Shadow Ridge Read Online Free Page A

back here,” she said and it brought him out of his uncharacteristic self loathing fest. “It’s quiet so we can hear each other talk. And we get to sit closer. Not that I’m big on invading spaces,” she said quickly. “If you want me to sit on the other end of this horseshoe I will.”
    He laughed. “Nah, I like having you close.” He scooted so close to her that his thigh was touching hers. That wasn’t hard to do. His thighs weren’t exactly Thighs of Steel worthy.
    “I’ve never eaten here. Have you?”
    “No. Friends told me they have good food though.”
    He noticed the smile on her face. “Good. I’m starving.”
    “Starving? Don’t you eat?”
    She laughed heartedly. “I do. But work took over today so it was late by the time I really had a chance for anything since breakfast with Kelly. I didn’t want to eat too late. I figured it would look bad if I didn’t eat much here. I mean you aren’t one of those guys who will count the calories I eat are you?”
    “Me? I don’t know anything about counting calories.”
    “Good. I eat, Miles. I just eat smaller portions. My stomach can’t take large portions. And I workout. I’m not unhealthy if that’s what you’re thinking.”
    “It wasn’t. It isn’t. Your skin glows. If you weren’t healthy I doubt you’d have that glow.”
    She blushed, the hint of red warming her cheeks. He noticed that about her the other night too. She wasn’t one who took compliments easily. They made her uncomfortable and he wondered why. “Then I guess it’s a good thing I went for just a hint of mascara and lip balm huh?”
    “You don’t need makeup. You look beautiful.”
    “Ah,” she sighed. “Sometimes I forget this is Freeport and not Bev Hills. Trust me, you go out without makeup there and you’re in trouble.” He noticed how she nearly sung the last word. He should have found it annoying but on her he found it cute. God, please let there be a second date; he prayed.
    They ordered their meals and enjoyed the basket of bread that was brought out as their appetizer while they waited. One thing he would say was that the woman could put down some bread. He wouldn’t have expected it with her body. He assumed she probably ate like a bird, but she was now working on her third piece of cheese bread.
    “I love bread.” She smiled at him as she went for another piece. “I hope I’m not freaking you out. I promise I’ll work this off with a five mile run in the morning.” She giggled. “Hey, I did five miles this morning so that has to count for something.”
    He laughed. “Trust me ; you have nothing to worry about. I’m just surprised. You’re eating this bread like it’s the best thing in the world.”
    “I love bread. I could live on bread.”
    “No you couldn’t. You would end up missing some vital nutrients.”
    She shrugged. “I wouldn’t care. Take away anything else but if you touch my bread we’re going to fight.”
    He laughed hard this time while she laughed softly. “A bread woman ,” he mused. “It’s good to know how to please you.”
    “Bread, braided, cheese, buttered, roasted, topped with olive oil, put a tomato on it…just give me bread and we’re good to go.”
    He couldn’t stop laughing and neither could she. She had ordered the butterfly crumb crusted shrimp, the steamed broccoli and coleslaw too. He had ordered the steak and potato meal and now he was wondering if he should have gone for something smaller. No. She had to like him for him. If he hid now she would just be disappointed later.
    “So why did you stand up for me last night?”
    She shrugged. “I hate bullies. I’ve been there.”
    He watched as her mouth encapsulated another piece of the bread she had torn into bitable sizes. The smile on her lips made her look like she was having a food orgasm. “You’re not fat.” He couldn’t believe anybody bullied her. She was a size two at the most.
    She swallowed her bread as s he laughed sarcastically.