The Road To Love: Love by Degree / The Rain Sparrow

“Morgan.” A tall, brusque-looking man approached Reed.

“Dailey,” Reed said, quickly stepping away from Ellen.

“I wouldn’t have expected to see you out on a night like this,” the man Reed had called Dailey was saying.

“I’m surprised to see you, too.”

“This film is supposed to be good,” Dailey said.

“Yeah. It’s got great reviews.”

Dailey’s eyes returned to the line and rested on Ellen, seeking an introduction. Reed didn’t give him one. Reed was obviously pretending he wasn’t with Ellen.

She offered the man a feeble smile, wondering why Reed would move away from her, why he wouldn’t introduce her to his acquaintance. The line moved slowly toward the ticket booth and Ellen went with it, leaving Reed talking to Dailey on the pavement. She felt a flare of resentment when he rejoined her a few minutes later.

“That was a friend of a friend.”

Ellen didn’t respond. Somehow she didn’t believe him. And she resented the fact that he’d ignored the most basic of courtesies and left her standing on the sidewalk alone, while he spoke with a friend. The way he’d acted, anyone would assume Reed didn’t want the man to know Ellen was with him. That hurt. Fifteen minutes earlier she’d been soaring with happiness at his unexpected invitation to the Christmas party, and now she was consumed with doubt and bitterness. Perhaps this Dailey was a friend of Danielle’s and Reed didn’t want the other woman to know he was out with Ellen. But that didn’t really sound like Reed.

Once inside the cinema, Reed bought a huge bucket of buttered popcorn. They located good seats, despite the crowd, and sat down, neither of them speaking. As the lights went down, Reed placed his hand on the back of her neck.

Ellen stiffened. “Are you sure you want to do that?”

“What?”

“Touch me. Someone you know might recognize you.”

“Ellen, listen...”

The credits started to roll on the huge screen and she shook her head, not wanting to hear any of his excuses.

But maintaining her bad mood was impossible with the comedy that played out before them. Unable to stop herself, Ellen laughed until tears formed in her eyes; she was clutching her stomach because it hurt from laughing. Reed seemed just as amused as she was, and a couple of times during the film, their smiling gazes met. Before she knew it, Reed was holding her hand and she didn’t resist when he draped his arm over her shoulders.

Afterward, as they strolled outside, he tucked her hand in the crook of his elbow. “I told you a movie would make you feel better.”

It had and it hadn’t. Yes, she’d needed the break, but Reed’s behavior outside the cinema earlier had revived the insecurities she was trying so hard to suppress. She knew she wasn’t nearly as beautiful or sophisticated as Danielle.

“You do feel better?” His finger lifted her chin to study her eyes.

There was no denying that the film had been wonderful. “I haven’t laughed so hard in ages,” she told him, smiling.

“Good.”

* * *

FRIDAY NIGHT, ELLEN wore her most elaborate outfit—slim black velvet pants and a silver lamé top. She’d spent hours debating whether an evening gown would have been more appropriate, but had finally decided on the pants. Examining herself from every direction in the full-length mirror that hung from her closet door, Ellen released a pent-up breath and closed her eyes. This one night, she wanted everything to be perfect. Her heels felt a little uncomfortable, but she’d get used to them. She rarely had any reason to wear heels. She’d chosen them now because Reed had said there’d be dancing and she wanted to adjust her height to his.

By the time she reached the foot of the stairs, Reed was waiting for her. His eyes softened as he looked at her. “You’re lovely.”

“Oh, Reed, are you sure? I don’t mind changing if you’d rather I wear something else.”

His eyes held hers for a long moment. “I don’t want you to change a thing.”

“Hey, Ellen.” Derek burst out of the kitchen, and stopped abruptly. “Wow.” For an instant he looked as though he’d lost his breath. “Hey, guys,” he called eagerly. “Come and see Ellen.”

The other two joined Derek. “You look like a movie star,” Pat breathed.

Monte closed his mouth and opened it again. “You’re pretty.”

“Don’t sound so shocked.”

“It’s just that we’ve never seen you dressed...like this,” Pat mumbled.

“Are you going out with Charlie?”

Ellen glanced at Reed, suddenly unsure. She hadn’t dated Charlie in weeks. She hadn’t wanted to.

“She’s going out with me,” Reed explained in an even voice that didn’t invite comment.

“With you? Where?” Derek’s eyes got that mischievous twinkle Ellen recognized immediately.

“A party.”

“What about—” He stopped suddenly, swallowing several times.

“You had a comment?” Reed lifted his eyebrows.

“I thought I was going to say something,” Derek muttered, clearly embarrassed, “but then I realized I wasn’t.”

Hiding a smile, Reed held Ellen’s coat for her.

She slipped her arms into the satin-lined sleeves and reached for her beaded bag. “Good night, guys, and don’t wait up.”

“Right.” Monte raised his index finger. “We won’t wait up.”

Derek took a step forward. “Should I say anything to someone...anyone...in case either of you gets a phone call?”

“Try hello,” Reed answered, shaking his head.

“Right.” Derek stuck his hand in his jeans pocket. “Have a good time.”

“We intend to.”

Ellen managed to hold back her laughter until they were on the front porch. But when the door clicked shut the giggles escaped and she pressed a hand to her mouth. “Derek thought he was going to say something.”

“Then he realized he wasn’t,” Reed finished for her, chuckling. His hand at her elbow guided her down the steps. “They’re right about one thing. You do look gorgeous.”

“Thank you, but I hadn’t expected it to be such a shock.”