Page 30 of Evan
“I have never been to a fast-food restaurant before,” he had corrected her.
“Not even in college?” He had laughed at her shocked look.
“No. I was brought up by several strict codes of conduct. Ironically, when it comes to other things, I was given a pass. But one of the things was that I stay away from these fast-food chains.”
“I see we have a lot of catching up to do.”
He grinned at her. “What do you suggest, Ms. Daley?”
“We have several more to sample. The Dairy Queen is up the road and not to mention Sonic and Burger King.”
“You are determined to educate me.”
“I am going to make it my mission in life. How about being on a picnic?”
He pretended to think on it. “When my mother was alive.”
“That was a long time ago.”
“Are you planning on preparing a basket?”
She nodded. “As soon as we find the time.”
“Where?”
“The park, she had told him with a grin.
But that might not be such a good idea. He was right. They would be spotlighted. She could just see the headlines now: ‘Playboyand CEO of troubled company seeking solace and redemption from churchgoing female, Cassandra Daley.’
She could not afford that kind of notoriety. She taught impressionable kids. They looked up to her. She was a child of God. She could not be with a man like him in public and go to church on Sunday and settle into her usual mode.
People would stare at her and talk behind her back. But she wanted to be with him – so much so that it scared her. She was falling in love with him and tonight had proven that she was already halfway there.
The Bible spoke about being unequally yoked with unbelievers and he had bluntly told her that he had no intention of being swayed by her religion. She was going to pray for him, but she was wise enough to realize that she had to allow God’s will to be done in her life.
Rubbing her temples where a headache was brewing, she started to pray.
*****
He experimented with cigarettes when he was in college. His father and uncle had both been chain smokers and he hated the habit. They had also been heavy drinkers as well. His alcohol intake was measured. He loved bourbon and had a high tolerance level when it came to drinking.
But he paced himself. He never wanted to be like them. They had tried their best to mold him into their image but had failed and when they realized that he was not as flat out in their kind of debauchery, they had turned against him.
His father had called him weak-willed and spineless. “I cannot believe you are my son!” He shouted. “Having one woman and showing how much you care will only lead to one thing. They will lead you by the nose.”
Evan had not bothered to mention the fact that when his mother was alive, his father had been faithful to her. Nothing he did, had ever pleased the old man. He was constantly criticized. “You don’t know how to run a company, and I pray that I will live long enough to teach you a thing or two.”
His uncle had said the same thing to him as well when he took over. After he was put in charge, he was determined to prove them wrong, and he had.
Within a year of taking over the company, he had tripled their earnings and effectively turned the company around. The struggle with the bad reputation was still there, but he was proving himself to be a very fair and honest leader.
But until a couple of weeks ago, unhappiness had plagued him, following him everywhere he went. Nothing was satisfying anymore. His relationships were meaningless, and work was not enough anymore.
Until that day at the chapel, when he first laid eyes on her. She had a certain aura about her that was unmistakable. He had never met anyone like her. She was full of life and joie de vivre. She laughed a lot and had that sparkle in her eyes that told anyone how much she was enjoying her life.
He had been with too many women to count and had never met anyone with such a zest for living. The women he was used to were ones who had money and position in society, but other than a few of them, they were basically dissatisfied.
Crushing out the half-smoked cigar, he rose slowly and wandered over to the window. He never thought of any place as home. Certainly not the ugly manor that had been in their family for generations.