Page 15 of Destined for Him

Her voice is barely above a whisper, but her face has drained of color.

“Who?” I ask, following her gaze to see a guy leaning against the bar.

He’s good-looking if you like that kind of thing. All-American blond hair, blue eyes, a square jaw, and an ice-white smile.

Mom issalivating.

“Ooh, is he wearing a ring?” Caroline peers at the man from afar, and I roll my eyes. There’s no way she can see his finger from here.

“I’ll get the drinks,” I drawl, glancing at the two women trembling and whispering beside me like schoolgirls.

“White wine, please,” Caroline asks, scanning the room again.

Mom stares at this Tommy guy like he’s the answer to her prayers before noticing me staring at her pointedly.

“Huh?”

“Do you want the same? White wine?” I ask, clucking my tongue.

“Yes. Thank you.”

I nod and twirl on my heel, striding to the bar.

I feel eyes on me from all directions, but that’s why I wore this dress.

For attention.

A lot of it.

I order our drinks but go for a rum and coke myself. I’m not much of a wine drinker unless I’m sitting outside on a sunny evening, where I can often be found with a glass of rose.

“You’re way too young to be here for the reunion,” a voice says from beside me.

I don’t even bother looking; I already know it’s Tommy-with-the-answers-to-my-moms-prayers.

“I’m not exactly here for the reunion,” I tell him, paying the bartender. “I’m with my mother.”

“Ah.”

I take my rum and coke and sip it gratefully before finally turning to see old blue eyes gazing across the dance floor.

“Pauline or Caroline?” He asks with interest. “Which one is your mom?”

“Pauline,” I say, following his gaze before looking back at his finger.

No ring.

Mom will be pleased.

“One of the prettiest girls in school, your mother was.”

“Why don’t you come and say hi?” I take the three drinks and thank the bartender just as someone enters the bar to my left.

“Let me take the wine glasses from you,” Tommy offers, and we turn to one another so he can take them.

“Thanks,” I say breezily, striding forward into a cloud of familiar cologne.

My stomach churns with nerves, and I immediately stop, scanning the room.

Source: www.allfreenovel.com