Free Stolen Kisses by Jennifer Grayson Page A

his hand on her shoulder and his tone softened. “You will be
grown up soon, Jenny, ready to marry. I don’t want you to make any mistakes.”
     
                 
“I won’t, Daddy, I promise.” But she had already made a mistake. She had
already fallen in love with a boy who had nothing - just love and hope. She
couldn’t look her father in the eye or he would see the tears. Tears for the hopelessness
of the situation she was in. How could she ever convince her father that he had
the wrong opinion of these people?
     
                 
Her father collected his coat and papers and prepared to leave. “I won’t be
home for dinner, Jenny. Are you sure you will be all right?
     
                 
“Sure, Daddy,” she said. She was used to spending days alone. “I have plenty of
study work to do. It will keep me busy.”
     
                 
She waited a few minutes after her father had left. Then she left too. Sneaking
down the back streets so the neighbors couldn’t see her heading for the soda
store near the factory where she always met Geoff. Geoff was everything to her.
The ending of her loneliness and the beginning of all her hopes.

Chapter 2
     
     
     
                  GEOFF HAD PROMISED Jenny a surprise when they were together the day
before and she was excited as she made her way to meet him. She found him standing
beside a car – all smiles.
     
                 
“Geoff, you bought the car you wanted.”
     
           
      “Yes, but to us it’s no second hand, used, beat up heap.” He gestured
with his hand, proud of his new acquisition. He opened the passenger door,
“please step into your limousine, Jenny.”
     
                 
Geoff was handsome, with short brown hair, clean shaven and bluish, green eyes.
He had the build of a sportsman, but didn’t participate in any of the teams. He
was never quite good enough to get a scholarship through sport and he realized
that academic studies were his only way to attend college. He was ambitious
with his schooling and knew that education was the way to improve his life and
circumstances. But it was not just his good looks that had attracted Jenny to
him. It was also his kindness and thoughtfulness.  This had been evident at
their first meeting.
     
                 
It had been in the school cafeteria. She wasn’t normally clumsy, but as she
carried her lunch tray she had noticed that he was looking at her. She had
admired him from afar for a long time, but had never had the courage to speak
to him and this sudden attention had caused her to trip. Her lunch tray was the
first casualty quickly followed by her own awkward fall and the cheers that
rang out from the other students didn’t make it any less embarrassing. Geoff
had been the first to come to her assistance. He carried her tray and her
ruined lunch to the table he had been sat at and invited her to join him.
     
                 
“Thank you,” she said, “I’m not usually so clumsy.”
     
                 
“Not a problem. Besides, I don’t think anyone noticed,” he lied as he smiled. “My
names Geoff, by the way.”
     
                 
She already knew his name, but didn’t let on. “Hi Geoff, I’m . . . .”
     
                 
“Jenny Lester,” he said surprising her.
     
                 
“You know my name?” she asked.
     
              
   “Why would I not know the name of the most beautiful girl in here?”
     
                 
It was the best lunchtime she had ever had, although she hadn’t eaten much. He
introduced her to his friends, shared his meal with her and they talked, but
before she knew it the bell went to call them all back to class. As they left
he asked her for a date and she accepted. How could she refuse?
     
                
The following months had been wonderful.