Home to Stay (The Long Road Home #2) - Maryann Jordan Page 0,28

his eyes, he’d wanted that, too. So what happened? I ask more about him and suddenly he clams up and can’t get out of my house fast enough.

A knock on the door had her look up and she smiled as Paula walked in, glad for the distraction.

“Hey, girl, my kids are at art class so I thought I’d have a little adult time while yours are at lunch.” Paula plopped down into the chair next to Lucy’s desk and narrowed her eyes. “You certainly don’t look like a woman who had dinner with a delicious soldier over the weekend.”

She shrugged. “It was nice but other than him coming on Wednesday to visit my classroom again, I’m not sure I’ll see him. I don’t think he’s that into me.”

“Oh, Lucy, I’m sorry. I thought for sure he was interested when you were together at Moose’s the other night. He certainly looked like he would slay a dragon for you.”

A snort slipped out, and she shook her head. “Dinner was nice, and we chatted easily. At least, I did. But when I asked more about him, he suddenly took off like I’d asked him to divulge government secrets or something. I guess he was just being polite and then decided that he wasn’t interested.” She shrugged again. “Oh, well. I can see him on Wednesday when he comes here, be congenial, and then it will be over. Since he’s out of the Army, there won’t be any more class assignments that involve him anyway.”

“Well, since you’re still a free agent, I’ve got a proposal. There’s a music festival in Canada this weekend and I’ve got two tickets for the VIP section, including free beer. You and me, girl. Music. Beer. Special passes to meet the band. What do you say?”

“Are you going for the band or your new friends in the biker jackets?”

Paula jerked her chin back, her eyes narrowing. “Seriously, Lucy? When did you start having a prejudice against bikers?”

“I don’t,” she huffed, tossing her balled-up napkin onto the table. “I have no problem with someone’s appearance or what they like to do, including riding, as long as what they do isn’t illegal.”

“Are you saying those guys I was with Friday night are criminals? Based on what? Their looks? Their jackets?”

Licking her lips, she said, “No, but John didn’t have a good feeling about them.”

Paula threw her hands into the air. “Well, oh, my God. Soldier-boy John didn’t have a good feeling about them. Well, let me just go hide under a rock before the big, bad bikers come to get me!”

“You don’t have to get all sarcastic. That’s not helping.” They sat in silence, Lucy enduring Paula’s glare for a moment, before she finally said, “I don’t want us to argue.”

Paula sighed heavily and nodded. “I don’t either. Look, this weekend has nothing to do with the bikers anyway. I just got angry when you asked about them. But this weekend is about the music festival.” She reached over and squeezed Lucy’s hand. “And John didn’t turn out to be the great hero you had in your mind, so I’m not sure why his opinion matters anyway. Come on. Say you’ll go with me.”

It was on the tip of her tongue to say no, but the idea of being home alone for another weekend just working on her house held little appeal. Sucking in a deep breath before letting it out in a rush, she looked up at Paula’s expectant face. “Okay.”

Paula jerked slightly. “What? Just like that? Okay? No ‘I’ve got to paint my ceiling’ excuse?”

Rolling her eyes, she crinkled her nose. “I don’t always have excuses!”

“Once you bought your house, you turned into a little old lady. But I’m just teasing. I’m stoked about this weekend. I’ll pick you up on Saturday morning and we’ll make a day of it.” Paula stood and smoothed her skirt before walking to the door. She turned and winked. “And if we get lucky, we’ll spend the night there, too!”

Paula left the room before Lucy had a chance to retort. Sighing heavily, she packed up her half-eaten sandwich and placed it back into her bag, needing to run to the restroom before her class came back into the room. She wished she had more enthusiasm for Paula’s weekend adventure. They’d certainly had fun before when they went to concerts or movies together, but it seemed Paula’s tastes had recently turned a little wilder. Or maybe I’m just becoming an old lady like