Free Bodywork by Marie Harte Page B

that includes common sense.”
    “I think that’s an insult, but I ’m still processing the fact you might have a love life.”
    “Shut up, Geo.” She chuckled, wishing she’d had a younger brother like him growing up. It would have made her days much less lonely.
    “So who’s the dude?” He nodded at the business card still in her hand. “A client, huh?”
    “Kind of. You want the truth? He ran into me, spilled my coffee, and blamed me for it.”
    George shook his head. “What an idiot.” He paused and remained silent.
    “Geo, are you a ll right? ”
    “Oh, uh, yeah. Sorry. I just realized Gina is going to be waiting on me if I don’t get moving. ”
    “Well, it was good seeing you.” She gave him another hug, pleased when he patted her on the shoulder and quickly backed away. She glanced down at the card again, and Geo was forgotten in a rush of memory and heat. That kiss refused to be a distant memory. Damn it.
     
    George left her with a wave. A s he walked past the front window , he noticed she stared at his brother’s card with a frown. Perfect.
    He walked down the street and entered the passenger side of a raggedy blue Wrangler. After slamming the door, he turned and grinned at Gina.
    “What was that all about?” she asked as she pulled away from the curb.
    “Nothing . J ust doing a favor for my brother.”

Home
     
     
    Chapter Seven
     
     
    Shelby read the name again for the tenth time. Shane Collins. Obviously no relation to Geo, wh o hadn’t batted an eye at the name . The card confirmed what Denise had overheard. Shane did in fact work as an architect, at least, according to the car d he did .
    Oddly enough, sh e could see him sitting behind a drafting board creating things. Th e notion that he had more in his favor than a hot body registered . A man with an actual job. Now if he didn’t live with his mother, he might be a real keeper.
    She snickered at the joke Maggie would appreciate and decided why the hell not. Twenty minutes later after fighting the downtown traffic, she found a parking spot near Eighth and Pine. She left her car and walked to the large corporate offices where Harmon & Sons was located.
    S he wondered which floor he worked on as her eyes strained to count windows. After standing there craning her neck for several minutes, she felt stupid. Deciding to at least take advantage of her parking spot, she walked down to the market.
    After that kiss the other day, Shane had said he’d see her around. What did that mean? He obviously knew where to find her but had n’t given her his address.
    Maybe he’d left his card on purpose? Yeah, right . A guy like Shane Collins could pretty much have any woman he wanted. He’d probably bragged about that kiss to his friends. Another conquest, and after he’d run her over the other day.
    Needing a boost, even if it was from caffeine, Shelby walked down to Pike street and grabbed an iced coffee from Tully’s. Sitting on one of the many benches near the market, she watched the crowd, alarmed by her behavior. Hadn’t she learned her lesson from the last handsome man in her life?
    She reminded herself to relax and took in the scenery. A rotund man carting a nagging wife and two screaming kids passed by two women holding hands and mooning at each other. Mooning. Something Shelby had done once, what seemed like forever ago.
    A young man wearing a backpack kept asking for change from passersby , a few cents to make his bus fare. She grimaced but had to give him credit for his novel approach to panhandling. Several couples, young and old, strolled by , laughing and talking and kissing . More reminders that she sat alone, unattached, on a perfectly wonderful Saturday afternoon.
    God, w hat was wrong with her ? Why couldn’t she have what the lovers passing by had? Her ex had seemed so nice at first. Rick had been handsome, charming , and independent. He’d had a great sense of humor but could be s erious too. He liked to mak e money as