Free The First Man You Meet by Debbie Macomber Page B

time together had given her plenty to think about.
    ‘‘Thank you for dinner,’’ she said as he unlocked the car.
    ‘‘You’re welcome,’’ he answered. ‘‘Well, good night for now,’’ he said, grinning. ‘‘I suspect I’ll be seeing you soon.’’
    She grinned back. ‘‘Probably within a day or two. Maybe we should synchronize our schedules,’’ she teased.
    ‘‘That wouldn’t bother you, would it?’’
    ‘‘Oh, no. What about you?’’ She hated the way her voice rose expectantly with the question. She certainly wasn’t bothered by the prospect of seeing him again. In fact, she was downright eager to see what tricks fate would play on them next.
    Mark’s eyes found hers then, and he slowly pocketed his car keys. His look was so potent, so full of emotion, that Shelly took a step in retreat. ‘‘I had a wonderful afternoon, a wonderful evening. Thanks again,’’ she said nervously.
    Mark didn’t say a word as he continued to gaze at her.
    ‘‘The play was great, wasn’t it? And dinner…fabulous.’’ Shelly’s throat seemed to close as Mark stepped onto the curb and walked toward her.
    The whole world seemed to come to a sudden, abrupt halt when she realized he intended to kiss her. Not again , her mind shouted. Please hurry , her heart sang.
    Her heartbeat tripped wildly as Mark lowered his head, his mouth seeking hers. Despite the fierce battle inside her, Shelly was forced to admit how much she wanted this kiss. If for no other reason, she told herself, than to prove that the first time had been an accident, a fluke.
    Only it happened again. But this kiss was a hundred times more compelling than the first one they’d shared. A hundred times more exciting.
    Shelly wanted to cry out at the unfairness of it all. If a man’s kiss was going to affect her this acutely, why did it have to be Mark Brady’s?
    He broke away from her reluctantly, his warm breath fanning her cheek. His eyes were filled with questions, filled with surprise. Shelly wasn’t sure what her own eyes were saying to him. She didn’t even want to know.
    ‘‘Take care,’’ he whispered as he turned away.
    S HELLY STAYED home from work on Monday. She wasn’t sick, just confused and puzzled. Nothing about her relationship with Mark seemed to make sense. He was everything she didn’t want in a man—and everything she did.
    Shelly didn’t realize how despondent she was until she found herself standing barefoot in front of her closet, carrying on a conversation with Aunt Milly’s wedding dress.
    ‘‘I’ll have you know I had a perfectly good life until you arrived,’’ she muttered disparagingly. ‘‘Now it seemsmy whole world’s been turned upside down.’’ She slammed the door closed, then jerked it open. ‘‘No wonder Mrs. Livingston’s cat wouldn’t go near you. You’re dangerous .’’

Chapter Nine
    ‘‘T HE PLAY WAS GREAT ,’’ Shelly told Jill over coffee Wednesday afternoon. She’d stopped off at PayRite, hoping Jill could get away for lunch. ‘‘Even Mark—’’
    ‘‘Mark?’’ Jill’s coffee cup hit the saucer with a clang. ‘‘He was at the play?’’
    Shelly nodded sheepishly. ‘‘I guess I forgot to mention I ran into him, didn’t I? Actually he called me first and since we both had plans to attend the same performance, we decided to go together.’’
    ‘‘Is there anything else you haven’t told me?’’ Jill’s eyes narrowed astutely.
    Shelly tried to hide her uneasiness behind a relaxed shrug, but how well she succeeded in fooling Jill remained to be seen. ‘‘We had dinner afterward…as friends. It didn’t mean anything. I did tell you he’s engaged, didn’t I?’’
    ‘‘ Unofficially engaged.’’ Jill was studying her closely and Shelly felt distinctly uneasy under the scrutiny.
    ‘‘We’ve been friends for a long time,’’ Jill reminded her. ‘‘In some ways I know you as well as I do myself. There’s something troubling