Waiting For Rachel: A Christian Romance (Those Karlsson Boys) by Kimberly Rae Jordan Page B
Authors: Kimberly Rae Jordan
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he ate, Damian caught Rachel looking at him several times. The uncertainty he’d seen earlier was evident again in her expression. He wondered what caused it.
“How was business at the store today?” he asked as he laid his silverware on the plate and leaned back.
“Very busy. I didn’t want to leave, but Mari and Sue forced me to.”
“I, for one, am very glad they did. You look so nice all dressed up.” Damian gestured toward himself. “Unfortunately, I look decidedly dull beside you. I didn’t get a chance to primp before coming.”
A small smile teased the corners of Rachel’s mouth but didn’t quite reach her eyes. “I’m sure what you had to do was more important than dressing up for a Christmas party.”
Damian nodded. “Yes, you’re right. It was. But still, how can I hope to impress you if I don’t even have time to clean up?”
Sadness and uncertainty flashed in her eyes again. Damian leaned toward her to ask what was wrong, but the sound of someone tapping a microphone interrupted him.
“I think this thing is on,” a voice boomed over the speakers.
Conversation at the tables faded as attention turned to the stage. For the next hour they were entertained through music and sharing. Damian slowly began to unwind from the tensions of the day. The only thing that would have made the evening perfect would have been if he could have reached over and held Rachel’s hand. And see her look at him with love in her eyes instead of wariness.
“I know we have several visitors here tonight,” the emcee announced as the program wound down. “If you’re here for the first time, please stand.”
There was a round of applause as many people throughout the fellowship hall stood.
“Be sure and take a moment to greet our visitors before the end of the evening. Of course, we’re always thrilled when old friends come back to visit. And this year it’s great to have our very own celebrity back among us.”
Damian’s stomach clenched, and the roast beef he’d eaten earlier sat like a rock in his gut. Suddenly he understood the uncertainty in Rachel’s expression.
“ Nicki Johansson, please stand.”
Damian watched as, across the room, a slender blonde stood and waved. His ex-fiancée had come home.
*****
Rachel couldn’t see the expression on Damian’s face since he faced away from her, but there was no mistaking the direction of his gaze. Or the sudden straightening of his spine.
She glanced at Annie but there was no concern on her face. Either Annie didn’t know who Nikki Johansson was, or she didn’t care. Rachel wished she didn’t care. She really didn’t have a right to care, but deep down, she did care. Her plan had been to tell Damian that they could be nothing more than friends. Now it looked as if she wouldn’t have to tell him anything.
Though she kept a smile on her face, the evening held no appeal for Rachel. Damian no longer tossed flirting glances her way. His conversation with the others at the table was brief, and the relaxed mood he’d been in earlier seemed to have vanished.
The evening couldn’t end soon enough for Rachel.
As soon as the final prayer was said, several people came to the table to talk with Damian. He stood with his back to her, so Rachel was able to slip away to the foyer.
“Leaving already?” a voice asked as she slipped her coat on.
Rachel swung around to see Damian standing a few feet away from her, hands in his pockets. “Yes, it’s been a lovely evening, but I’m pretty tired. It was a long day at work.”
Damian didn’t say anything at first, just nodded, his gaze serious. “Wait here while I get my coat. I’ll walk you out to your car.”
“There’s no need—“
“Please, wait. I’ll be right back.” Damian turned and headed toward his office before she could continue her objection.
As she stood buttoning her coat, Rachel debated escaping while he was gone, but since he knew where she lived he just might show up on her
“How was business at the store today?” he asked as he laid his silverware on the plate and leaned back.
“Very busy. I didn’t want to leave, but Mari and Sue forced me to.”
“I, for one, am very glad they did. You look so nice all dressed up.” Damian gestured toward himself. “Unfortunately, I look decidedly dull beside you. I didn’t get a chance to primp before coming.”
A small smile teased the corners of Rachel’s mouth but didn’t quite reach her eyes. “I’m sure what you had to do was more important than dressing up for a Christmas party.”
Damian nodded. “Yes, you’re right. It was. But still, how can I hope to impress you if I don’t even have time to clean up?”
Sadness and uncertainty flashed in her eyes again. Damian leaned toward her to ask what was wrong, but the sound of someone tapping a microphone interrupted him.
“I think this thing is on,” a voice boomed over the speakers.
Conversation at the tables faded as attention turned to the stage. For the next hour they were entertained through music and sharing. Damian slowly began to unwind from the tensions of the day. The only thing that would have made the evening perfect would have been if he could have reached over and held Rachel’s hand. And see her look at him with love in her eyes instead of wariness.
“I know we have several visitors here tonight,” the emcee announced as the program wound down. “If you’re here for the first time, please stand.”
There was a round of applause as many people throughout the fellowship hall stood.
“Be sure and take a moment to greet our visitors before the end of the evening. Of course, we’re always thrilled when old friends come back to visit. And this year it’s great to have our very own celebrity back among us.”
Damian’s stomach clenched, and the roast beef he’d eaten earlier sat like a rock in his gut. Suddenly he understood the uncertainty in Rachel’s expression.
“ Nicki Johansson, please stand.”
Damian watched as, across the room, a slender blonde stood and waved. His ex-fiancée had come home.
*****
Rachel couldn’t see the expression on Damian’s face since he faced away from her, but there was no mistaking the direction of his gaze. Or the sudden straightening of his spine.
She glanced at Annie but there was no concern on her face. Either Annie didn’t know who Nikki Johansson was, or she didn’t care. Rachel wished she didn’t care. She really didn’t have a right to care, but deep down, she did care. Her plan had been to tell Damian that they could be nothing more than friends. Now it looked as if she wouldn’t have to tell him anything.
Though she kept a smile on her face, the evening held no appeal for Rachel. Damian no longer tossed flirting glances her way. His conversation with the others at the table was brief, and the relaxed mood he’d been in earlier seemed to have vanished.
The evening couldn’t end soon enough for Rachel.
As soon as the final prayer was said, several people came to the table to talk with Damian. He stood with his back to her, so Rachel was able to slip away to the foyer.
“Leaving already?” a voice asked as she slipped her coat on.
Rachel swung around to see Damian standing a few feet away from her, hands in his pockets. “Yes, it’s been a lovely evening, but I’m pretty tired. It was a long day at work.”
Damian didn’t say anything at first, just nodded, his gaze serious. “Wait here while I get my coat. I’ll walk you out to your car.”
“There’s no need—“
“Please, wait. I’ll be right back.” Damian turned and headed toward his office before she could continue her objection.
As she stood buttoning her coat, Rachel debated escaping while he was gone, but since he knew where she lived he just might show up on her
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