Page 36 of Gary

“And soda. Coke?”

He bobbed his head.

“What do you have to get from your foster home?”

“Some clothes, but they are not worth shit. As soon as you start to pay me a salary, I will buy my own, those were hand-me-downs anyway.” He turned to go into the closet and hauled out a broom. “I will get rid of the cobwebs and dirt while you’re gone.”

“Good. I will be back shortly.”

Gary left a very enthusiastic Raymond cleaning up.

*****

For the life of her, she could not concentrate on the meeting. The shop was closed for business. She had set up the area with the help of her mother and the members of the club had carried in various dishes.

Chicken nuggets, lasagna, fruit, tiny dumplings with creamy fillings, pastries, and an assorted amount were heaped onto the table. In between discussing the merits of the author and the book, plates were heaped and carried back to the sofas where the meeting was taking place.

The love scenes were of special interest and had taken the discussion to another level. It was a historical romance written by a popular author who had a reputation of being very meticulous when it comes to everything, including describing the anatomy.

The love scenes took up several pages and left one hot and bothered.

And it brought back the kisses she had exchanged with him. He had called her in the afternoon to say that he had stared a project and was there for the entire day.

“I will swing by after I shower and change. I smell.” He told her teasingly. “And I would very much like the opportunity to take you in my arms. It would not do for me to have dirt clinging to my clothes.”

She could not stop thinking about him. Even after she had gone back to the front of the store and it had been busy as usual – even then, thoughts of him filled her.

“What do you think, dear?”

She jumped slightly as she realized that the eight women were staring at her.

“I am sorry. What did you say?”

“In this paragraph, Jake started to take off Samantha’s blouse but was interrupted by someone knocking on the door. I was saying that interruption spoiled the momentum, and we had to wait a few more chapters for them to resume.”

“And I was saying that kind of thing builds the anticipation.” Another piped up.

“What do you think dear?” The first woman prompted.

“I think…, oh, excuse me.” She jumped up when she heard her phone ringing. “I have to get this.”

Hurrying out of the earshot of the women, she went around the corner to answer.

“Hello?”

“I am outside.”

Her heart skipped a beat, and her knees turned weak. “I am not done.”

“I will wait.”

She looked up to see her mother standing in front of her. “Why don’t you go on? I will finish up here and drive your car home.”

“Mom…!”

“Go on. I will make your excuses to the ladies.”

Rolling her eyes, Sadie nodded. “Stop playing matchmaker,” she whispered.