Real Romance - By Ginny Baird Page 0,9

anything like this before. Gone completely overboard for some woman. Some women who was engaged, for crying out loud. And she disapproved of him anyway, because she thought he had a woman named Caroline at home.

Marie was neatly tied up in a relationship that meant matrimony eventually. But then again, maybe it didn't. That was the hope David clung to. He knew from his sister Debbie's experiences that engaged women didn't necessarily walk down the aisle every time. Heck, for some women, it seemed to be a whole lot like shopping. Don't like the man after a while, return him. Nonetheless, David wanted to believe that once Marie committed to him, her shopping around would be over.

David froze as an ice-cold swig sliced down his throat.

Of course, that meant that his shopping around would be over as well... No more late nights with Candy, the aerobics instructor, or Lizbeth, his sexy new mechanic.

David took another swig of beer, letting the panic pass.

He was getting way ahead of himself here. Thinking about happily-ever-after! Holy cow. That wasn't what he wanted...

Was it?

He wanted Marie's attention, sure. But the exasperating woman didn't seem to want to give him a second look.

At first, there'd been a gleam in her eyes. That telling sparkle that told David he had half a chance...

But after the park, she'd acted like she could barely stand the sight of him. Even when he went into her store to buy some of Cecil's recommendations.

He'd approached her directly, but she'd claimed she was busy setting up some kind of wine tasting and assigned a flunky to help him.

Give him a break! Did Marie really expect David to believe they'd be serving wine in a bookstore? They couldn't possibly have a liquor license. Unless, of course, the brother of the guy who owned the place, who just happened to be the sheriff, had called in some favors at City Hall.

David set his beer on the counter, and began to imagine himself and Marie running down the steps of City Hall, hand in hand, smiling and happy. Her dark, wavy hair was piled high and studded with wildflowers, sweet curls breaking free to frame her glowing face.

David coughed loudly and shook his head. Next he would be seeing babies!

Better get back to his reading, he thought, carrying his brew to the armchair. All this fantasizing was getting him nowhere. And David Lake wasn't made for dreams. He was built for action.

Now, if he could just finish this blasted book, then maybe he'd be able to convince Marie his actions spoke louder than words.

Chapter Four

Marie surrendered the floor to a round of applause.

"Thanks, Chad," she said, walking over and taking the sheriff's hand.

"No problem, hon." He smiled as his silver hair caught the light. "I like a good who-done-it just as much as the next guy." He leaned forward and winked. "Just as long as the bad guy winds up behind bars."

"Didn't know you had the time for reading, Sheriff."

Chad let out a laugh. "Well, I'll tell you a secret if you keep it quiet..." He brought his head to hers and whispered in her ear, "The life of crime is dead in Covesville."

Marie laughed and patted Chad on the arm. "Since you've got to be here anyway, pull up a chair and join us."

"Think I'll do that," Chad said. "To tell you the truth, Marie, it's been kind of hard to fill the hours since my Emily passed away."

She caught a glimpse of Joanne, bending low to shelve books at the far end of the aisle.

"I know it's been a rough couple of years," she said, smiling warmly at the older gentlemen. "You sit. Plenty here to take your mind off that extra time you've got on your hands."

Then she walked down the aisle and asked Joanne to take Chad a complimentary glass of Chablis.

"Mind if I join you?"

Marie raised her eyes from Destiny's Desire just in time to see David break into a broad grin.

"Looks good," he said, surveying the flesh-revealing cover.

She settled her book next to her cup of cold coffee and checked her watch. "Not working today?"

"Boss gave me the day off."

"Look, David," Marie said, stopping him from pulling out a chair, "I'm really not interested."

"Of course, it helped that I took such good care of her dog."

He must have showered just for the occasion and put on an extra splash of cologne, because he smelled even sexier than the last time he'd been this close. The time he'd laid