Be My Valentine by Debbie Macomber Page B

suit, looking tall and debonair.
    He glanced up and his gaze found hers. She was gratified to see that his eyes widened briefly.
    â€œI was wrong, she’s extra-beautiful tonight,” he whispered, but if he was speaking to her children, he wasn’t looking at them. In fact, his eyes were riveted on her, which only served to make Dianne more uneasy.
    They stood staring at each other like star-crossed lovers until Jill tugged at Steve’s arm. “Aren’t you going to give my mom the corsage?”
    â€œOh, yes, here,” he said. Apparently he’d forgotten he was holding an octagon-shaped plastic box.
    Dianne frowned. They’d agreed earlier that he wasn’t going to do this. She was already over her budget, and flowers were a low-priority item, as far as Dianne was concerned.
    â€œIt’s for the wrist,” he explained, opening the box for her. “I thought you said the dress was red, so I’m afraid this might not go with it very well.” The corsage was fashioned of three white rosebuds between a froth of red-and-white silk ribbons. Although her dress was several shades of pink, there was a smattering of red in the center of the flowers that matched the color in the ribbon perfectly. It was as if Steve had seen the dress and chosen the flowers to complement it. “It’s…”
    â€œBeautiful,” Jill supplied once more, smugly pleased with herself.
    â€œAre you ready?” Steve asked.
    Jason stepped forward with her wool coat as though he couldn’t wait to be rid of her. Steve took the coat from her son’s hands and helped Dianne into it, while her son and daughter stood back looking as proud as if they’d arranged the entire affair themselves.
    Before she left the house, Dianne gave her children their instructions and kissed them each on the cheek. Jason wasn’t much in favor of letting his mother kiss him, but he tolerated it.
    Martha continued to stand at the top of the stairs, dabbing her eyes with a tissue and looking down as if the four of them together were the most romantic sight she’d ever witnessed. Dianne sincerely prayed that Steve wouldn’t notice.
    â€œI won’t be late,” Dianne said as Steve opened the front door.
    â€œDon’t worry about it,” Jason said pointedly. “There’s no need to rush home.”
    â€œHave a wonderful time,” Jill called after them.
    The first thing Dianne realized once they were out the door was that Steve’s tow truck was missing from her driveway. She looked around, half expecting to find the red monstrosity parked on the street.
    With his hand cupping her elbow, he led her instead to a luxury car. “What’s this?” she asked, thinking he might have rented it. If he had, she wanted it understood this minute that she had no intention of paying the fee.
    â€œMy car.”
    â€œYour car?” she asked. He opened the door for her and Dianne slid onto the supple white leather. Tow-truck operators obviously made better money than she’d assumed. If she’d known that, she would’ve offered him seventy-five dollars for this evening instead of a hundred.
    Steve walked around the front of the sedan and got into the driver’s seat. They chatted on the short ride to the community center, with Dianne making small talk in an effort to cover her nervousness.
    The parking lot was nearly full, but Steve found a spot on the side lot next to the sprawling brick building.
    â€œYou want to go in?” he asked.
    She nodded. Over the years, Dianne had attended a dozen of these affairs. There was no reason to feel nervous. Her friends and neighbors would be there. Naturally there’d be questions about her and Steve, but this time she was prepared.
    Steve came around the car, opened her door and helped her out. She saw that he was frowning.
    â€œIs something wrong?” she asked anxiously.
    â€œYou look pale.”
    She was about