He Loves Me, He Loves Me Not by Rachel Druten

Author:Rachel Druten [Druten, Rachel]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 978-1-62029-211-2
Publisher: Barbour Publishing, Inc.
Published: 2005-05-15T00:00:00+00:00

fourteen

Saturday night, Jack stood in the threshold of the country club lounge, scanning the crowded room for his “non-date,” Daisy.

He hadn’t felt particularly complimented when she made such a point about wanting to be with someone she didn’t have to impress or worry about. It certainly put him in his place. But he was probably getting his just desserts. If Jack looked on Court as a brother, then little tagalong Daisy had been cast in the role of pesky, annoying, but lovable little sister, to be tolerated and teased.

The room was packed with women dressed in simple, understated elegance Daisy had called dressy sport, manicured, pedicured—he was sure—and bejeweled, and tanned men in tailored sport jackets and expensive ties.

Daisy accused him of being a reverse snob. It was hard not to be when he saw such need on one hand and such opulence on the other. Just one of those diamond bracelets could build a much needed youth center in his neighborhood.

“Judge not, that ye be not judged,” rang in his ears. Daisy would remind him that many important causes were supported by some of the very people in this room.

He tended to be more skeptical.

Still, tonight they had gathered to help an old woman they didn’t know. Perhaps it was time he reassessed.

The meld of voices, laughter, and the clink of glasses had reached a high pitch, subdued only by the rich silk drapes and thick Oriental rug on the lounge floor. Two chandeliers, equidistant from the center, splashed the teak walls with fractured rainbows.

Though Daisy was tiny, from his six-foot-four-inch advantage, Jack spotted her without too much trouble. All he had to do was look for a circle of smiling faces, and she’d be in the center. In her flowered pink dress, she looked as if she were wrapped in rose petals.

He liked watching her in action. She was so full of animation and joy, her golden curls danced as she spoke.

Now she was focusing on a tall, dark-haired man who appeared to be about Jack’s age. His grim mouth cracked into a smile.

She was irresistible.

For an instant, Jack felt an intense dislike for the guy.

At that moment, Daisy caught sight of him and waved him over. “I’m glad you’re here. Have you met Greg Johnson?”

“I don’t think so.” Jack clasped the man’s extended hand. “But your name is familiar.”

“It should be. Greg’s the contractor on the new city hall. Greg, Pastor Jack McCutcheon, my spiritual advisor.” She made a face at Jack.

It appeared at least some of her ire had dissipated.

“Well, Jack, what do you think of the crowd?” she asked.

“Amazing. How many people do you suppose are here?”

“What would you say, Greg? Sixty-five, seventy?”

“At least.”

“At a contribution of twenty dollars a person, not bad.” Daisy gave Jack a what-do-you-have-to-say-about-that look. “I think this evening will cover just about all the costs to repair Lou’s house.”

Greg looked down at Daisy with a much too admiring gaze. “It’s amazing what this girl can accomplish with a few phone calls.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.