Free Beauty and The Best (Once-Upon-A-Time Romance) by Judi Fennell

down the street from Arena’s Grocery and the owner gave it to me.”
    “ So, do you read those or was he just giving out anything?” Todd started the car and backed out of the parking spot.
    This would be the perfect time to tell him she was writing one, but did she really want to do that? She couldn’t afford him to ever link himself to her story—not with the whole “I don’t want my life to be an open book” comment. He wouldn’t be too thrilled to show up in the pages of her manuscript, disguised or not, so she better make sure he had no cause to recognize himself.
    “ I’m a big fan of romance novels,” seemed like a safe answer since he’d caught her reading one on her first day.
    He couldn’t take exception to that, right?
    ***
    Jonathan Griff stared at the figures on the television screen in his sparse apartment. Guardians didn’t need many comforts. He wouldn’t even have the television if it weren’t absolutely necessary. Having given Bixby his laptop after Bixby had accidentally flung his into the river dodging that dog, and the human economic downturn having inspired tightening of gold-braided belts in the Celestial Realm, Jonathan had had to put in a request for a retro model television to be able to monitor his Charges. Rafael had raised his brow when he’d first seen it, but the archangel was nothing if not supportive.
    Though how much longer Rafael would be patient with him, Jonathan didn’t know. He wasn’t quite sure what the criteria was for earning his wings, but he was going to try his hardest.
    Starting with getting these two on the same wavelength.
    Eye twitching, he’d cringed when Jolie shoved the book under her leg. He’d thought for sure the romance novel would help, but if she kept forgetting it or hiding it, the notion wouldn’t take hold. And Todd had totally dismissed the flyer.
    Jonathan tapped his index fingers together then steepled them beneath his chin, resting his elbows on his knees. He needed another angle on this. Those two were in want of some serious help.
    ***
    Todd ran a hand through his hair, then hit the turn signal at the entrance of the complex. Romance novels. That figured. “So, you’re one of those.”
    “ Those?”
    “ Happily-ever-after types.” A horn blared as the driver swerved around him. Stupid kids, doing fifty in a thirty-five-mile-an-hour zone. Thought they’d live forever.
    If they only realized.
    “ Well, yes, I do hope for happily-ever-afters.” Graceful hand movements accompanied Jolie’s words as if the words alone weren’t enough to convey her hopefulness. Someone ought to bottle that enthusiasm as an antidote for depression. “Sure beats the alternative. Who wants an unhappily-ever-after? You have to find something good in any bad situation. Otherwise why bother doing anything? So, when life gets a little too real, it’s always nice to hop into a book where you know things are going to end up okay, no matter how bad they seem.” She dropped her hands into her lap, the fingers interlaced.
    He’d been that optimistic once. “Real life’s not like that.”
    “ I know, but isn’t it cool to hope?” There went her hands again, a ballet of movement as she slicked her hair over her shoulder. “I mean, good things have to happen to people. Look at those who go through absolutely horrible situations then go out and become beacons of hope for others.”
    “ Such as?” He glanced over to see her eyes widen.
    Violet. Her eyes were violet.
    “ Wow. Really? You don’t see this? At all? What about that fire on River Road?”
    “ Tragic.” No one would ever forget the largest block fire in the town’s history five years ago. He tapped his brakes and came to a stop at the traffic light behind a Salvation Army truck.
    “ I know. The factory exploded and the whole block went up in flames.”
    A truck bearing the Red Cross logo crisscrossed the intersection with a Meals-On-Wheels delivery van. “I fail to see the hope in that,