It Had to Be Love (An It Had to Be Novel) by Tamra Baumann Read Free Book Online Page B

transferred all your contacts. But I noticed your boyfriend’s cell number wasn’t in there, so I added it for you.”
    Was Fred talking about Ben?
    Tara frowned. “I don’t have a boyfriend.”
    Fred pointed at Ryan. “What do you call this guy? Word’s all over town the two of you are the new hot item. Gloria said you shared dinner with him two nights in a row.” Fred sent her a wink. “Tough to keep secrets around here, Tara.” He chuckled and walked away.
    As much as Ryan wouldn’t mind dating Tara, she probably didn’t feel the same. “Gloria means well, but she has a big mouth.”
    Tara huffed out a breath while tucking her new phone inside her purse. “He’s the third person today who’s mentioned it. The more I protest, the more they think it’s true. Gotta go. Have a nice day.”
    As she walked toward the door, he fell in step beside her. Why was she getting a new number? “Changing your number to avoid your new boyfriend’s calls?”
    Not missing a beat, she said, “Yeah, you’ve become entirely too needy lately. I think we should break up. Maybe at the diner tonight, so Gloria can see it happen live.”
    Ryan pushed the door open for her and waited while she passed by him. “What if I don’t want to break up?”
    “What?” Tara stopped in the doorway.
    He smiled at the confusion on her face. “Kidding. I know it’s Ben you have your sights on.”
    Tara shook her head and walked toward her office. “Ben’s a nice guy and all, but he’s really not my type. Besides, I’ve decided I’d rather focus on getting my practice up and going before I start dating again.”
    So she wasn’t interested in his brother after all?
    Sweet!
    But that didn’t mean Ben wasn’t still interested in her .
    Dammit.
    She never answered the question about the phone number, though. “So who are you trying to avoid?”
    Tara’s eyes shifted away from his as she picked up her pace. “Since when have you become interested in idle small talk, Mr. Chatty?”
    Since he wanted to get to the bottom of the mystery known as Tara. “Maybe you’re easier to talk to than most?”
    Her forehead crinkled as her eyes cut back to his. “Is that a pickup line, Sheriff?”
    “Don’t need one. You’re already my girlfriend. Just ask anyone in town.”
    Her eyes lit with amusement and she grinned. Tara’s smile packed as big a punch as the one she’d dealt him yesterday.
    “You were saying?” When he quirked a brow, silently waiting for her answer, she let out a long sigh.
    “I got a new number because of all the charities and their telemarketers. You try to be nice and give, and then they turn into piranhas.”
    Her answer seemed to roll off her tongue as if practiced. His gut begged to differ.
    Tara stopped walking and fished through her suitcase-sized purse. She had a can of pepper spray strapped inside.
    Once she found her keys she said, “Unless you’d like to come in and let me clean your teeth, because you’re way overdue for that, I’ll see you around.”
    “Negative.” He pulled his phone from the strap on his arm. “But I should get your new number.”
    Her hand stopped midway to the lock and her eyes lined up with his. “Why?”
    “In case someone has a dental emergency.” Or, so he could track her phone in the future in case it became necessary.
    Tara turned the lock and said, “Do you promise to call less often than you have been?”
    Teasing him again. He liked that about her. “I’ll try.” He made a crisscross against his chest. “Scout’s honor.”
    “Fine.” She recited the number.
    Zeke, the town handyman, showed up. He had to be close to seventy, and was so tall and thin it made Ryan want to buy him a meal every time he saw him.
    Zeke nodded. “Morning, you two. Figured I’d try to get that chair fixed before you open for business, Tara.” He turned to Ryan. “So it’s true, huh? You’ve finally given up that silly ‘no dating in town’ rule of yours?”
    Ryan opened his