Real Romance - By Ginny Baird Page 0,10

his strong, masculine hands on her yielding flesh...

Wait a minute! That was Destiny talking. Destiny, the heroine from her steamy historical novel who had the hots for a man named Cane. A man she'd sworn was sweeter than sugar.

David picked another chair at the table and sat down, undaunted.

"Hey, that Jupiter was a real handful."

"Jupiter?" she asked, stifling her surprise.

"Sure, you've met him. Big, black hairy beast with a penchant for civil disobedience."

If she'd been outdoors, Marie was certain her glasses would have fogged with embarrassment.

"Are you telling me that Jupiter, the dog you were with, belongs to your boss—Caroline?"

David nodded. "Caroline Richards, a real taskmaster."

"So why take care of her dog?"

"Oh, well, she needed a favor. Besides," he said, leaning over with a whisper, "I have a soft spot for the physically challenged."

"Oh, poor woman," Marie said, thinking of her father. "What's she got?"

"Two kids and a husband," David answered.

"What's so challenging..." Marie thought of her brothers and stopped herself. "Was that supposed to be funny?" she asked David, who had begun toying with her book.

She slapped her hand down hard upon its cover to prevent him from picking it up.

David coolly withdrew his hand and settled it under his square jaw. He gazed into her eyes, seeming to search for something.

She was even more gorgeous than he remembered. Tastefully dressed in a black turtleneck sweater that made the most of her curves. If only he could figure a way to get her fiancé out of the way... Out of the way of those beautiful brown eyes.

"Has anyone ever told you how pretty you are?"

Marie stood abruptly from her chair, knocking the tabletop with her knees and sending her coffee dregs sloshing.

David sprung to his feet and piled napkins on the mess.

"Whoa! Hey! Where are you going?"

"Coffee break's over, David. My boss didn't give me the day off."

Unbelievable, Marie thought, leaving him there with coffee dribbling on his shoes. Utterly unbelievable!

"Well, I really don't see what the harm was in a cup of coffee," Joanne said, as she closed down her register.

"It wasn't the coffee, Joanne, but the sugar that went with it."

Joanne smiled understandingly and shook out her hair. It wasn't often she wore it that way, long and straight down her back, salt and pepper streaks enlivening the gray.

"I think he's sweet on you."

Marie scanned the day's receipts, then set down her clipboard. If she didn't know better, she'd swear Joanne was humming a love song.

"Jo-anne?"

Joanne looked over with a distant smile.

"Something going on I should know about?"

"As my boss or my friend?" Joanne asked.

Marie tapped her fingers against her chin. "Why, Joanne Bright, to look at you one would almost think there was a man in your life!"

Joanne turned the most curious shade of peachy-amber.

"No need to sound so surprised, love. You're the one who turned him on to me."

"Chad?" Marie asked, trying to keep her jaw from dropping.

Sure, that had been her idea. But she'd never dreamed it would work. Chad and his late wife Emily had been together since grade school. He'd never in his life looked at another woman.

"What?" Joanne asked, setting both hands on her hips. "Did you think me incapable?"

Oh, no, Marie definitely believed Joanne was capable.

Marie felt her lips pull apart in a half laugh, half smile.

"Oh, Joanne," she said, rushing forward and taking her friend in her arms. "I'm so happy for you."

"Thanks, sweetie," Joanne said, returning the hug and patting Marie soundly on the back. "Now, it's your turn."

Marie pulled back, suddenly overcome with emotion.

"Oh," she said, tears spilling forth, "Joanne."

"Hey, hey," Joanne said, stepping forward and taking Marie in her arms again. "Everything's going to be all right."

Marie shook her head, her eyes hot, her lips trembling—grateful that, at this hour, no one else was left in the store.

"You just don't understand, Jo. I've had my chances. Two of them. And I blew them both."

"You, angel, didn't blow anything. It was those devils disguised as men who did the damage."

"They're all devils," Marie said, more tears bursting forth. "Demons... with the impulse to destroy."

"Well, maybe he's not like that."

Marie lifted her head from Joanne's shoulder and stared into her eyes with a betrayed look.

"He thinks I'm engaged, Joanne. Engaged. And today he had the audacity to call me pretty."

Joanne gasped and brought her free hand to her mouth.

"The gall!"

Marie softened her anguished face into a semblance of a smile.

"Sweetheart," Joanne said, dabbing Marie's damp cheek with a tissue. "You shouldn't blame the poor man for being persistent.