Free Mended by By Kimberly M. Clayborne

book cover.
    “You stay.” She said to him, she went to the next one who was just as attractive as the first.
    “Stay.” He smiled like an obedient little dog.
    Rattlesnake tattoo looked exactly his age, college kid cute but not rugged enough.
    “You’re very handsome, but too California. Sorry sweetheart but leave your card or number with me and if I get a cover for a young handsome doctor or something I’ll give you a call.” 
    “Or you can just call me anyway.” He said flirtatiously. He picked up his shirt and slipped past her very close before dropping his card on the desk. Kassie smiled charmingly, ‘ Ok, young blood’s got game’, she thought.
    “Maybe I will.” She smiled watching him leave.
    *****
    She whittled it down to two and after a while of going back and forth between the guys, Kassie gave up. They were so cute, she couldn’t decide.
    “This is going to be hard so I’m going to take a picture of each of you and send it to the author. She’ll make the final decision and I’ll call the guy who is the face of Dylan to congratulate him and set up an appointment to sketch you.”
    Kassie took her camera from her desk. She had them each pose seductively and snapped a shot.
    “Lord, have mercy.” She mumbled at the two chuckling men. “Thank heavens for this job.” But she couldn’t help herself; these were some of the hottest men she’d seen in a long time. They rivaled Tim and Monroe and though Nick was very cute, they had him beat to bits.
    She then sent the pictures to Mickey for her to make the final decision. Thanking each man, she walked them out and said goodbye to them.
    Timothy watched the guys as they sauntered to their cars. She looked over at him, shrugged innocently at his questioning look and waved before going inside.
    Her phone rang as she closed the door behind her and Kassie rushed over to pick it up. She grabbed it watching from the front window as Tim tossed a ball to Griffin. He seemed annoyed by something.
    “Hello.”
    “Hey sweets.” Mickey’s husky voice flowed through the line. It was easy to believe that she was a romance writer just from listening to her voice.
    “Did you pick?”
    “Yes.” She said. “Definitely number two.”
    “Yeah, I was thinking him too.” Kassie said softly.
    “Then again, number one was tasty too. Hmmm, decisions, decisions,” Mickey laughed naughtily. “Did you have fun?”
    Kassie giggled, almost dropping the phone, “The flirting was shameless and they were pretty bad too.”
    The women laughed raucously and continued to chat about the book and the search for Dylan.
    *****
    It was six before she got back to work on the den. Her mind began drifting to Tim. She had a definite crush on him. As soon as she thought it, Kassie scolded herself; romance should be the last thing on her mind. After the debacle with Nick, ‘You would think I’ve learned my lesson.’
    Kassie’s ears caught a whining sound that startled her from her reverie. It sounded again and Kassie jumped up from her desk and went to the window. It sounded like nothing she had ever heard before and she was curious. She opened her window screen and leaned out. The sound came again, deeper and longer this time and she looked across into Tim’s den.
    His light was on and he was pacing slowly, tuning a violin. He was wearing eyeglasses and to her, they made him even more handsome and distinguished. She scooted back in, pulling the screen back down. Kassie grabbed her desk chair and pulled it closer to the window. She sat down and propped her feet up on the ledge, waiting for the show.
    Kassie wasn’t a classical music fan, but had started listening to it to help her relax and focus. Though she’d lived on the outskirts of the celebrity world being with Monroe, she’d never known anyone personally who played an instrument. It was something foreign, but exciting at the same time.
    Kassie watched Tim position his violin between his jaw and shoulder, then slide