Free Dream of Me: A Sweet Contemporary Romance by Delaney Cameron Page A

district. Having spent a few hours browsing through several floors of an antique store, she decided to visit the candy shop famous for its homemade fudge. As she entered the shop, one of the employees was pouring a batch of molten chocolate onto a marble surface to cool. The heavenly smell induced a swarm of memories from Aubrey’s childhood.
    Every holiday had been marked by a candy-making session in her family’s roomy kitchen. No one turned down a box of Abby Sommers’ homemade truffles. As she watched the fudge being smoothed into shape with a long spatula, Aubrey’s heart ached. Phoebe hadn’t understood why she kept dozens of plastic molds and a faded apron. These were all she had of those precious moments with her mother.
    When she left the shop, a pink-striped bag dangled from her fingers. It might spoil her dinner, but she was going to enjoy every bite of the square of warm fudge in her hand.
* * * *
    Corbin concluded his business and drove to the restaurant. He was early, but he had some papers to study that would pass the time until Aubrey arrived. A waitress who couldn’t have been more than eighteen showed him to a table near the window. The flirtatious comments and glances she tossed to him were more annoying than amusing. He sent her off with an order for coffee and pointedly turned his attention to the activities taking place outside.
    Like Aubrey, he found himself watching the boats as they slowly entered the harbor. It was a scene he’d watched with enjoyment many times, but today it didn’t hold his interest. His restless gaze swept through the crowd until he caught sight of the figure he’d unconsciously been seeking.
    Aubrey was making her way along the cobblestone street. On her face was the sweet smile he was finding more appealing each time he saw it. In the late afternoon sun, her hair shone like pure silk. Corbin felt a stirring of his senses that was as undesired as it was impractical. This wasn’t the first time this sort of thing had happened where Aubrey was concerned, and its repetition at this particular time was annoying.
    The bustling street below him slowly faded and was replaced by a grey and lilac bedroom. Would he ever forget that rainy afternoon? Her beautiful hair had been everywhere; its satiny softness covering the pillow, her face and once he got close enough, his own skin. With a shake of his head, he tried to dispel the disturbing images taking possession of his mind.
    Corbin didn’t want to think about the events of that day. Enough time had been spent dwelling on something he wished had never happened. Removing his glance from the window, he opened the menu lying unheeded in front of him.
    This was how Aubrey found him. As usual, he didn’t talk much during the meal. After inquiring politely how she’d spent her time, he subsided into a silence that stilled every desire in her to question the result of his own business. After he paid the bill, they made their way to the parking lot, the beauty of the evening lost on both of them.
    Corbin’s suggestion of a walk upon their entry into the house took her completely by surprise. She wondered why she didn’t refuse to spend more time with someone who couldn’t have shown more clearly his lack of enjoyment in her company.
    “Just let me change my shoes,” she replied hesitantly.
    “Not a bad idea. I thought you were going to fall on the sidewalk earlier. Why do women always wear the wrong kind of shoes?”
    “I don’t know about the others, but I forgot about the cobblestones. I can’t wear tennis shoes with a dress, can I?”
    “You’re asking the wrong person. I dress for comfort.”
    When she returned to the kitchen, Corbin was watching Horace eagerly lap the milk in his bowl. As their eyes met, he smiled slowly and a strange sensation passed through her. For a brief second, it was as if he could see right into her soul. The next moment the look was gone.
    “Do you plan on standing there all night or can we