Free A Bride at Last by Carolyne Aarsen Page A

not to take his compliment seriously. “Thanks, Trace. They are very lovely.”
    “Got them just because. I miss you, you know.”
    “Now I know you’re laying it on thick. We only met two days ago.”
    “I don’t feel like that, Nadine,” he said, his tone suddenly serious. “I feel like we’ve met years ago…like I’ve been waiting for someone like you….”
    For once, Nadine didn’t know what to say. Trace almost seemed too good to be true.
    “I’m coming back to town on Thursday. I know there’s a new movie showing in Eastbar. I thoughtwe could go out for supper and then hit the movie. Just like we did last week.” He laughed. “Is that okay with you?”
    Nadine couldn’t help the smile that curved her lips. “Sounds wonderful.”
    “I’m looking forward to it, Nadine.” He was quiet a moment. “I know this sounds silly, but I really feel like we’re meant for each other, Nadine. I’m looking forward to getting to know you better.”
    “Me, too,” was all she could say. “Me, too.”
    “‘Why do we allow our government to bail out megacorporations who have not shown themselves to be responsible corporate citizens,’” read Nadine out loud, “‘and ignore the daily bankruptcy of any number of small, home-based businesses, owned by families and in financial difficulty because of circumstances beyond their control? Many large corporations are not even North American owned, but are subsidiaries of companies whose ownership is lost in a morass of paper shuffling and numbered companies. Is their plight more important than that of native North Americans?’” Nadine folded the papers with a grin and set them on the table at the Downtown Deli. “And my column goes on to make many more very scintillating points.”
    “Very well done,” agreed Donna, pulling a sprout out of her bagel. “Emotional, but well done.”
    “Of course it’s emotional. It’s an editorial.”
    “Well, you tend to be more shrill whenever youwrite about anything even remotely connected to Skyline.”
    “No, I’m not”
    Donna shrugged away the objection. “Anyway, it’s good.”
    Nadine smiled. Encouraging words to a writer were food and drink. “Thanks. I think it’s going to be a great match for the Skyline article I pulled out of the computer.”
    Donna examined her bagel more closely, her expression suddenly serious. “You still going to run that?”
    “Probably.”
    “I thought Clint asked you to back off.”
    “He did. But I’m not going to. This is too important.”
    “Why are you deliberately antagonizing the poor guy? Clint’s going to end up in trouble over it.”
    “I had an empty spot I needed to fill,” Nadine said defensively. “With the column it’s a perfect fit. Skyline has been on the receiving end of a few kickbacks and government grants.” Nadine winked at Donna, trying to alleviate her serious mood. “Besides, no one had anything else besides photos of beaming farmers holding up monster vegetables.”
    “Why don’t you leave poor Clint alone?” Donna continued. “He’s got enough on his plate.”
    “What do you mean by that?”
    Donna took the last bite of her bagel, frowning. “A nagging partner, a potential lawsuit and a stubborn employee who won’t listen. That’s more thanenough,” she mumbled. She finished her bagel and wiped her fingers off with a napkin. “But you don’t want to talk about Clint, so tell me about your date with Trace instead.”
    Nadine knew she was touchy on the subject of Clint Fletcher and gladly took up the change in topic. “He’s very nice. He’s funny. He’s good-looking.”
    “And Grandma?”
    Nadine blew out her breath. “She’s coming around.” Which was stretching the truth about 175 degrees.
    “So now that she’s met your boyfriend, is she going to give up? Move out?”
    Nadine picked up her sandwich, avoiding Donna’s questioning look. “She hasn’t said.”
    “I gather he doesn’t meet with her full