Read Angels Watching Over Me for Free Online

asked.
    “I—I have no money for the machine.”
    “I have quarters.” She reached into the pocket of her robe. “Here. Let me treat you. What would you like?”
    “I cannot take—”
    “Of course you can,” she interrupted. “Buying you a candy bar doesn’t make us engaged, does it?” She popped in two quarters. “What’s your favorite?”
    “I don’t know. I’ve never had one before.”
    “Are you joking?”
    “Is this funny to you?”
    “Only strange,” she said, more hesitant now, her annoyance subsiding. “I’ll pick for you.” She punched a button, and a Milky Way bar dropped down the chute. She picked it up and handed it to him. “This is one of my favorites. Try it.”
    Hesitantly he took it from her, careful not to touch her hand. “Thank you.”
    She tried to make eye contact, but Ethan kept his gaze on the candy bar. Again her anger flared. She spun and stalked over to the counter and a platter holding a stack of wrapped sandwiches. She grabbed one, took a fruit drink, and dropped into a nearby chair, pointedly ignoring Ethan. The guy might be good-looking, but he was a jerk as far as she was concerned.
    From the corner of her eye she saw that Ethan hadn’t left the room. He just stood by the door, shifting from foot to foot. His shirt was white broadcloth. His pants were the same wide-legged style as his father’s. He wore heavy, dark boots. There was nothing fashionable about him. He was nothing like any of the boys she’d known back in Dallas. She tried hard not to look at him. Still he didn’t move.
    She couldn’t stand it anymore. “What!” she cried. “What do you want? Is the candy bar poison or something?”
    He shook his head, his gaze riveted to the floor.
    “Then what’s wrong, Ethan? Is there somethingwrong with me? Is there a particular reason why you won’t look at me or talk to me?”
    “No.” He came closer until he was standing over her, staring straight down into her eyes.
    His gaze was so intense that Leah felt as if it might burn her. She swallowed hard. Her hands trembled, and her heart began to race. “What is it? Do you dislike me?” Her voice quivered with false bravado.
    “Dislike you?” He looked as if she’d slapped him. “I do not dislike you, Leah Lewis-Hall. I think that you are the most beautiful girl I have ever set my eyes upon.”

“Y ou do?” Leah stared at him. “You actually think I’m pretty?”
    “It is impossible for me not to think so. You
are
beautiful.”
    She felt herself blush. No guy had ever been so forthright with her. In her experience, most guys liked to play head games with girls. They liked to come on strong, then back away if a girl showed any interest. She grew wary. Maybe Ethan was the same way. “I’ll bet you’ve told lots of girls they’re pretty,” she said tentatively.
    He shook his head. “I have only taken Martha Dewberry home but once in my buggy.”
    “You’ve lost me, Ethan. What’s a buggy ride got to do with feeding girls a line?” Leah pushed out a nearby chair with her foot, inviting Ethan to sit.
    He sat. “What is this ‘feeding a line’?”
    “Giving somebody a compliment in order to get something you want from her.” She wondered if she was going to have to explain every idiom in the English language to him.
    “You mean
lie
?” He recoiled. “I do not lie, Leah. If I tell you you are beautiful, it is because it is so.”
    She couldn’t help smiling. “Well, thank you for thinking so. I would have never guessed you felt that way. You acted as if you wanted to avoid me. That can hurt a person’s feelings, you know.”
    “Have I hurt your feelings?”
    “I’m getting over it.”
    A smile slowly inched across Ethan’s face. “Good. I do not want to hurt your feelings.”
    She measured him quietly. Ethan’s hands were large and raw; he must work hard. His face was lean, with the hint of a beard in places. His hair curled against his collar and flopped appealingly across