Read 02_Groom of Her Own for Free Online Page A

grinned. “Well, I’m off duty today. So I can dress like a real person.”
    She smiled at his down-to-earth sense of humor. “I noticed.”
    “Actually, I think I underdressed,” he admitted a bit sheepishly. “You look great. I sort of feel like a poor relation.”
    Sam dismissed his comment with a wave. “I’m on duty, remember. This is my ‘uniform.’ Always look professional with clients, that’s my motto. It helps build confidence.” Nevertheless, his compliment left her with a warm glow. The black skirt and green jacquard silk blouse, embellished with a long gold and pearl necklace and a matching bracelet, was her favorite outfit, and for some reason she was pleased he’d noticed it.
    Brad propped his chin in his hand and smiled. “Oh, you already have my confidence. After that third degree on the phone, I was convinced you knew your stuff.”
    She smiled ruefully. “I can come on a little strong, I guess. Laura should have warned you. Anyway, as for what you’re wearing, you look fine. To be honest, it makes me forget you’re a minister.”
    “Well, I won’t complain if that makes it easier for you to call me Brad.”
    “It might” She didn’t tell him that his attire today not only made her forget he was a minister, but sent her thoughts in a physical rather than spiritual direction.
    He grinned engagingly. “Well, we can hope.”
    The waitress arrived, and after they placed their order Sam pulled out her notebook. “Why don’t we finish up the business stuff before the food arrives? That way, I won’t have to eat and take notes at the same time.”
    Brad was agreeable, and by the time their food was served they’d moved on to other topics.
    “So how long have you been in the real estate business, Sam?” Brad asked as he buttered a roll.
    “About fifteen years. It’s the only thing I’ve ever done.”
    “You seem to be very successful.”
    She shrugged. “I do okay. And I enjoy it. That’s the important thing. Plus, I get to meet lots of interesting people. I imagine you could say the same about your work.”
    “Actually, in many ways we’re in the same business,” he remarked.
    Sam tilted her head quizzically. “How do you figure?”
    He shrugged. “Well, you devote yourself to helping people find earthly homes. I spend my time helping them find their eternal home,” he said matter-of-factly.
    Sam smiled. “Has anyone ever told you that you have a way with words, Rever— Brad?” she corrected herself, and was rewarded with a warm smile. “I enjoyed your talk at the wedding, too.”
    “Thanks. You know, that was the hardest part for me about becoming a minister.”
    “What?”
    “Having to get up in front of people and speak. I do better one-on-one. It’s pretty intimidating to stand up there every week and see all those faces looking at you expectantly for words of wisdom.”
    “You could have fooled me. You seemed totally at ease at the wedding.”
    “Well, it’s nice to know that at least I look calm. But I’m really kind of a stay-in-the-background kind of guy. I was pretty shy growing up.”
    “Yeah, I know what you mean. So was I.”
    Brad looked at her with a skeptical smile. “Now that I find hard to believe.”
    Sam grinned wryly. “Most people would, I guess,” she admitted. “Shy isn’t exactly the word my friends use to describe me. But believe it or not, it’s true. Or used to be,” she said, correcting herself. “I was overweight as a child, and you know how kids can be. I was the butt of a lot of jokes, which made me even more self-conscious. But I finally figured out that the way to be accepted was to be sort of outrageous and funny. So I became the class clown, and I ended up being pretty popular. The only thing was, when I got to be about sixteen I realized that even though the guys thought I was a lot of fun, they never asked me out. So in my senior year I decided to lose weight, and by the time I graduated I was in pretty good shape. My