"TXT - Nora Roberts - Dream 03 - Finding The Dream" - читать интересную книгу автора (Roberts Nora)

of flowers. She knew her duties, and she chatted and danced with friends
of her parents and with her contemporaries. Though she wanted only
Peter, she mixed and mingled as was expected of her.

When she danced with her father, she pressed her cheek against his.
"It's a wonderful party. Thank you."

He sighed, realizing she smelled like a woman--soft, elegant. "Part of
me wishes you were still three years old, bouncing on my knee."

Thomas drew her back to smile at her. He was a striking man, his bronzed
hair lightly touched with silver, the eyes he had passed on to both of
his children crinkled at the corners with life and laughter.

"You've grown up on me, Laura."

"I couldn't help it." She smiled back at him.

"No, I suppose you couldn't. Now I'm standing here aware that a dozen
young men are aiming arrows at my back, hoping I'll keel over so they
can dance with you."

"I'd rather dance with you than anyone."

But when Peter glided by with Susan Templeton, Thomas saw his daughter's
eyes go soft and dreamy. How could he have predicted, he thought, when
he brought the man out to California, that Ridgeway would take his
little girl away?

When the music ended, Thomas had to admire the smooth skill with which
Peter changed partners and circled away with Laura.

"You shouldn't look at the man as though you'd like to flog him, Tommy,"
Susan murmured.

"She's just a girl."

"She knows what she wants. She's always seemed to know." She sighed
herself. "Apparently it's Peter Ridgeway."

Thomas looked into his wife's eyes. They were wise, always had been
wise. She might be small and delicate-framed like her daughter, and
perhaps she gave the illusion of fragility. But he knew just how strong
she was.

"What do you think of him?''

"He's competent," she said slowly. "He's well bred, well mannered. God
knows, he's attractive." Her soft mouth hardened. "And I wish he was a
thousand miles away from her. That's a mother talking," she admitted.