The Tea Shop on Lavender Lane. Sheila Roberts

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СКАЧАТЬ her regular post at the reservation podium, greeting her customers. She was another ambassador for true love. After divorcing her cheating husband, who’d then returned, just to bring her more misery, she’d met her Mr. Perfect and was now enjoying newlywed bliss. It could be done.

      The question for Cecily was who to do it with. If only she could put Todd Black and Luke Goodman in some giant machine and meld them into one. Todd’s sexiness coupled with Luke’s dependability—now that would be her perfect man.

      You don’t know that Todd’s undependable, she reminded herself. Heck, he owned a business and a house. That required a certain level of dependability. But there was no getting around those bad-boy vibes he gave off. Todd Black, the pirate. Pirates didn’t settle down and raise families. And she was ready to get married, wanted to start a family. So, what the heck was she doing going out with him?

      Charley greeted her with a surprised “Cec?” then recovered enough to greet Todd. “We’ve got a nice corner table for you,” she told him and led the way to the far end of the dining area.

      Which meant they had to pass Luke’s table. Cecily was very aware of Todd’s hand on her back as they approached, and of Luke’s assessing and not-so-happy gaze. She felt an uncomfortable warmth creeping over her cheeks and tried to cool it by telling herself she had nothing to feel awkward about. To prove it, she stopped to say a quick hello and introduced her date. The men shook hands, but it was far from a hearty handshake. They reminded her of boxers touching gloves before a match.

      “Todd owns The Man Cave,” Cecily said to Luke.

      He gave Todd a brief nod. “I’ve seen it.”

      With the giant Neanderthal in lederhosen painted on the outside, it was hard to miss. “Luke’s our production manager at Sweet Dreams,” she said to Todd.

      “Great place to work,” Todd said, giving Cecily one of his killer smiles.

      “Yeah, it is,” Luke agreed. “The Sterling family means a lot to me.” It was said pleasantly enough but, judging by Luke’s stiff posture and narrowed eyes, it was a warning of sorts.

      Luke’s family was already on dessert, wild huckleberry pie for him, coffee for his mom and a strawberry sundae for his daughter. “I was really good today, so I got to go out with Daddy and have ice cream,” Serena told Cecily.

      “Aren’t you glad you were good?” Cecily asked.

      Serena nodded vigorously. “Were you good, too?”

      “Something like that,” Cecily said. She could imagine what Todd would do with that remark.

      Before he could even try, Cecily said, “Well, enjoy your evening,” and she hurried after Charley.

      * * *

      Luke wasn’t hungry anymore. He pushed away his plate.

      “Daddy, aren’t you going to eat your pie?” Serena asked, obviously shocked by such waste.

      “Daddy’s had enough,” he said.

      He’d been trying to convince Cecily Sterling to give him a chance ever since she’d returned to Icicle Falls. And she would have by now if it wasn’t for that damn Todd Black. Luke had seen him in Bavarian Brews, putting the moves on her. The guy was slick and good-looking. How did an average man compete with that?

      “He who hesitates,” his mother said softly.

      He could pretend he didn’t know what she was talking about, but she wouldn’t buy it. “She doesn’t think we’re a match.”

      “Well, for heaven’s sake, don’t take her word for it. From what Muriel has let slip over the last couple of years, the girl wouldn’t recognize Prince Charming if he slayed a dragon right in front of her.”

      “I know who Prince Charming is,” Serena piped up. “He dances with the princess at the ball.”

      Luke had tried that at the Sweet Dreams chocolate ball a couple of years back. He’d probably do better slaying a dragon. “Come on, girls. Let’s go home.” Zelda’s had lost its appeal for him.

      * * *

      Once Cecily and Todd were seated, Charley wished them bon appétit. The look she gave Cecily added, “I expect to hear all about this later.” Then she left them alone with their menus.

      “Just so you know, you don’t have to be good on my account,” Todd teased.

      Cecily made a face at him. “I figured you wouldn’t be able to resist saying something. At least you didn’t do it in front of Luke.”

      “Is he my competition?”

      “I don’t know.” Where had that come from? Of course she knew. She wasn’t interested in Luke that way. “Not really.”

      Todd slung an arm over the back of his chair and regarded her. “So, our heroine is conflicted.”

      There went her cheeks, warming up again.

      “It’s okay,” Todd said. “I’m not afraid of a little competition. I think I can convince you who the better man is.”

      And later that night, as they sat in front of her place in his truck, he set about showing her just how superior he was. When she finally got out, her clothes were mussed and her brain was foggy. And she had another date with Todd Black.

      * * *

      Todd drove home wearing a confident smile. Cecily Sterling had kept him dangling like a string of Christmas lights long enough. Now he was done playing games. She was going to be his. Too bad for the Sweet Dreams dude. But in the battle for the babe, that was how it always went, how it had always gone. One guy got the girl and the other one walked away with a big L for loser on his forehead.

      Todd hadn’t become the pro ball player his dad had wanted him to be, but there was one sport he’d excelled at and that was getting girls. (He and his brother both had charm in spades and they’d made good use of it.) And for a teenage boy that kind of success was a lot more gratifying than what his dad had wanted for him.

      He’d done other things besides chase girls. By sophomore year in high school he’d decided he needed to work a little harder if he planned to go to college, so he’d pulled up his grades and gotten a 4.0. He’d even turned out for track his junior year (although the old man was not impressed). Still he’d done well, been pretty fast.

      But he made his best time with the opposite sex. In college he’d even gotten close to buying a ring, but the nearer he got to hitting the jewelry store for a diamond, the less enthusiastic he became about that relationship. And the more possessive she became. They’d finally had one too many fights and broken up. Just as well. He hadn’t been ready. He still wasn’t. It would take an exceptional woman to pin him down.

      Cecily’s perfect features and baby-blue eyes came to mind. Women didn’t get any more exceptional than her. Besides being beautiful, she was smart. He liked that. And he liked that she hadn’t fallen all over herself to be with him. He appreciated a challenge, liked the fact that she kept the fence high.

      But now it was time to jump the fence, time to get this thing moving. She wanted СКАЧАТЬ