15 Tales of Love (20 page)

Posted on the office bulletin board was a general invitation to a buffet dinner given by the Forest Society, recognizing those who had helped the Society purchase conservation easements during the past year. One of the listed tracts was what Candace thought of as The Ravine Property and she was delighted. She knew the price was high and they had just met the deadline
. We won that one!

She knew Logan was also celebrating having been able to issue two citations against the Smith Company, both for wetlands violations, for not providing the required temporary bridges over soft areas.
Hurray for my vernal pools and salamanders! And maybe they’ve learned something.

Julie waxed enthusiastic. “The Forest Society always puts on a nice spread. There’s good music, and you get a chance to meet lots of people.”

Candace noticed that Logan appeared to be interested in the event, although he didn’t say anything.

When Julie asked her if she planned to go, Candace said she wasn’t sure, but she’d think about it. “It’s not my sort of evening.”

“Well, I am. Can’t pass up the opportunity.”

Just what opportunity does she have in mind?

Candace considered the idea for a while, with her usual reluctance to socialize and her dislike of the general shallowness of such occasions. Then she remembered Logan’s look when he had seen Julie wearing a suggestive outfit, and that Julie had given him one of those come-hither sideways glances. He had responded to those glances, and had come close to ignoring Candace for the rest of the occasion.

Well,
sometimes you have to fight fire with fire. I have a lot more to offer Logan than she does. I’m out there doing what he does and likes, and she isn’t. And he doesn’t like her coffee. Besides, if she’s going to show off her assets, I can show off mine.

In the back of her closet was a party dress. Her favorite, the only one she had kept just in case there was a need. It had a form-fitting bodice, and a deep vee neckline. It was a silky moss green with gold accents that would look great with those gold sandals.

She arrived a little late—the large room was already filled with clusters of chatting people. She made her way toward the buffet table feeling the need for a drink. She scanned the crowd looking for Logan and beginning to doubt the wisdom of this maneuver.
What if he isn’t here?

He was at the end of the table apparently listening to the Chief Ranger, but he glanced up as she neared the buffet. The look of surprise when he met her eyes, the slow smile that curved the corners of his mouth, told her what she needed to know. She picked up a glass of wine and went to meet him.

Also from
Jessie Salisbury
and
Soul Mate Publishing
:

ORCHARD HILL

Deserted by her husband, Jocelyn fled home to the family orchard to recover and wait for her divorce to be settled. It is harvest time, and among the Nova Scotian apple pickers is Yvon, handsome, virile, devil-may-care, and more than willing to help Jocelyn forget her unfaithful spouse. 

But:

There is also Adrian, her caring long-time friend and attorney. He could not speak of his love for her while she was married, but now she is free and he is ready to bring her back where she belongs. And willing to combat Yvon for her affections. 

Available now on Amazon:
http://tinyurl.com/kssf9hh

A HEART MENDED

Wilfred has a broken heart. Betrayed years ago by his young wife and severed from his life work by a heart attack, he has retreated to a resident youth camp to hide and impart his love of nature to mostly uncaring campers. Too hurt to ever love again, too much in pain to care, he has retreated from the world to await his inevitable death.

But Shannon knows better. As the camp nurse, she understands his physical pain, and as she has learned to know, and deeply love, him, she has found the parts he keeps hidden. She knows he is a caring, gentle soul, a good man who could be healed, if he would let somebody help him, but he is rejecting her offered love.

Robbie is a sad reluctant camper. Left by his parents while they vacation, bullied by his bigger cabin-mates, he can’t swim, hates baseball, but likes butterflies. His love of the outdoors catches Wilfred’s attention, but Robbie is the son of Wilfred’s ex-wife.

Robbie stands between Wilfred and Shannon, pulling them together and driving them apart, until Robbie is trapped in a burning barn with only Wilfred to get him out.

Available now on Amazon:
http://tinyurl.com/nkdkaq9