Beauty's Kiss by Jane Porter Read Free Book Online Page A

beautifully restored Graff, and all the merchants in town.
    The 1914 Wedding Giveaway had been a fun surprise. The discovery of the Douglas home invasion had been the exact opposite.
    Horrified, Taylor had gone to Louise with the news. Louise told her the crime had never been solved, and for years locals were jumpy and fearful. Folks wondered if maybe the assault had been by one of the Douglas’ hired hands. Lots of people felt it had to have been someone who knew the property, the layout of the house, and were familiar to the family, because wouldn’t the Douglas’ dogs have barked up a storm and alerted the family so they would have had a chance to defend themselves?
    Taylor shook her head, chasing away grim memories, and approached McKenna. “Hi.”
    “Did you see my wild child with Louise?” McKenna asked.
    Taylor smiled. “I did. He’s found two little girls to chase which is making him very happy.”
    “And Louise? She’s managing okay?”
    “She’s great. She loves kids.”
    “She always has. It’s going to be awful when she retires. She’s been part of the library since I was born.”
    “She does love her work,” Taylor agreed. “And I’m going to miss her, too. She’s a sweetheart and has been so helpful since I arrived.”
    “And Margaret? Has she been as helpful?” McKenna asked sweetly, fully aware that Margaret Houghton, the head librarian, did not believe in new-fangled things like computers and the internet and had resisted adding e-books to the library’s collection.
    Taylor grimaced. “Not as helpful, no.”
    McKenna laughed. “Didn’t think so.” She hesitated. “Actually, I was hoping I could ask a favor.... maybe impose on you tomorrow night?”
    “You need a sitter?”
    “No. Well, yes and no.” McKenna pushed a long dark auburn strand of hair back from her cheek, securing it behind her ear. “I need a dress for the Ball, and I hoped you’d go with me to Married in Marietta and give me your opinion. I practically live in jeans and am useless when it comes to formal attire.”
    “Of course,” Taylor said quickly, pleased and flattered that McKenna wanted to do something with her. “I’d love to.”
    “You’re sure? Dress shopping isn’t fun—”
    “I would enjoy it. I don’t want to go to the Ball, but I’d love to help you find a dress for Friday night. That sounds great.”
    “Wonderful! I’ve lined up a sitter so maybe we can make it a girls night out? Shopping and dinner, or shopping and then drinks after?”
    “Perfect. Sounds like a great night out.”
    And it did, Taylor thought, taking a seat on the opposite side of the table, since there were no spots open near McKenna.
    McKenna was something of Marietta’s golden girl. People loved her, and were extremely protective of her. McKenna was also influential. Her opinion mattered, and when some folks were critical of Jane back in December, ridiculing her and the Great Wedding Giveaway, McKenna wrote a letter to the editor at the Copper Mountain Courier , publicly siding with Jane, stating that the Giveaway would be good for the community, the economy, and particularly the local merchants, and that she not only threw her full support behind the Wedding Giveaway , but she’d also volunteered to co-chair the Wedding Giveaway committee with Paige Joffee, owner of Main Street Diner, to ensure the Wedding Giveaway’s success.
    After that, there’d been a lot less dissension.
    A lot less.
    Like... none . If some folks still weren’t happy about the Giveaway, they kept their negativity to themselves.
    That was when Taylor learned just how much sway McKenna had in this town. It also made McKenna and Trey Sheenan’s relationship that much more intriguing to Taylor.
    McKenna was clearly the town’s golden girl, but Trey Sheenan was by all accounts, Marietta’s bad boy... so what did people make of that?
    Paige called the meeting to order then, and welcomed everyone. She shared that the Valentine Ball was still