Following Love Read Online Free Page B

with her eyes closed and her mouth slightly open.
    This is when they usually came, the onslaught of tears, the sadness of being alone and the emptiness of possibility.
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    Ellen knew what had happened, of course, she’d been watching from the kitchen window. She’d gasped out loud, seeing the near miss, then smiled, encouraged as Dena lay on the ground and allowed Julian to crouch above her, straddling her body with his long legs.
    Maybe this was what Louise meant when she’d said that love would come only when she was ready. Maybe, just maybe, Dena was finally ready to live again. At any rate, it was a good sign and she was more than encouraged.
    She finished the second pitcher of lemonade and placed it on a tray to take outside. Just as she added a glass and her homemade cookies, the telephone rang. “Hello?”
    â€œHi, Mrs. Peyton, this is Willamina Parker at the Hamilton Development Corporation. Is Julian there, by any chance? He must have turned his cell phone off again.”
    â€œYes. As a matter of fact, he’s right out back.”
    â€œGreat, I’ve been calling his cell phone for the last fifteen minutes. Would you please ask him to call me here at the office? I need him to stop by before he goes home this evening.”
    â€œSure, anything wrong?”
    â€œNo, not at all, he just needs to pick up some employment applications and look them over before tomorrow morning. We’re interviewing for an administrative assistant since I’ll be on maternity leave for the next few months and Mattie Carmichael is still out with her broken ankle.”
    â€œOf course. I’m headed outside right now.”
    â€œThanks. ’Bye, Mrs. Peyton.”
    â€œWait a minute, Willamina,” Ellen said quickly, “you said that you’re looking for a replacement for a few months?”
    â€œYes, I have all intentions of returning to work and so does Mattie. It’s just that the timing is crazy right now. We’re so busy and with Mattie out another two months and me going out in a week and a half, we really need someone competent to fill in. The last few applicants just didn’t work out. They were more interested in getting a Hamilton husband than working for the company.”
    â€œInteresting. My niece, Dena Graham, is looking for a job. Something temporary until she gets herself together and decides what she wants to do next. She’s an attorney on personal hiatus.”
    â€œDoes she have any administrative office experience?”
    â€œTons,” Ellen answered, having no idea at all.
    â€œGreat. Why don’t you have her stop by tomorrow around five-thirty? I’ll make her my last appointment before the weekend. The position isn’t anything glamorous but it’s busy work and definitely challenging.”
    â€œThanks, sweetie, I’ll let her know, and I’ll give Julian your message right now.” Ellen hung the phone back on the wall, smiled and chuckled, then picked up the tray of lemonade and oatmeal-raisin cookies and headed outside, completely amazed by how quickly things turned around.
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    The front part of the barbecue pit, once a mass of hardened cement and cinder blocks, lay as rubble at his feet. Breathless, Julian looked down at the crumbled mess, feeling particularly pleased with his effort. His body ached and his muscles screamed for relief, but he had focused and gotten most of the job done.
    As he leaned the hammer against the back wall of the grill he noticed a lemon slice on the ground and instantly thought about Dena. Remembering her lying there beneath him as he straddled her urged his body again. The memory of the sweet lemonade poured over her made him close his eyes and imagine what she might taste like. Tart and sweet, juicy and succulent; he unconsciously licked his lips. His body stirred so he quickly picked up the lemon slice and tossed it in the trash.
    Then he rolled the wheelbarrow closer to the