Part 30 (2/2)
”Not really-I had so much pasta for lunch. I wouldn't say no to a gla.s.s of wine by the fire, though.”
”I have some of your favorite at the cabin. How are you fixed for adult beverages at yours?”
”Cleaned out.”
”My place, it is,” he said. ”Need anything from home first?”
She shook her head. ”I'm good. I'll run home in the morning to change clothes.”
When they got to Patrick's cabin she pulled off her boots, sank into the leather chair by the hearth and leaned back while Patrick built the fire. ”Aren't you exhausted, too?”
”Not really. It was a good day. I learned a lot.”
”Then if you're not totally shot, I'm going to let you serve me. After you've built my fire, that is.”
He laughed at her and continued his a.s.signed ch.o.r.es. With the fire going strong, he handed her a gla.s.s of wine. With his boots off, as well, beer in hand, he slid behind her into the big leather chair, his long legs stretched out on the ottoman alongside hers. She sat in the vee his legs made.
”This isn't really a two-person chair,” she pointed out to him.
”And yet...” he said.
”Why aren't you as whipped as I am?”
”Because I'm not an introvert. I watched you struggle. I hope you don't mind that I noticed-I think you did great. But I could tell that wasn't easy for you.”
”Never is,” she said with a shrug. ”I'm much happier alone with a book. I'm trying to grow out of that.”
”I'll help you search for funds when you have to get out there and thump for money.”
”No! No, I'm going to do it. It's sometimes not easy for me, but I'm going to do it.”
From behind her, he ran his knuckle along her cheek and chin. ”Will you tell me when it would help to have me along? Because the priority here is Megan.”
”Yes. Of course. But I'm going to do it. I'm not shy, it's just that it's easier for me in familiar surroundings, with people I know. With Lorraine's permission, I'm taking the before and after pictures Mel has on file to small and large businesses and ask for donations to the Megan Reconstructive Surgery Fund that my aunt Brie set up for me at Farmers Trust Bank. I'm also going to create a Facebook page that I can take down as soon as we have enough funding.”
”Even though it's hard...”
”Even though,” she said. ”The thing is, I've always been okay with showing off my gray matter. I didn't mind if people thought it made me look dorky or dull-that only meant they'd leave me alone. But when I have to try to showcase my looks or personality, it's tough. I can't help but feel like I don't measure up. You know?”
”You don't give yourself enough credit, Ange. You measure up and then some.”
”You're being very sweet. Is it because you think you're getting s.e.x tonight?”
He laughed at her. ”I a.s.sume I'm getting nothing more than the sound of your snoring unless you feel like s.e.x....”
”I don't snore.”
<script>