Real Romance - By Ginny Baird Page 0,8

and help support the family.

Her first job in a bookstore was heaven. She felt a comfort in the unending rows of books, a special camaraderie with the host of unexplored fictional characters—just waiting for her touch to reveal their secret worlds.

Marie walked to the kitchen and poured herself a glass of water, wondering what she would do with herself today. It had been at least a year since she'd had a Sunday off. She was out of books and out of money, and the local library was closed. Oh well, she thought, flipping on the coffeemaker. There was always a walk in the park. Maybe the fresh air would do her good.

David pulled back as Jupiter strained at the leash.

"Whoa there, boy! Hang on!"

But it was David who was hanging on for dear life as the black Lab fixated on the squirrel with a whine, and then another... yank!

David stumbled forward as the big dog broke free and bolted into the trees.

He rubbed his sweaty palms on his pants and looked frantically in all directions. Now what was he going to do? Caroline would kill him if he lost her stupid dog.

"Jupiter! Here, fella!" he called in his biggest, booming voice.

Nothing.

He forcefully clapped his hands together and tried again.

There was a slight rustling in the bushes behind the park fountain.

"Jupiter!"

The movement stopped.

David had an idea. He placed two fingers between his teeth, spun around and whistled—hard.

"Most people just say hello."

David jerked his head sideways.

There stood Marie McCloud in a knee-length overcoat, hands fitted tightly over both ears. Her cheeks were flushed with morning cold, her lips the prettiest shade of pink.

For a moment David forgot all about the dog.

"Marie!"

"What," she asked, giving the park a suspicious sweep of her eyes, "exactly are you doing?"

"Oh," he said, letting out a full breath that clouded the air, "looking for Jupiter."

Marie's eyebrows shot up. "Hate to tell you this, but I think you'd have better luck at night."

David looked blank. Blank, but incredibly handsome, she decided. Even in his ratty gray sweats, and sky-blue parka. Didn't hurt that the color of his coat matched his gorgeous eyes.

"Oh!" he smiled, his whole face lighting up. Then he laughed in that rich, rumbling baritone Marie liked so much.

"Not the planet," he said patiently. "Jupiter is Caroline's dog."

Oh, Marie thought, as disappointment hit her hard. So he was taken. She felt her temper begin to simmer. Taken, and yet he'd still invited her to lunch?

Marie stared down at the leash dangling in David's hand. "Well, I'm sure Caroline won't be any more upset about you losing her dog than you hitting on your clientele."

"Client..." David's voice fell off, as his face turned a hue akin to purple.

"One question, David," Marie asked, her anger growing. "Do you always make passes at girls who wear glasses? Or, was I special?"

"I, uh..."

His neck was crimson, and his ears so vivid they looked like they were about to fall off.

At that moment, a frisky black Lab bounded out of the bushes and made a beeline for her knees.

"Hey there, big guy," she said, bending to scratch the salivating animal behind its ears.

Marie stuck out a hand and snatched the leash, instantly clamping it on to Jupiter's collar in one deft move.

"Go home to Caroline, David," she said, standing and handing over the lead.

"Home?"

Marie turned and began walking out of the park.

"Wait!" David said, racing to meet her, Jupiter galloping at his side. "Caroline's not at home!"

Marie cast him a sideways glance through heir glasses. "Sorry, David. I'm not into that. You'll have to do your two-timing with someone else."

She picked up her pace and kept going.

"No, you don't under—"

Jupiter collapsed in a heap and rolled sideways.

"Get up!" David pulled on the leash, but Jupiter just lowered his head to the pavement, tongue lolling out.

David looked up at Marie's curvy figure disappearing through the morning fog.

"Wait! Don't go! You've got it all..."

But it was too late. She'd already melted into the mist.

David put down the book and rubbed his temples. Holy cow, this was going to be even harder than he thought. What was the deal with this stuff, anyway? The dialogue wasn't even in quotation marks, for God's sake. So how in heaven's name was he supposed to know who was saying what? Much less thinking it?

David massaged his aching knees in frustration and stood to grab a beer.

He walked to the refrigerator, picked up a bottle and popped the top. Was she really worth it? David had never done