Romance Me (Boxed Set)

by Susan Hatler

  His gray eyes widened. “You mean Jennifer and me?

  “Yes.” My cheeks heated as I braced myself for his answer.

  “No.” He shook his head and his forehead wrinkled. “Why would you think that?”

  Oh, this was awkward. “She seems really into you.”

  “Well, I don’t know about that, but there is no way she thinks I’m interested in her.”

  Now we were getting down to business. “Why not?”

  He waited, his gaze intent on mine. “She just wouldn’t think that. Trust me.”

  “How come you avoid answering my questions? Like when you showed up to All Things Furry looking exhausted and mentioned you’d been talking to Abby Wilson after class. When I asked what you’d been doing the night before, I couldn’t get a straight answer out of you. So, I assumed . . . ”

  His brows came together as he put two and two together, then his eyes bulged. “You thought Abby and I . . . ?”

  I pictured Abby and her hot date. Yeah, I’d been off the mark on that one. Still . . . “Well, how should I know? You were obviously hiding something.”

  His face sobered. “I was. But not what you think.”

  Wow. I couldn’t believe he’d finally admitted it! “Well? Aren’t you going to tell me what you’d really been doing?”

  “No.” His face turned serious. “I’m going to show you.”

  He slipped his hand in mine, causing tingles to wander up my arm as he led me to the opposite corner of the room. We squeezed by various people—some who were talking and others who were gazing appreciatively at the art around them—and I couldn’t stop wondering what he’d been doing to cause those deep circles under his eyes.

  In the very back of the room, we stopped in front of a painting . . . of me! It was entitled “Love at First Glance” and my breath caught. He’d captured my expression perfectly—it was the same first look I’d gone over a million times in my own mind, only from his viewpoint.

  The painting focused on the woman’s green eyes with brown flecks, my eyes, and the appreciative look I’d given Henry when he’d offered to rescue my friend’s dog.

  Tears blurred my vision as I stared at the painting. All this time I’d wondered what had caused those dark circles under his eyes. It had been the hours he’d spent picturing me in his mind, painting me. And all that time, I’d been thinking of him, too.

  “Well?” He nudged my shoulder a little while still holding my hand. “Aren’t you going to say something?”

  My mouth opened, then quickly closed. What was that yellow card above the title? My head whipped around and I frowned up at him, accusingly. “The card above the title says SOLD.”

  He reached out to smooth my hair back from my face. “That’s what Jennifer had to talk to me about earlier. It wasn’t for sale and a woman insisted that she be allowed to buy it. Since she was someone I need to win over, I couldn’t say no.”

  My mouth dropped open. First Abby, then Jennifer, and now another mystery woman? “Who would you sell my painting to in order to win her over?” But inside, I already knew.

  He looked as if he were trying to hold in a laugh. “Your mother.”

  My lips twitched at the confirmation I’d been right. Even though we had our issues, I sure did love my mom. “She can be a little overbearing at times.”

  “Good to know.” He tucked my hair behind my ear, brushed his lips past my cheek, then whispered. “She promised to let us come over any time to visit it.”

  Ha! So that’s why my mom had been so sure about Henry. She’d seen the painting. Anyone who saw it would know how much time, love and care had gone into each brush stroke. Even Jennifer Cooke. No wonder she’d given me a weird look when we met. She’d recognized me.

  I tore my eyes from the painting, gazed up at Henry, and melted against him. “Henry?”

  He played with my hair as his deep gray eyes met mine. “Yes?”

  “You do realize you’re going to have to ask me out, right?” I moistened my lips. “How can it be love at first glance when we’ve only attended doggy class together?”

  He leaned his forehead against mine. “Every time I’m with you feels like a date.”

  I leaned close to his ear. “If that’s the case, this makes number four.”

  His face took on a serious quality. “I’m going to ask you to marry me. Very soon.”

  My heart pounded in my chest. “I’m going to say yes.”

  His mouth crept into a small smile. “For now, I’m going to kiss you.”

  “It’s about time.” His lips pressed against my cheek again, heat igniting against my skin, and my shoulder curled in as I savored the feeling. “I was afraid I’d have to attend more doggy school before you ever made your move.”

  Finally, our mouths came together, and a blissful feeling settled over me. After all the hard work I’d gone through trying to find love, it had found me instead. No sooner than we’d started our second kiss, when clapping erupted around us. We pulled back slowly and turned around to face a crowd.

  Abby Wilson, standing front and center, whistled with two fingers in her mouth. The elderly woman winked knowingly at me. My mom stood next to Robert, teary-eyed and with a hand over her heart. Although I’d thought I should go with the safe and screened choices, my heart had told me to give this guy a chance. And I’m glad I did.

  When it comes to men, there are no hard and fast rules. Sometimes online dating works out, sometimes it doesn’t. You can use your head, follow your heart, or, with one single glance, you might just fall in love at first date.

  THE END

  Truth or Date (Better Date than Never series, Book 2)

  Gina Hall is done with men who won’t commit. Ten years waiting for her ex to propose wasted her time. Never again. When her friend Kristen starts a game of Truth or Dare, she dares Gina to go on a date with Ethan, who’s amazing and total marriage material.

  As Gina plans the going away party for office playboy Chris Bradley, she spontaneously initiates a game of Truth or Dare with him. When his turn comes around, he dares Gina to pose as his girlfriend to help get a flirty colleague off his back. Gina finds playing couple with Chris way too much fun.

  Even though Gina and Chris are pretending, their relationship begins to feel painfully real. Fearing she might be falling for another fly-by man, Gina must focus on Ethan so she doesn’t make the same dating mistakes all over again.

  About the Author

  Susan Hatler

  SUSAN HATLER is a New York Times and USA Today Bestselling Author, who writes humorous and emotional contemporary romance and young adult novels. Many of Susan's books have been translated into German, Spanish, and Italian. A natural optimist, she believes life is amazing, people are fascinating, and imagination is endless. She loves spending time with her characters and hopes you do, too.

  You can reach Susan here:

  Facebook: facebook.com/authorsusanhatler

  Twitter: twitter.com/susanhatler

  Website: www.susanhatler.com

  Blog: susanhatler.com/category/susans-blog

  Titles by Susan Hatler

  An Unexpected Date

  Better Date than Never Series

  Love at First Date (Book #1)

  Truth or Date (Book #2)

  My Last Blind Date (Book #3)

  Save the Date (Book #4)

  A Twist of Date (Book #5)

  License to Date (Book #6)

  Driven to Date (Book #7)

  Up to Date (Book #8)

  Déjà Date (Book #9)

  Date and Dash (Book #10)

  Teen Novels

  Shaken

  See Me

  Winter in Sweetwater County

  by

  Ciara Knight

  Chapter One

  Welcome to Sweetwater County, Tennessee. Population 5,000. Where your heart and home belong.

  Lisa Mortan would soon see if the county motto scribbled on their sign was true.

  It had been a l
ong drive from New York City. Lisa slowed as she reached the city limits of Creekside, the smallest town just inside the county line, wincing as icy rain began to pelt the windshield. She pushed every button and pulled every lever while keeping one hand on the wheel and one eye on the road. With a huff, she flipped the handle on the right side of the steering column up and the wipers smeared grime and water across the glass. Taking a long steady breath, her lungs filled with the scent of new leather. Thank goodness, Mark’s cologne hadn’t invaded the interior of the new car, leaving lingering memories and disappointments.

  With a shake of her head, she eyed the charming awnings, in a variety of colors, adorning shops lining both sides of the two-lane road. Passing a hardware and interior design store, Lisa then spotted J and L antiques. The muscles at the side of her mouth tugged into a smile and her heart warmed. Who knew one sign could provide so much hope?

  A silver truck backed out from an angled parking space, slowing her to a stop. As she waited, she watched a family race from the flower shop’s covered front stoop to a mom-and-pop restaurant, huddling together before darting to the next store. Would her life look like that someday, if she kept the baby?

  Lisa maneuvered into a space and pressed the stop button, cutting the sedan’s engine.

  Silence.

  A sound she’d struggle with, but the ramifications of returning to New York City, and her former fiancé, urged her to keep an open mind.

  Staring into the pristine glass windows between swirly writing, nerves fluttered her belly. This was a new start, a chance to have a life and concentrate on what mattered most, or a place to hide out for a few months. Her head spun between right and wrong, but she shook the thoughts away for now. Tucking her purse under her arm, she shoved the car door open and raced across the sidewalk to the storefront.

  Clutching her coat around her middle, she thanked the lord it was winter. She wasn’t ready to explain her condition to a bunch of strangers. Not that she was big yet, but she swore anyone who looked at her instantly knew the truth.

  A bell jingled overhead, announcing her arrival to all in the store. The smell of coffee and cinnamon filled the warm room, reminding her more of a bakery than an old musty antique shop.

  “Be right there,” the voice she assumed was Judy’s called from beyond a partition, on the other side of a large sleigh bed. If Lisa wasn’t about to meet her new business partner in person, she would have thrown her purse on the floor, kicked off her shoes, and climbed the wooden step stool, to crawl under the fluffy sage and antique white quilt covering the huge bed.

  “Lisa Mortan? Is that you, hon?” A lady shuffled past a polished wood side table and hugged her. “You weren’t due until tomorrow. Did you come straight here?”

  “Judy Gaylord?” Lisa asked. The woman’s embrace could crack the spine of a bear. She definitely contained more strength than the woman of sixty-six years Lisa had expected to meet. Heck, with her auburn hair, bright blue eyes, and porcelain skin, she didn’t look a day over forty-five. The pictures on Facebook hadn’t done her justice.

  “Yes, darling.” Judy crossed her arms over her slight frame. “Now, why are you here? You should be resting after that drive.”

  “I wanted to stop in and meet you in person…partner. Also, I figured we’d have a ton of work to do. I see you’ve already managed to unpack and stage most of the shop.”

  “We can change anything you like,” she offered.

  “No. It looks amazing.” Lisa smiled. “But you shouldn’t have done all this work yourself.” Lisa had been concerned the older woman would only be good for pointing out estate sales and other great finds in the region, but it appeared she was worth a lot more to the store than that.

  “It was no trouble. I’m not that old, you know. Besides, my son did most of the unpacking and moving. I believe I mentioned him last time we spoke.”

  Lisa remembered. Judy had spoken often about him and shared photos of the dark haired, blue eyed dream of a human being. She held up her hands. “I didn’t mean…”

  “No worries, dear. Most women my age are in their dotage, but I tend to stay active. I won’t kick off on you any time soon.” Judy chuckled. “Come, have some coffee. It’ll warm you up.”

  Lisa’s mouth watered at the thought of her heavenly vice coating her scratchy throat with warm, delicious, joy. Then she frowned. “I’d love to, but I think I’ll pass.”

  “Oh? I thought you were a coffee addict who drank all those froufrou drinks at Starbucks all the time.”

  “Yes, well, I’m trying to give up caffeine.” Lisa straightened. It wasn’t a lie…technically.

  “Oh, I see. Well, good thing I made decaf. My son says I’m irritatingly energetic when I drink caffeine. Come on.” Judy straightened a ceramic cat on a bookshelf and headed toward the back of the store and into a kitchen area. “Sit.” She waved Lisa toward a chair at a small, glass-topped dining table. A plate of muffins and scones sat temptingly in the middle.

  Just as Lisa was sitting down, the bell jingled once more and she shot to her feet again, feeling like an intruder.

  “Mother, I brought your laptop back,” a masculine voice called from the front of the store. “Can you try not to download every virus on the internet, please?” Heavy footsteps thudded against the shop’s worn wooden floor.

  “Ah, speaking of my son…” Judy set down her coffee cup. “Oh, you guys just have to meet. I’ll be right back.” She wiped her hands on a dishtowel then dropped it on the counter before disappearing from the room. “It’s not my fault my laptop keeps getting sick,” she hollered.

  Lisa snickered, but remained standing. Her stomach growled and she rotated the plate around, analyzing the soft, warm treats in front of her.

  “When you receive an email from Elvis, you don’t want to click on the attachment. News flash, Elvis is dead.” Her son’s baritone voice echoed off the room’s high ceilings.

  “I’m not so sure.” Judy shuffled into the kitchen and Lisa stiffened then turned around.

  Judy’s son towered over the older woman. The thick winter coat he wore couldn’t hide his broad shoulders or thin waist. “Hi,” he beamed at her. In another life, she would have been interested in those boyish dimples and bright smile, but not now.

  “Lisa, this is my son, Eric. Eric, this is Lisa Mortan,” Judy said, gesturing between them.

  “It’s a pleasure.” He gripped Lisa’s hand in a firm, yet gentle shake. “I’ve heard a lot about you.”

  Judy nudged him forward. “Take her coat, Eric.”

  Lisa stepped back and pulled her coat tight around her. “I’m still a little chilled, but thanks. It’s nice to meet you.”

  “Sit. Both of you,” Judy insisted.

  “Mmm, I see you made your famous scones and muffins for Ms. Mortan,” Eric said.

  “Lisa,” she corrected.

  Eric squeezed around the table and took the seat next to her. “Well, Lisa. I’m glad you’re here. Mom only makes these for people she wants to impress, and I’m only her son.” His smile drooped into a playful pout, which he turned on Judy.

  “Stop, now. You know that’s not true,” Judy scolded.

  She made muffins for me? No one had made any sort of baked goods for her since she was eight. Lisa swallowed down a soft cry that always tried to escape at the memory of her mother. Even today, her chest burned with longing to see her again. But she’d left without a word, so it didn’t matter.

  If I decide to keep you, I’d never abandon you in the middle of the night. When she realized her hand was rubbing her belly, she quickly clasped her fingers together.

  A small plate slid in front of her. “You have to try one of these. People all over Sweetwater County beg for the recipe, but Mom won’t part with it. Something about them being special.” Eric popped a piece into his mouth and moaned. “Wow, even better than I remember.” His silver-blue eyes glistened in the low light.

  The smell conquered her will power and she moved a scone to th
e small plate in front of her. Breaking off a bite-sized piece, she tossed it into her mouth. A buttery, sweet explosion coated her tongue, and she closed her eyes, savoring every distinct ingredient.

  Eric cleared his throat, startling her from the pleasant burst of flavor that had distracted her, and the memories it took her to. He stared at her, no, not at her. His eyes fixed on her wrist and the dark bruise that peeked out from under the cuff of her coat’s sleeve.

  Chapter Two

  Eric’s pulse raced at the black and blue mark, shaped like fingers, which Lisa attempted to cover. Clenching his teeth, he averted his gaze. Based on the size of the marks, a man had done it. Was she attacked? A boyfriend? Perhaps that was why she came to Sweetwater, to hide from an abusive husband. He reached out for a muffin, discreetly scanning her left hand. No wedding ring. Not even a tan line.

  This was none of his business. Mom had decided to take on this venture, as insane as it was. Starting a business with a woman that she’d never met outside of cyberspace.

  His mother had been right about one thing, though. Lisa Mortan was beautiful. Stuffing another muffin into his mouth, he concentrated on the warm, butter-nutty flavor and forced the thought of Lisa and her light floral fragrance from his mind.

  “Thanks so much for helping unpack all of our merchandise,” Lisa said, her voice soft yet not wimpy or chirpy.

  “My pleasure. It’s kept Mom busy…which is a good thing. The idle hands of an energetic woman, particularly when it’s your mother, are dangerous,” he teased.

  His mother brought the coffee pot to the table. “Lisa just arrived from New York. Seeing as how she’s new in town, perhaps we could all get together for dinner and get to know each other better.”

  “I need to return to the office.” Eric stood and nodded to Lisa, attempting to ignore her full lips, and big bright eyes. She pushed from the table to stand as well and her coat fell open, revealing the longest legs he’d ever seen. The heels she wore only accentuated every inch of them. Straight chestnut colored hair completed the look, shining under the Halogen pot lights he’d installed last week. “It was a pleasure, but I’m afraid I have a client meeting tonight. Don’t let Mom work you too hard.”