Daddy Next Door (Hometown Reunion) by Ginger Chambers

Author:Ginger Chambers [Chambers, Ginger]
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
Publisher: Harlequin
Published: 2013-12-31T23:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER NINE

MARGE PAID A CALL shortly after they returned from the lake to ask them over for dinner that night.

“I don’t quite know how this happened,” she said briskly. “It’s not something I planned, but one thing led to another, and now dinner for four has turned into a crowd! And all of them want to see you! Britt and Jake, Nora and Byron, Susannah and Joe... I’m going to have to make a run to the diner for more food! I know it’s late notice,” Marge continued, sensing her daughter’s hesitation, “but if you can possibly do it, you should come. They’re your and Gabe’s friends, Raine. They’re not going to make impolite comments.”

Gabe waited for Raine to make the decision. “Sure. Why not?” she said, reluctantly agreeing.

Marge hurried to the door. “At seven. Okay?”

“Is there anything we can bring?” Raine asked.

“Not a thing,” Marge called over her shoulder as she stepped outside. “Just yourselves.”

Gabe checked the clock on the wall. “Not much time,” he said.

“The story of my day,” Raine murmured.

“You want to take first shower?”

“Maybe I’d better. It took six tries before I found something that fit comfortably for lunch!”

“You could wear that again,” he said. “It looked nice.”

Raine paused in the doorway. Men—they just didn’t have a clue. “I’ll find something else,” she assured him, smiling. “Don’t worry. I was exaggerating. I haven’t grown out of all my clothes...yet.”

“It won’t make any difference when you do. You’re going to be beautiful all the way through this.”

Raine thought of Joel, of the disparaging way he talked about dancers who took time out to have children. “Little better than cows!” he’d fumed. “Don’t they see what they’re doing to themselves?” His idea of beauty was diametrically opposed to Gabe’s....

Gabe frowned. “What’s the matter? You looked funny all of a sudden.”

She shook her head. Joel was out of her life, at least at the present. She didn’t have to think about him, consider his views. In the future...? “I was just thinking about what you said,” she answered honestly. “We’ll check back to see if you still feel that way in four or five months, when I start to resemble the Goodyear blimp!”

“I’ll still feel the same,” he said steadily.

She rolled her eyes before starting off down the hall.

“I will!” he called after her, then teased, “Remember those old models we used to make when we were kids? I’ve always had a fascination for blimps.”

“You’re hopeless, Gabe!” she retorted before shutting herself in the bathroom.

His answering chuckle carried down the hall.

* * *

RAINE HAD BEEN exaggerating, but she wasn’t too far off the mark when she’d said she was going to have a hard time finding something to wear. Last week her skirts and slacks had fit a little snugly. This week, the seams strained on all but a couple of choices: the skirt she’d worn for lunch, and a soft summery dress with a fashionably high waist and long floaty skirt that was designed for freedom of movement.

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