’t churchgoers.”
    “Well, I attend a small church out on the highway. It’s called Grace Fellowship. The building used to be a restaurant, but it closed years ago. I know it isn’t fancy”—his gaze swept up and down her outfit, creating a rush of embarrassment—”but we have a growing young adult group, with services on Sunday morning and evening, as well as a Wednesday night Bible study. Would you be interested in attending?”
    Her heart skipped a beat at the thought of being in a formal study group. Carrie had encouraged her to join a church where she could grow. “Oh, yes, I’d like that a lot!”
    His warm smile made her tummy tremble. “Good. Would you like to attend this coming Sunday morning? I’d be glad to give you a ride.”
    Fluttering her lashes, Angela quipped, “It’s a date.”
    Immediately she regretted her action. How easily she’d slipped into flirtation. Again. But it wasn’t appropriate—not for this setting and with this situation. The warmth in Ben’s eyes disappeared to be replaced with a guarded look that was like a splash of cold water over Angela.
    “I—I mean I would very much appreciate a ride. Thank you.” Her stuttered words did little to ease the tense moment.
    Ben gave a brusque nod. “What’s your address?”
    At least he was still willing to take her. Her hands shook as she penned her address on a scrap of paper and handed it over. She offered a meek smile. “Thank you again, Ben. I do appreciate the ride.”
    He looked at the address, and his eyebrows shot upward. She knew what he was thinking—everyone in town was familiar with the Eastbrook Estates. She waited for him to change his mind and tell her she wouldn’t fit in at his simple, used-to-be-a-restaurant church, but he slipped the paper into his breast pocket and said, “I’ll be by around nine fifteen. Sunday school starts at nine thirty, and the worship service at ten forty-five.”
    “That’s fine. I’ll be ready. Well …” She waved a hand toward the door, inching in the direction of the exit. “I told my aunt I’d stop by after work and have some milk and cookies with her.” A nervous giggle erupted. Had she really just told Ben she’d be having milk and cookies?
    But he didn’t make any snide remarks. He didn’t even smirk. With a quick upturning of lips, he turned toward his desk. “I’ll see you Sunday morning. Have a good weekend.”
    “Yes … Sunday. And thank you.” Before she could say or do anything else to embarrass herself, she escaped.

    Ben curled the fingers of one hand around the steering wheel as he maneuvered through the late afternoon traffic toward Elmwood Towers. His other hand tapped restlessly on the fold-down console. A pepperoni pizza sat in the passenger seat, its aroma teasing Ben’s senses. He tried to focus on his upcoming dinner with his cousin Kent to get his mind off of the mouthwatering spicy smell—and off of Angela Fisher.
    Why had he invited her to church? Or more specifically, why had he offered to take her? She had transportation—he whistled—boy, did she have transportation! Yet he’d opened his mouth and offered her a ride in his six-year-old midsized truck that didn’t even have a backseat to put some distance between them. He gave the console a pat. At least the twelve-inch barrier would be in place.
    If he didn’t want to get close to her, why had he issued the invite? He knew why. There had been something in her unusual light blue eyes…. When she’d admitted she had a lot to learn both as a New Beginnings employee and as a Christian, a little something inside of him had melted. The insecurity lurking in her eyes had been all too familiar. He understood the feeling. Empathized with it. A dozen years ago he had felt lost and uncertain, and a schoolmate had reached