The Right Medicine by Ginny Baird Read Free Book Online Page B

Rebecca....
    David rubbed his temples and glared at the column of numbers in front of him, willing the insubordinate figures to make sense. But the only figure that stood out in his mind belonged to one Marie McCloud. Not that she was as voluptuous as some of the women he'd dated. Not even that she was more beautiful. But there was something in the way she'd widened her eyes when she'd looked at him. Something in the warm flush of color on her skin.
    David shook his head, thinking himself stupid for believing they'd made any kind of meaningful connection.
    He turned half-heartedly and scanned through the contacts on his cell phone. Thursday afternoon, already. If he hoped for a respectable date—or even a not-so-respectable one—by the weekend, David would have to start calling soon.
    But suddenly, he had the unusual notion that he'd be more happy spending his Saturday night with a book.
     
    Marie blew into the cafe like a gust of autumn wind and settled her purse on the counter.
    "Decaf, darling?" Joanne smiled, swabbing a dollop of cream off the faux marble serving bar.
    Marie stared back at the older woman, somehow unable to fix her gaze. "Yes. No. I mean, I don't—"
    Joanne extended a wrinkled hand in Marie's direction. "Slow down there." She had to be in her seventies, but with her batik skirt and sleek silver braid, sometimes looked more like a willowy teenager gone prematurely gray.
    Joanne dropped her rag and leaned forward with a conspiratorial whisper. "What's wrong, doll? That Cecil done some—"
    She fell silent as the ponytailed man materialized at her side.
    "Morning, Marie." He smiled, and his even teeth shone white beneath his aquiline nose.
    Marie sighed. "It's way past noon, Cecil. How long have you been here?"
    He swiveled his head and glared at the clock. "Oh, since nine. Time flies when you're having fun."
    Marie groaned. "Short cappuccino, Joanne. Double foam, nix the caffeine."
    "Hey, Marie," Cecil said, when Joanne went to steam the milk. "About our dinner tonight..."
    Marie adjusted her new frames and fumbled for an excuse. Somehow, in light of her lunchtime encounter, eating with Cecil seemed downright unappetizing.
    "I have some revisions to do."
    Marie smiled as his meaning dawned.
    "Oh, Cecil, of course I understand. I have a little project I'm working on myself." She drew a sharp breath, wondering where on earth that had come from.
    "You do?" Cecil asked, his gray eyes narrowing. At one time Marie would have called the color smoldering, like embers. But right now it looked... like smog.
    She pulled two singles from her wallet as Joanne set her coffee down in front of her, puzzling at her new perspective. Surely, twenty minutes with a handsome optician wouldn't—
    "A book?" Cecil pressed.
    "Has to be romance," Joanne chimed in, securing the lid on the paper cup.
    But Marie just turned the color of a very ripe tomato, picked up her cappuccino and left.
     
    This time of day, right before closing, Marie normally perused the aisles to be certain everything was shelved properly. The upscale store paid its staff well to ensure a user-friendly environment for the average book buyer. But occasionally there were slip-ups, like when a new employee mistakenly placed Growing Old Gracefully in with New Age category books.
    Marie resisted the urge to linger in the paperback romance section. Her feet ached and her back was sore from all the bending and stooping involved in reviewing the day's new arrivals. She'd arranged two author signings and helped coordinate an event for the mystery book club that was originally scheduled to meet in the cafe, but got bumped by a big-name local musician who'd agreed to play there on Monday. A real coup for Books & Bistro, but a major headache for Marie, who needed to accommodate the sure-fire crowd that live music brought, while avoiding the ire of her hard-core mystery fans. They, after all, bought more books on a regular basis than any other group—apart from romance