Free Take Me I'm Yours (Coffee House Chronicles) by Michelle Miles Page B

not exactly true. He had kissed her. Just not when he dropped her off. And she had so wanted him to. She even leaned toward him, giving him the opportunity. She wanted to feel that mouth on hers again. “I suppose it’s because we ran into Ethan outside the coffee house.”
    “Oh, no. Again? Is he stalking you?”
    Marion couldn’t help but laugh. “With his new girlfriend in tow? I doubt it.”
    “Wait. He has someone else?”
    “Yeah, a big dumb blonde bombshell. He didn’t introduce me but she knows I’m the ex. And she also knows he came crawling back, begging to get back together.”
    “How does she know that?” Delilah asked.
    “I sort of told her.”
    Her friend laughed. “Good for you, Mar. So what happened?”
    “Oh, he was an ass. I did get to insult him a few times. Graeme was sweet about it too. He asked me to go to the art museum with him today.”
    “ Really? That sounds more than friendly.”
    “We’ll see.” Marion smiled at the thought of more than friendly with Graeme. “Anyway, I don’t want him mad at me because Ethan keeps showing up.”
    “As if that’s your problem. Ethan is the one with the problem. If you run into him again, I’m going to think he really is stalking you. Anyway, I wanted to see how it went last night. And to make sure you were a good girl.”
    “Ha. I was.”
    “And that’s perfectly okay too, you know.”
    Marion smiled. Even though Delilah seemed against the match, Marion knew she wanted her to be happy.
    “I’m headed to the mall. You want to come?” Delilah said.
    “Nah, I’m off to the art store before Graeme picks me up. I have to get some stuff for my art class on Tuesday. Plus I want to look into pottery lessons.”
    “Pottery?” Delilah didn’t bother to hide her surprise. “What for? Are you hiding from men in art or something?”
    “I want to try something new. Besides, I suck at painting,” Marion said.
    “Actually, I think you have a very strong future as a cubist.”
    “Ha! Very funny.”
    “I’ll catch you later.”
     
    * * * * *
     
    Marion made her way to Marshall Art Supply in downtown. There weren’t many art suppliers in the area and she found this one was the best as far as selection and choice. Not that she was a connoisseur of paint brushes or anything.
    The store held some charm with its colorful artwork on the walls and the metal shelves separating the aisles. Far from a pristine store, the place had dust on items that had been there for years. But still, they knew their business and what people wanted and needed.
    For her class, she needed a new canvas and some new paint colors. As she stood in front of the rows of brushes contemplating whether or not to purchase some new tools, the door chime sounded. She could hear a male patron talking to the girl behind the desk and the voice sounded vaguely familiar. Before she could investigate, one of the sales associates interrupted her.
    “Can I help you find something, ma’am?”
    She had been there enough to recognize the folks that worked there. He wasn’t familiar and looked fresh out of high school with a friendly, open face. And he called her ma’am, another sign she was much older than him.
    She held the new canvas under her arm and several small jars of paint in one hand. “Oh. No, thanks, I’m good.”
    “Let me know if you need anything.”
    “Okay, thanks.”
    Up front, she could hear the counter girl going on and on about something. “I’ve seen your work. You’re so amazing.”
    “Thanks. I appreciate that,” was the response.
    That voice sounded so familiar. Marion stepped backward and peered around the edge of the end cap. There, standing with his wallet in hand, was Graeme. Her brows knit as she watched him pay for an item and the girl behind the counter batted her long lashes at him.
    “I’m totally looking forward to your showing at the gallery,” she said. She leaned on the counter, allowing her scooped neck shirt to drape open and give him