Raspberry Kisses (The Bakery Romance Series Book 1) Read Online Free Page B
Author: Cecelia Dowdy
She shook her head, wishing Raven would listen to her advice. Raven would be happier if she wasn’t so focused on Martin. Why had she agreed to go through so much trouble just to get a loan? Is this what she had to look forward to for the rest of the weekend? Watching desperate women target the male attendees?
She stopped at the cafeteria door and peeked inside. So many people! The noise hurt her ears. She had to sit and have dinner with these people? Diners occupied long, rectangular tables. She spotted a line in front of the food service entrance. Would anybody think badly of her if she got her tray and carried it back to her room? Time alone sounded appealing.
She finally got into the line and spotted the cafeteria ladies behind the counter, serving food. She stared at the workers with longing. She saw a red apron hanging on a peg behind the food counter. Why couldn’t she just forget this whole Martin-finding mission and work behind the counter with the cafeteria ladies? She closed her eyes, imagining herself pulling the apron down, placing it over the front of her body, tying the strings in the back.
With her hair already pulled back, she’d be ready to serve food to this noisy crowd. Her feelings of apprehension would disappear as long as she was behind the counter, using food as a buffer. When she served people, giving them something to fill their empty stomachs, she’d feel more comfortable and relaxed.
“Hey, you’re holding up the line!” A woman snapped behind Rhea. Rhea opened her eyes, shocked that the line had moved while she’d been daydreaming. Sighing, she grabbed a tray, slapping it onto the counter in front of her.
*
Martin entered the cafeteria, glancing around the crowd. The conference director told him that the rest of the conference speakers wouldn’t arrive until the following morning. He shook his head. Why had he let Trina talk him into speaking at this singles retreat? Was he being too cynical? Maybe the Lord wanted him here to minister to others, and he needed to accept that and do the best that he could.
He also needed to speak to Raven. If he sat down with her, calmly explaining his opinion, she might finally understand, and stop calling him so much. Perhaps Raven was a stubborn woman who refused to accept the truth. In time, she’d have to learn that he was simply not interested in her and that she’d misunderstood his intentions.
Everybody seemed to be talking at once, enveloping the cafeteria in a cacophony of noise. He placed his hands over his ears. He had so much to do, including studying for his exam in divinity school. After he ate some dinner, found Raven, explained everything to her, then he’d get back to his room and study before focusing on his duties at the retreat.
He looked through the throngs of people. Where was Raven?
He spotted a woman peeking into the cafeteria. There she was! Wait. She resembled Raven, but…something was different about her. She sported glasses over her brown eyes, and her coffee-colored hair was pulled back into a bun. Staring at her from head to toe, he took in her entire appearance.
She wore a loose-fitting outfit, not something he thought Raven would wear. She stood in line, closing her eyes. What was she doing? Was she tired? After being nudged by another attendee, she frowned before slamming her tray onto the counter.
After she’d gotten her food, she clutched her tray, gazing into the sea of faces dominating the noisy cafeteria. She looked like a scared child searching for her mother. Should he rescue her? She carried her meal, sitting at the end of one of the long, rectangular tables. A few of the people sitting beside her tried to talk to her, but she mumbled something before focusing on her food. There was an empty spot beside her. Hopefully, he’d be able to sit there once he got his dinner.
Why did she look so different? Why was she acting so shy? Was she upset about something? Was that really Raven? He stared for a few
She stopped at the cafeteria door and peeked inside. So many people! The noise hurt her ears. She had to sit and have dinner with these people? Diners occupied long, rectangular tables. She spotted a line in front of the food service entrance. Would anybody think badly of her if she got her tray and carried it back to her room? Time alone sounded appealing.
She finally got into the line and spotted the cafeteria ladies behind the counter, serving food. She stared at the workers with longing. She saw a red apron hanging on a peg behind the food counter. Why couldn’t she just forget this whole Martin-finding mission and work behind the counter with the cafeteria ladies? She closed her eyes, imagining herself pulling the apron down, placing it over the front of her body, tying the strings in the back.
With her hair already pulled back, she’d be ready to serve food to this noisy crowd. Her feelings of apprehension would disappear as long as she was behind the counter, using food as a buffer. When she served people, giving them something to fill their empty stomachs, she’d feel more comfortable and relaxed.
“Hey, you’re holding up the line!” A woman snapped behind Rhea. Rhea opened her eyes, shocked that the line had moved while she’d been daydreaming. Sighing, she grabbed a tray, slapping it onto the counter in front of her.
*
Martin entered the cafeteria, glancing around the crowd. The conference director told him that the rest of the conference speakers wouldn’t arrive until the following morning. He shook his head. Why had he let Trina talk him into speaking at this singles retreat? Was he being too cynical? Maybe the Lord wanted him here to minister to others, and he needed to accept that and do the best that he could.
He also needed to speak to Raven. If he sat down with her, calmly explaining his opinion, she might finally understand, and stop calling him so much. Perhaps Raven was a stubborn woman who refused to accept the truth. In time, she’d have to learn that he was simply not interested in her and that she’d misunderstood his intentions.
Everybody seemed to be talking at once, enveloping the cafeteria in a cacophony of noise. He placed his hands over his ears. He had so much to do, including studying for his exam in divinity school. After he ate some dinner, found Raven, explained everything to her, then he’d get back to his room and study before focusing on his duties at the retreat.
He looked through the throngs of people. Where was Raven?
He spotted a woman peeking into the cafeteria. There she was! Wait. She resembled Raven, but…something was different about her. She sported glasses over her brown eyes, and her coffee-colored hair was pulled back into a bun. Staring at her from head to toe, he took in her entire appearance.
She wore a loose-fitting outfit, not something he thought Raven would wear. She stood in line, closing her eyes. What was she doing? Was she tired? After being nudged by another attendee, she frowned before slamming her tray onto the counter.
After she’d gotten her food, she clutched her tray, gazing into the sea of faces dominating the noisy cafeteria. She looked like a scared child searching for her mother. Should he rescue her? She carried her meal, sitting at the end of one of the long, rectangular tables. A few of the people sitting beside her tried to talk to her, but she mumbled something before focusing on her food. There was an empty spot beside her. Hopefully, he’d be able to sit there once he got his dinner.
Why did she look so different? Why was she acting so shy? Was she upset about something? Was that really Raven? He stared for a few