So Dear to My Heart by Arlene James

Author:Arlene James [James, Arlene]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781460352922
Google: 3rhbAwAAQBAJ
Amazon: B00JO06L32
Barnesnoble: B00JO06L32
Goodreads: 6251461
Publisher: Harlequin
Published: 2000-12-31T16:00:00+00:00

Chapter Six

She spent the next day in an agony of indecision. If she simply disappeared and didn’t return until after he’d come for her and gone again, he would think she was desperate to avoid him, which, admittedly, she was, but she didn’t want him to know that because then he’d have no doubt about how very much he affected her. On the other hand, if she actually attended this dinner tonight, she would have to be on constant guard against the inexplicable attraction that she felt for this man. She’d have to tell herself every moment that he was not for her, and only heaven knew if she would listen! The man robbed her of her good sense, and she just didn’t know how to deal with that.

After much consideration, she finally realized that her only true choice was to learn to deal with this. The man wasn’t going away any time soon, after all, not until his cattle were gathered, anyway, and who knew how long that was going to take? Besides, Dorinda had told her repeatedly how kind his parents were to her, especially his mother, and Dani knew that to refuse the invitation would be the height of ingratitude and churlishness where they were concerned. She had to go, if only to prove to him that she was truly indifferent to his allure, however remarkable it might be. So she would go, but she didn’t have to like it.

Nevertheless, she dressed with care, choosing from her meager wardrobe a short, straight, off-white denim skirt with a back split, the coral pink sweater set with the cropped, short-sleeved cardigan and sandals. When Winston arrived around half past six she was so filled with mingled dread and expectation that she was trembling. And she knew exactly whom she had to thank for it. She met him on the porch, wanting nothing more than to get the evening behind her.

“You look great,” he said, sweeping his gaze over her. “Nice legs.”

“Thanks,” she replied brusquely. “Let’s go.”

“It’s not a hanging, you know,” he said, voice rich with amusement.

“It’s not Christmas, either,” she snapped.

He laughed at that, then shook his head. “Man, you are nothing like Dorinda.”

She stiffened and glared. “Well, excu-u-se me.”

“I’m sorry,” he said, instantly looking contrite. “I didn’t mean to criticize your sister. I only meant that her happy-go-lucky attitude could be…That is, I’m glad to see that you’re more…I meant it as a compliment,” he finished lamely.

She didn’t know whether she felt more dismay or delight, but she knew that she had to squelch the latter if she was to survive this evening without making a complete and utter fool of herself. She also knew that Dorinda could be wildly exuberant and patently irresponsible when the mood struck. More than once she had watched her sister skip off to sure trouble, but Dori had always just laughed and gone on her way, no matter what Danica or anyone else had to say about it. Apparently that tendency

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