her hands together. “I know it’s asking a lot, but I will be taking classes that are important to me. I can’t work at Mrs. Lyons’s on those days
and
get to class in time.”
Daniella shook her head. “I don’t know.”
“It would only be one day a week. All you would be doing is reading or playing the piano or running errands. It won’t interfere with your job because it’s late afternoon to evening. I’ll do my other regular days. Please, help me out.”
Daniella sighed. “Okay.”
“Thank you. I promise to make it up to you.”
“There’s one way you can make it up to me.”
“How?”
She held up the magazine again. “Convince Gabby to get me this.”
Isabella shook her head. “I’ll see what I can do.”
She went to her room relieved that she had been able to convince Daniella. However, convincing Mrs. Lyons proved more difficult. “I don’t think I like you foisting your sister on me,” Mrs. Lyons said in a condescending tone as she sat in front of the large opened windows, a light breeze toying with the maroon scarf around her neck.
“I’m not foisting anyone on you. You will like Daniella and she will be a good help to you.”
She pursed her lips. “While you do what in the meantime?”
Isabella turned her back to her and plumped up a pillow. “I am taking another job.”
She nodded, coming to a conclusion. “I see. You want a raise.”
“No.” She turned to her. “Daniella will be a great help.”
Mrs. Lyons’s eyes flashed with disapproval. “I suppose I have no choice. The opinions of an old woman rarely bear much weight.”
Isabella stopped a grin. “Thank you for being so understanding.”
Less than a week later, Isabella eagerly drove to the local college where she’d registered for her antiquing course. It was a mini-mester course designed to help students learn about antiques — how to buy them, where to look and how much to pay. Although the course would put a hefty balance on her credit card, she thought it would be a good investment.
Once inside the building, Isabella darted up the concrete steps in awe of the stately pictures and awards on the walls. She didn’t want to linger. She’d never had a chance to go to college and didn’t want to feel intimidated. She came to the first door, A-112, and entered. She took a seat in the middle next to the aisle, watching the room quickly fill up. Isabella gingerly took out her yellow notepad and pen, while noticing other students around her booting up their laptops and other electronic devices.
She found it ironic that people interested in the past would be so addicted to present technology. Isabella kept her head down. She didn’t want to invite conversation and show how little she knew about the subject.
“Is this seat taken?” a deep voice asked from above.
She glanced up startled then nearly fell out of her seat. “What are you doing here?”
Alex settled into the chair next to her. “I want to learn more about antiquing and improve my mind.” He narrowed his eyes and pointed a warning finger at her. “Say one word and you’ll regret it.”
She grinned. “Maybe.”
He lowered his voice. “I’d make sure.”
“Then my lips are sealed.” She made a zipping motion across her mouth.
“You’re supposed to be nice to me.” He leaned towards her and smiled. “We’re going to be family soon.”
“Yes, I know.” She inched away, but he didn’t seem to notice. The problem with him was his size. He was big and everything about him seemed to invade her space rather than share it. He didn’t touch her. He didn’t need to. His masculine vitality penetrated the distance between them upsetting her senses in a purely feminine way.
“Are you going to offer me congratulations?”
“I think I’m going to wait.”
“Until when?”
“Until after you’re married.”
He studied her. “Do you think there won’t be a wedding?”
She shifted feeling awkward under his gaze. “I’m sure
and
get to class in time.”
Daniella shook her head. “I don’t know.”
“It would only be one day a week. All you would be doing is reading or playing the piano or running errands. It won’t interfere with your job because it’s late afternoon to evening. I’ll do my other regular days. Please, help me out.”
Daniella sighed. “Okay.”
“Thank you. I promise to make it up to you.”
“There’s one way you can make it up to me.”
“How?”
She held up the magazine again. “Convince Gabby to get me this.”
Isabella shook her head. “I’ll see what I can do.”
She went to her room relieved that she had been able to convince Daniella. However, convincing Mrs. Lyons proved more difficult. “I don’t think I like you foisting your sister on me,” Mrs. Lyons said in a condescending tone as she sat in front of the large opened windows, a light breeze toying with the maroon scarf around her neck.
“I’m not foisting anyone on you. You will like Daniella and she will be a good help to you.”
She pursed her lips. “While you do what in the meantime?”
Isabella turned her back to her and plumped up a pillow. “I am taking another job.”
She nodded, coming to a conclusion. “I see. You want a raise.”
“No.” She turned to her. “Daniella will be a great help.”
Mrs. Lyons’s eyes flashed with disapproval. “I suppose I have no choice. The opinions of an old woman rarely bear much weight.”
Isabella stopped a grin. “Thank you for being so understanding.”
Less than a week later, Isabella eagerly drove to the local college where she’d registered for her antiquing course. It was a mini-mester course designed to help students learn about antiques — how to buy them, where to look and how much to pay. Although the course would put a hefty balance on her credit card, she thought it would be a good investment.
Once inside the building, Isabella darted up the concrete steps in awe of the stately pictures and awards on the walls. She didn’t want to linger. She’d never had a chance to go to college and didn’t want to feel intimidated. She came to the first door, A-112, and entered. She took a seat in the middle next to the aisle, watching the room quickly fill up. Isabella gingerly took out her yellow notepad and pen, while noticing other students around her booting up their laptops and other electronic devices.
She found it ironic that people interested in the past would be so addicted to present technology. Isabella kept her head down. She didn’t want to invite conversation and show how little she knew about the subject.
“Is this seat taken?” a deep voice asked from above.
She glanced up startled then nearly fell out of her seat. “What are you doing here?”
Alex settled into the chair next to her. “I want to learn more about antiquing and improve my mind.” He narrowed his eyes and pointed a warning finger at her. “Say one word and you’ll regret it.”
She grinned. “Maybe.”
He lowered his voice. “I’d make sure.”
“Then my lips are sealed.” She made a zipping motion across her mouth.
“You’re supposed to be nice to me.” He leaned towards her and smiled. “We’re going to be family soon.”
“Yes, I know.” She inched away, but he didn’t seem to notice. The problem with him was his size. He was big and everything about him seemed to invade her space rather than share it. He didn’t touch her. He didn’t need to. His masculine vitality penetrated the distance between them upsetting her senses in a purely feminine way.
“Are you going to offer me congratulations?”
“I think I’m going to wait.”
“Until when?”
“Until after you’re married.”
He studied her. “Do you think there won’t be a wedding?”
She shifted feeling awkward under his gaze. “I’m sure
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