The Warmth of Sunshine by Kelly Irvin

Author:Kelly Irvin
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Zondervan
Published: 2022-07-05T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter 23

Getting the swimsuit off her sweaty body proved even harder than getting it on. Like grappling with an octopus that had a dozen arms with tentacles that latched on and refused to release her. Sweat dripping into her eyes, burning like tears, Abigail wiggled and gyrated until it fell at her feet. What was Rhett doing out there? How had he known where they were? Was he looking for them or for her specifically? Did it matter? He’d seen her half dressed. A quarter dressed. Or less.

Why did that matter? So had all the other people out there. They didn’t care. They were underdressed too. Abigail collapsed on the bench, covered her face with her sweat-slickened hands, and practiced breathing. You can’t have it both ways, dummkopp.

That voice on her shoulder had a snarky told-you-so tone reminiscent of busybody women hunched over a half-done quilt.

Pick a life and stay in it.

What kind of advice was that?

The kind you give to a Plain woman who’s waffling.

She grabbed her clothes. As it turned out, putting on capris was almost as hard. They stuck on her toes, on her feet, on her calves. The shirt was easier. But not much.

“Sweet Home Alabama” wafted from Heather’s cubby. Rhett. After the party Heather had changed his ringtone to “their” song.

Abigail tugged it from its spot between Heather’s shorts and sandals. Rhett, his face half covered by his cowboy hat, filled the screen. She jabbed the green dot. “Hello.”

“You answered. I wasn’t sure you would.” His disembodied, husky voice sent a tremor through Abigail. Kind, calm, a touch of humor. “I’m sorry, Abigail. I didn’t mean to embarrass you. I was just so taken with how cute you were in that swimsuit, and it was so unexpected. I shouldn’t’ve whistled. It was ungentlemanly.”

“It’s okay.” Not really, but an English girl would’ve taken the whistle as a compliment. If Abigail wanted to be an English woman, she’d better start getting used to being treated like one. “I don’t know what I was thinking. I’m just not ready.”

“If you’re not ready, you’re not ready.”

“How did you get this number?”

“Heather gave it to me. She suggested I call you.” The music and pool noise receded. He must have gotten in his car. “I have her blessing to take you away from here. I imagine you don’t want to go back out to the pool.”

She certainly did not. On the other hand, did she want to go someplace alone with Rhett? The answer was a flat-out yes. Abigail English Girl gave the idea a big thumbs-up. The Plain part winced and shook her head. A definitive no-no. “Where would we go?”

“Let me worry about that. Just get dressed and come get in my car. It’s an old beat-up Mustang. Midnight blue. I’ll wave.”

Abigail hung up and finished dressing. Five minutes later she trudged out the front door to find a blue car idling by the curb. Rhett lowered his window. “There you are. Shall we go for a ride?”

“That actually sounds good.

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