Larkspur Dreams - By Anita Higman Page 0,31

He folded his arms. “And I don’t regret it. Granted, I didn’t really plan on losing my biggest client tonight, but Sylvester has been harassing women for a while now. Someone had to speak up.”

“But you said something about a job there and a raise. Did Sylvester offer you Zeta’s job?”

“It doesn’t matter now. It’s the right thing to do.”

Lark noticed a flicker of something in his eyes. Could it be doubt? Regret? Who knew? She couldn’t fully discern his heart. But she did know it was the most heroic thing any man had ever done for her. “I shouldn’t have slapped him. Maybe I could have just growled at him or said something fierce.”

Everett laughed. “I don’t think you have a fierce bone in your body.”

“Well, I guess I have a fierce slap,” Lark said. “It’s just my mother always taught me to defend myself if a man ever tried to take advantage of me.”

“Remind me to be careful,” Everett said lightly.

“You’ve lost so much. Would you please be serious?” Those are some pretty curious words coming out of my mouth. People had been lecturing her on that same subject for years.

“Lark.” Everett sat down in one of the overstuffed couches and looked up at her. “I don’t want you to—”

“I am so sorry.” Lark felt a panic surge through her—an emotion she wasn’t used to.

“No.” He shook his head. “I should be apologizing to you for bringing you to a party where—”

“Honestly, I had no idea that man owned the whole company.” Lark glanced around to see if they could be heard. A group of people stopped near them and then walked on by.

Everett took hold of Lark’s hand. “You’re not hearing me. It doesn’t matter who Sylvester is in the company. He has no right to manhandle my lady friend or any woman. Am I right?”

Lark sat down next to him. “What will you do now?”

“Well.” Everett released her hand and locked his fingers together. “Look for some more clients through my network.” He looked back at her. “And. . .pray. It’s time I took my faith seriously again.” Everett let out a long breath of air. “Come on. Let’s get out of here. I’m still hungry. Are you?”

Lark nodded, but what she really wanted was to help Everett. To hear him work out his frustration from the evening—to talk about his future plans if he chose to share them with her. And she needed to make sure all was well between them. It mattered to her. Now for some reason, it mattered more than ever.

Fourteen

Lark woke up the next morning with a pounding headache, a pain she rarely suffered. She rolled over in bed like a sack of potatoes. The sun streamed in through the shutters in bright sprays, but her disposition felt far from sunny. The big clock read nine. She’d never slept so late in her life. But today felt different. If the day had a taste, it would be soured milk.

Her foul mood certainly couldn’t be blamed on Everett, but on herself alone. The rest of the evening had gone very well. He’d taken her to a fine restaurant and treated her like a princess. They’d stayed out until midnight talking and laughing. She discovered him to be a Christian man of excellent character. And in her mind, a hero, too. The fear of him becoming a permanent recluse seemed almost absurd now. But a dark shadow still circled over them like a vulture waiting for disaster. Waiting for Everett to notice his date had ruined his life. And why? Because she sometimes tended to act impetuously and foolishly and. . .surely something else. Oh, yeah. Irresponsibly.

Lark turned over and groaned. What must she look like wallowing in childish self-pity? Her mother would say, “Have a cup of Earl Grey and then reach out to somebody who needs your help.”

Suddenly her last thought triggered another memory—a nugget of wisdom from her mother on the subject of love. When Lark was young and confused about beaus, her mother would say, “You know, honey, you’ll know when you’re falling in love. You’ll feel so many new emotions all at once, it’ll feel like love is putting you together and tearing you apart all at once. You’ll know. I promise.”

Oh, no. It couldn’t be. Could it? And she hadn’t even known Everett for a full week. How could it happen so fast? What should she do now? “Mother.”

Igor hopped in his cage and squawked, “Moth–er.”

“Ohhh.” She