Until Next Time (The Shooting Stars Series)
Page 41
“Hi,” he greeted, his own brain suddenly feeling scrambled; that was brilliant conversation, he mused in irritation.
“Hi, I um…” she found her voice but clearly not her words. “I, uh…wanted to welcome my new neighbor to the neighborhood, so um, welcome,” she thrust a plate of cookies at him.
“Thank you,” Joel took the plate and watched her turn and all but dash down the porch steps. Shaking himself into action a moment too late, he watched her leave. By the time he had recovered enough to think straight, she was halfway down the sidewalk between their homes. Joel frowned; then glanced down at the plate in his hand with a smile. He now had an excuse to call on her, he realized as he shut the door.
“Who was that?” Susan demanded.
“My new neighbor. Kaitlyn said her name is Virginia,” Joel answered as he selected a cookie from the plate. The sweet taste of chocolate and macadamia nuts melted in his mouth: perfect.
“She didn’t introduce herself?” Susan demanded.
“No, she kind of hurried off before she could do that,” he admitted.
“Great, now the whole neighborhood will know you’re living here. Joel, why am I here if you’re going to answer the door and greet every delivery man who arrives? I’m here because the simple act of getting utilities connected turns into a mania, remember?” she chastised.
“I know. I managed before you came along, didn’t I?”
“That was before every woman in America knew your name, your face, your measurements, and what kind of underwear you favor,” Susan reminded him.
“True,” he conceded with a wince. He was still trying to decide just who had let that information slip and couldn’t help wondering why anyone would care.
Another knock sounded at the door and Susan bustled around him before he could answer it.
“Hi, Kaitlyn, Hi, Adam,” she greeted and stepped aside. She hurried around them and down the steps to greet a delivery truck before Joel could do so.
“Hey, Joel, how can we help?” Kaitlyn greeted him with a hug.
“Have a cookie?” he offered as he lifted them from the coffee table.
“Thank you. Did you meet Virginia?” Kaitlyn grabbed one and took a bite.
“Not exactly,” his grin was boyish. “She kind of hurried off without introducing herself.”
“Oh, no! Poor, Virginia; I should have warned her,” Kaitlyn laughed. “I know I was nervous the first time I met you.”
“You didn’t show it,” Joel informed her.
“She did; you just didn’t know her well enough to catch on,” Adam assured his friend as he grabbed a cookie for himself. “So was she as appealing close up as she was from a distance?” Adam’s grin was mischievous.
“More so,” his smile was wide.
“Uh oh, what will people say? Joel Bradford is hung up on the girl next door!” Kaitlyn teased.
“She’s beautiful,” Joel shook his head.
“She is,” Kaitlyn agreed.
“I’ve only seen her in passing. Besides, no one and I mean no one, can hold a candle to my woman,” Adam slid his arm around his wife.
“Please, you two are making me nauseous,” Joel joked as Kaitlyn kissed her husband’s cheek.
“You’re jealous,” Kaitlyn accused.
“I am,” he nodded.
“Maybe you and Virginia will hit it off,” Kaitlyn’s eyes were bright.
“Maybe but you are not going to play match maker, right?” Joel countered.
“I make no promises,” Kaitlyn grinned.
“Seriously, Kaitlyn, I’ll make my move; it’s complicated enough as it is.”
“I only intended to invite you both to dinner or to a party. The rest is up to you,” Kaitlyn informed him.
“That would be fine,” he nodded.
“Or you could casually invite her over here to swim? A casual impromptu gathering over burgers and hot dogs? After you’re settled of course,” Kaitlyn suggested.
“That might be a nice idea,” he mused. “You and Adam could come too; then it would seem casual. Then I could invite her out just the two of us.”
“I think you should,” Kaitlyn smiled.
“I think I will, just as soon as I’m settled.”
A Tennessee Native, Michelle Maness is a stay at home mom to two teens. When not busy home schooling her teens and writing, she enjoys camping, hiking, traveling and learning about other cultures. She also enjoys foreign movies, especially Bollywood movies.
Please watch for other titles in this series and others.
Follow me on Facebook for the latest in new releases. http://www.facebook.com/michellemanessromancewriter
I love to hear from fans! E-Mail me at:
michellemanessromancewriter@yahoo.com
Other Titles Available from Michelle Maness:
Under The Open Sky: A Montana Heritage Series Novel
One Summer
Missing You in Charleston
The One She Can’t Have: The Savannah Series
A Headstrong Woman: A Historical Novel
Table of Contents
Copyright
Dedication
One
Two
Three
Four
Five
Six
Seven
Eight
Nine
Ten
Eleven
Twelve
Thirteen
Fourteen
Fifteen
Sixteen
Seventeen
Eighteen
Nineteen
Twenty
Twenty-One
Twenty-Two
Twenty-Three
Twenty-Four
Epilogue
Book Preview