Free Constance: Bride of Florida (American Mail-Order Bride 27) by Patricia Pacjac Carroll Page B

yet.
    Jenny slipped his bill beside his cup. “I see you looking at her. She’s pretty and nice. Her name, is Constance. She didn’t give me her last name though.”
    Sunshine eased between the clouds and brightened the day, but it would take more than that to ease his situation. He sat as if frozen.
    The bell over the door to the café rang.
    Drake turned.
    Kimberly smiled and walked to him. “Well, I didn’t expect to see you here, Mr. Ferris.”
    Drake’s gaze slid to the young woman. Her shoulders went rigid, and she turned to look at him.
    He returned his gaze to Kimberly. “I do get thirsty and hungry. I’m not chained to the office.” Not yet, he told himself.
    Kimberly laughed. “Will you be home for dinner tonight, or will I have to warm it for you, again?”
    Out of the corner of his eye, he noticed the light leave Constance’ face before she turned to the window.
    “I’ll be home.”
    Kimberly’s lips turned to a pout. “What’s the matter, Drake? I expected you to ask to buy me breakfast?”
    With relief, he saw that Constance relaxed her rigid shoulders.
    He nodded to Kimberly. “Breakfast it is.”
    Kimberly flung her napkin at him. “You are a moody one, but I can handle that.” She reached over and took his hand. “I’m trained to work with unruly patients.”
    He stared at her wishing things were different. Wondering if he could tell Constance it was too late. He forced a grin. “Jenny, we’d like to order and sit at the table in the back.”
    Jenny nodded. “When you’re ready, let me know.”
    Drake took his coffee and lightly placed his hand on Kimberly’s elbow to guide her to the table. He’d sit where he could watch Constance. He didn’t need to tell her who he was. He could choose which woman appealed to him the most. Right now, it was Kimberly.
    He wondered how long it would take Constance to come looking for E. Ferris.
    The bell over the door rang again and a neatly dressed man entered. Drake didn’t recognize him.
    The stranger flashed a smile and then walked to the table where Constance sat. He said something to her and then sat across from her.
    Surprisingly, jealousy slapped Drake. Who was that man and why was she talking to him?
    “Drake, yoo hoo. I’m here in front of you.” Kimberly moved into his field of vision.
    “Sorry.” He called Jenny over and ordered for them, but his gaze soon returned to the table by the window.

Chapter 9
     
    Constance ordered another cup of coffee, as she might as well be comfortable and dry. She’d wait for the rain to stop. Staring out the window, she startled when the bell over the door rang.
    She sipped her coffee and watched as a tall man walked in the café. His hair was dark. He was a powerful man by the way he walked and ordered. No nonsense. Not unfriendly but a man use to giving commands and having them obeyed.
    Constance shuddered. He was not the man for her. She wanted a gentle, kind man. She ignored him and continued to stare out the window. She could see the mast of Journeys end . Sadness crept into her. She had so enjoyed her time on the ship.
    She took another sip and nearly spewed it out when Jenny called the man Mr. Ferris. Can’t be. He can not be E. Ferris. Please, God. She set the cup down and stared outside, her life flashing before her. The courageous part anyway, as the mousy part of her tiptoed back to take over.
    Closing her eyes, she remembered what the captain had told her. She was a treasure. She had to hold onto those words. She had to. She opened her eyes and forced her rigid shoulders down. She was not a mouse.
    Jenny continued to talk the man, and then she called him Drake.
    Her breath went out of her. He wasn’t E. Ferris. He wasn’t the one who’d sent for her. He wasn’t the one she’d thought about on the voyage. Perhaps she should go inquire of him who E. Ferris was?
    Constance was about to stand when someone else entered the café. A woman. She watched as this newcomer took Drake