Cautious Lover by Stephanie James Read Free Book Online Page B

that she was wanted and he... Jess paused, contemplating fully just what it was he had let slip away. He would have had a kind of warmth and closeness he'd never known. And he would have had one more bond between himself and Elly .
    Jess swore softly and got to his feet to continue clearing the table. He had been a fool to waste so much time. He should have been making love to Elly for nearly two months. It seemed an act of malicious fate that, when at last matters in that department were finally going to get sorted out, something interfered.
    Not something. Someone. Someone who looked a hell of a lot like Marina Carrington. Jess paused by the sink, thinking that last thought through. The only person he knew who looked a lot like Marina was her twin, Damon.
    By the middle of the afternoon Elly had finally begun to come to terms with her reaction to the news of Jess's past. She had spent most of the day rationalizing, lecturing, analyzing and assessing. Jess had had the sensitivity to stay away from the shop. She assumed he was busy talking to the local contractors and craftsmen he would need to start the renovation work on the charming Victorian fantasy he intended to turn into a quiet, luxury inn. Uncertain as to what he would do at the end of the day, Elly busied herself stocking shelves and waiting on customers and tried not to think about the evening ahead.
    The Natural Choice was one of those small-town community stores that become a meeting place for people who live nearby. In addition to buying the flours, grains, tofu and other assorted grocery products Elly stocked, local people dropped in to chat, catch up on news or just hang out. Everyone knew everybody else and shared information freely. It would have been impossible for the proprietor of such a shop to keep a romance quiet, and Elly had made no effort to do so. Everyone in the community knew of Jess Winter and his plans for the old mansion. They also knew Elly had been dating him steadily for two months. So Elly was prepared for casual inquiries even though she could cheerfully have done without them today.
    "How's your friend, Elly ? Thought I saw him over at Wilson's this morning?" Sarah Mitchell hoisted a gurgling eighteen-month-old baby onto her hip and reached into her handcrafted leather purse for her wallet. Everything about Sarah was handcrafted—from the long, paisley cotton skirt she had designed herself, to the fringed leather vest she wore over a denim shirt. Her hair reached to her waist and fell in a long heavy braid down her back. The baby, who went by the name of Compass Rose and who wasn't yet old enough to mind the unusual appelation , was dressed in a handknitted jumpsuit.
    "I think he said something about wanting Wilson to do some woodwork in the hall," Elly murmured, packing rye flour, whole wheat pasta and tofu into a paper sack. She didn't particularly want to discuss Jess today, but she knew the questions were unavoidable. In the two months he had been coming and going between Portland and the coast, Jess had managed to make himself a familiar and welcome presence in town.
    "Is he still going to want the stained-glass work?" Sarah asked a little uncertainly.
    Elly suddenly realized what was making her customer anxious. She smiled reassuringly. "Don't worry, Sarah. He won't change his mind about the stained-glass order he mentioned to you. Once he makes a commitment like that he follows through."
    Sarah nodded, looking relieved. "Good. The truth is , I could use the work."
    "No check this month?" Elly asked commiseratingly .
    The other woman shook her head. "No, and I think I'd better get used to the fact that there aren't going to be any more checks. Mark is long gone, Elly . He's not coming back. I've accepted that now, but it means I can't treat the stained glass as a hobby any longer. I've got to start making it pay. Or else I've got to find another kind of job."
    "Jess will pay well for the beautiful work you do, Sarah. Don't worry,"