Free Tapestry of Trust by Mary Annslee Urban Page B

a favor. Put these on the family room chairs.”
    “Sure dear but don’t you want to know who asked about you?”
    “No.” Isabelle barked then softened her tone. “I mean, I know who it is.”
    Mrs. Johnson’s brow crinkled then. “Sounds like someone you’re not interested in.”
    More perceptive than Isabelle thought. “Correct.”
    “That’s a shame. He seems nice, and he’s quite handsome.” Mrs. Johnson squeezed Isabelle’s shoulder. “You know time is of the essence. The good men go fast.”
    Isabelle coughed into her fist to cover a groan. She didn’t like the twinkle in Mrs. Johnson’s eyes. Or the wedding bells chiming in her own head.
    “You just think about that, dear.” Mrs. Johnson shot her a wink over her shoulder as she pranced down the hall.
    Nope. Thinking was dangerous.
    Isabelle took a steadying breath and peeped around the corner, expecting to see Charlie’s infamous grin. Instead her attention rested on the woman beside him. Blonde, beautiful, and dressed in a black slinky dress. Apparently his girlfriend hadn’t read the invitation stating wedding shower and not cocktail party.
    Jerking back, Isabelle slapped a hand across her chest to keep from hyperventilating. She glanced down at her simple cotton sundress, now wrinkled and damp. She smoothed the front with her fingers and adjusted her sash. As if that would help. She smelled like lemon-scented dish soap—or worse. She cringed. Then a thought bloomed. What if Charlie asked for her so he could introduce her to his girlfriend?
    Isabelle bit back a sigh, but couldn’t restrain a groan when she thought about seeing Charlie put his arm around the woman or maybe even kiss her…
    She sagged against the wall and took a slow breath. She didn’t care about Charlie. Just fleeting, delusional emotions and, although she snuffed them out, her ability to stand was sorely in question.
    “Isabelle.”
    Over the hum of chatter and laughter, Mrs. Johnson’s voice pulled her back. Isabelle tipped up her chin and strode forward, ignoring her still throbbing ankle . I can do this. Three strides later she was in the dining room.
    “Isabelle, over here,” Mrs. Johnson called from across the room, frantically waving like one of Isabelle’s students eager to answer.
    Feeling more like a reprimanded child than a teacher, Isabelle plowed through the crowd. A tremor of discomfort shivered up her spine. It intensified further when she felt a warm hand on her shoulder.
    “Hey, I’ve been looking for you.”
    Her heartbeat kicked up a notch. The day started out so well, her focus on Kate and the shower. No worries of her own. No lingering memories to contend with. Now, here she was sharing the afternoon with the one person she wanted to forget—and his girlfriend.
    “Charlie,” she muttered, striving for an aloof tone.
    He moved closer.
    She held her breath and wet her lips, ready to face her antagonist. But when their gazes met, a rush of heat shot through her. It wasn’t due to the glint in his eyes or the onslaught of unwelcome memories. Rather the fact that any man with his girlfriend in such close proximity shouldn’t be looking at her like that.
    “You’re a hard one to catch.” Charlie’s unabashed grin frustrated her further.
    “I’ve been busy,” Isabelle blurted, hating the little catch in her voice.
    “We still need to plan a time to get together.”
    Not on your life, buster.
    Mrs. Johnson scooted up beside her, sparing Isabelle the need to respond.
    “There you are, dear. We’ll need another chair in the family room. Kate’s cousin Eileen showed up.”
    Happy to oblige, Isabelle slipped out of Charlie’s clutch and stepped forward. “I’ll get right on it.”
    “And, dear, while you’re in there, turn on the fan. With so many guests, the house might get stuffy.”
    It already had. Isabelle fanned herself. She glanced at Charlie, his dark eyes studying her every move. Yep, definitely getting harder to breath.
    Charlie