Free Secretly Smitten by Diann Hunt Denise Hunter Kristin Billerbeck Colleen Coble Page A

handsome, with light gray eyes that changed color with the weather. And the way he looked in his uniform . . .” She fanned herself. “Oh my.”
    Tess hadn’t thought of passion in the relationship, but she saw it in her grandmother’s eyes. If that man walked through the door right now, her grandmother would throw her arms around him and swoon. Tess just knew it. The knowledge made her heart hurt. What kind of love survived that long? Would a man ever love her with that kind of enduring devotion?
    Ryan’s face came to mind. He liked her—that much she knew. But she could never compete with the memory of Candace.
    “You have an odd expression on your face,” her mother said. “Are you feeling all right?”
    What would her family say if they knew he’d asked her out? She should tell them before they heard about it through the grapevine. “I’m fine.” She wetted her lips. “I have a date on Friday.”
    Her mother clapped her hands. “A date! Oh, that’s wonderful. Is it someone you met online?” She glanced at Zoe. “Did you arrange this, Zoe?”
    “Not hardly. All I’ve gotten done so far is install the software I’m going to use.” Zoe pointed her fork at Tess. “Give! You’ve been holding out on us.”
    “It just happened yesterday.”
    The corners of Clare’s lips lifted, then she laughed. “It’s Ryan, isn’t it?”
    “How did you know?”
    “It’s written all over you. You’re already crazy about him, aren’t you?”
    Tess stared down at her plate rather than look into her sister’s knowing eyes. “I like him.” She peeked at Clare from under her lashes. Her sister was chewing on her lip. “What, you don’t like him?”
    “I like him a lot. All the women in town think he’s hot enough to melt bricks.” Clare put down her fork. “But, Tess, word is out that Isabelle has plans for him.”
    Zoe gasped. “She wouldn’t! That’s just gross. He was married to her sister.”
    Their mother shrugged and lifted a bite of lasagna. “It happens, girls. Families are close. What better mother for Sophia than her own aunt?”
    Tess wished she’d never said a word. Her bright anticipation had tarnished.

CHAPTER TEN

    E xcitement hummed along Tess’s spine as she hurried into the creamery. She hadn’t been here often. It was the heart of Ryan’s business, where the milk was turned into luscious ice cream and aged cheese.
    The receptionist, Bethany Hopkins, saw her hesitation. “Hi, Tess, can I help you?”
    “I—I’m looking for Ryan. Mr. Stevenson, I mean.”
    “Go on back. He won’t mind.”
    Tess thanked her, then rushed to the back room. Stainless freezers lined the concrete floors and block walls. From here the ice cream would go to stores all over the country. She wandered through the maze until she found a hallway that led to a large office area divided by cubicles. A young man directed her to the back where Ryan’s office was.
    A walnut desk dominated the large room. Files and books covered the top and more stacks were on the f loor. Ryan was seated behind the desk. A pair of glasses perched on his nose, and he was so intent on his computer that he didn’t notice her until she said his name. The genuine pleasure that rippled across his face warmed her.
    “I hope I’m not interrupting,” she said.
    He leaned back in his chair. “Please, interrupt me. I’m doing payroll. My least favorite job in the world.”
    “I would have guessed you hired that out.”
    “I have a bookkeeper who usually does it, but her daughter had a chance to go on a field trip to DC, and she wanted to go along to chaperone. Which means I’m stuck with it this week.” He rose and came around the desk. “Sorry this place is such a mess.” He lifted a pile of folders from the chair by the door. “Have a seat.”
    She had to smile. “I think the state of this office disqualifies you from the title neatnik.”
    His smile widened. “I was trying to impress you on your first visit to the house.