< previous page page_127 next page >

Page 127
thought. A wave of sadness and longing swept through her, so intense that she swayed on her feet. Mike looked up, his surprised, reddened eyes meeting hers.
Abby flushed. She had forgotten that he might read her emotions, too. She tried to appear sympathetic yet detached. But inside, she wondered at the way this man affected her.

Mike sat behind his desk. Across from him was Abby, ignored by his employees, who spoke in low tones to one another. He leaned his head back and rubbed his eyes. Where was his numbness? He had worked so long at cultivating it, he had thought he could call it up at will. But now he felt suffocated by pain.
He looked at Abby. Her dark brown eyes were soft as they regarded him. Surely his odd sensation of a few moments before was his imagination. He had thought he felt a pang of sadness and need emanating from her. But the feeling passed quickly. Now his agony seemed eased just a little from her lovely, calming presence.
But she couldn't help him. No one could, and the last thing he needed right now was the burden of figuring out the enigma of Abby.
He had thought he no longer cared about Arlen's Kitchens. But, oh, how mistaken he had been. He had sat there listening to Lowell and Ruth try to explain that ridiculous gourmet food idea. Oh, he couldn't completely blame them. He hadn't told them not to try something new. But the old way worked just fine.

 
< previous page page_127 next page >