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Tate? she whispered softly and threw herself into his arms. Fancy began to kiss his face and
looked at him to make sure he was not injured like she thought before she started smothering him
with kisses that punctuated her words. Oh, Sara said you were in the hospital, and she called me
stinky! I rushed here from New York expecting you to be hurt, and here you are making over my . . .
bakery.
Fancy pulled away from him slowly and took a step back. Her eyes narrowed to slits, and she began
to speak slowly. You were never hurt, were you? This was all a trick to get me back in Merry.
Tate had the sense to look ashamed. Yes, it was all a sham, Fancy, but I did it for the best of
reasons.
Fancy was seething, and she spoke the words through gritted teeth. Which are?
I missed you so much, and I was moping, like I said. Sara came up with this idea, Tate explained,
throwing Sara under the bus for the plan they both came up with. But we love you, sweetheart, and
we wanted you home.
So you decided to dream up a fake injury, causing me to lose ten years of my life and probably gave
me crow s-feet around my eyes from crying all night to get me to come back. Fancy looked around
for something to throw. The only thing she could find was the trays of lipcakes that were on the
counter.
You look beautiful, baby. Did I mention that you are by far the most gorgeous woman I ever met?
Tate said hopefully.
Sploosh. The first cake hit his chest and exploded in an array of chocolate and cream.
Fancy, I love you! Please don t get that upset!
Sploosh. Another cake missile hit its target as Fancy threw them one after another. Do you know
how worried I was? I freaked out. My mother freaked out and almost killed us on the highway!
Darling, I am sorry! But I needed you to come home. Tate got down on one knee, even though
cakes were flying erratically around him. He pulled a box out of his pocket just as a cake hit him in
the face. Fancy, I love you. Marry me, and let me be the man that loves you forever.
Fancy stopped with her hand in midair holding a cake. Her eyes narrowed once again. What did
you say?
I love you, Fancy Grace McKee. I need you in my life like I need my next breath. I have braved
tons of paint fumes to get this place ready for you. And I will spend the rest of my life proving to
you that I am proud of who you are and I always will be. Tate spoke as he got off his knees and
walked slowly to her until they were face-to-face. Marry me.
Fancy looked at the ring he held in cake-covered hands and looked into his eyes. Her breath caught,
and she nodded as he put the ring on her finger.
Is that nod a yes? he asked quietly, a grin spreading across his cake-splattered face.
Fancy squealed. It s a yes!
She jumped into Tate s arms, even though he was covered in the good treats she threw at him
earlier, and the kiss they shared was magical.
So I take it everything is good and she said yes. Sara poked her head in the door. What the hell
happened to the lipcakes? Look at this mess!
Fancy turned, and the last cake she still held in her hand, she threw. It hit Sara on the side of the
head. Sara stood there with cake dripping down the side of her face and onto her blouse. But her
face still held a big grin.
That s for lying to me, and I am going to be accepting applications for a new best friend, Fancy
said.
Yeah, sure. How many times have I heard that before? Sara replied. I m going upstairs and
change. You guys carry on and clean up this mess.
Fancy turned back to Tate, who held her in his arms and licked a bit of cake off her nose. You
never said you loved me, Tate said.
I love you, Tate Hildebrandt, my painter and my soon-to-be husband. Fancy licked some cake
from his cheek. No more running, no more hiding, just a new future with you.
So I won t be just another flight of fancy, hmmm? Tate teased.
Baby, all flights are grounded permanently because of you, Fancy whispered.
They shared a tender kiss with hope and love blossoming anew. Springtime had brought April
showers and May flowers. And it had brought Fancy and Tate a new love that would weather any
season.
The End
Midnight Shift
Brenda Steele
Chapter One
Lori painted on the final layer of her volcano red polish to her toes while clutching the phone
between her ear and her shoulder. She rested a heel on the stool she sat on and blew gently.
Lori, are you doing your toes again? her friend, Cammie, shouted into the phone. Damn, you do
them every freakin day of the week.
Don t exaggerate, Cam. I do not. Lori had to laugh. Okay, three or four times tops, but that s it.
You know I can t stand chipped polish, and one was smudged a little. I had no choice.
It s a fetish is what it is, Cammie told her. Admit it. You re into feet. I don t see you doing your
fingernails like that.
Lori glanced at her fingers with little interest. I don t use color on them.
A bell dinged at the other end of the building. She glanced up but knew she wouldn t be able to see
through the bookstore, where she worked, over to the connecting Easy Mart. At three in the
morning, some idiot was shopping. Noting the time had reminded her that it was late and that she
should be in bed. But she had taken this part-time job. She was in it for the long haul.
I better go, Cam. Someone came in the Easy Mart. It s likely they won t find anything edible over
there, and they ll come over this side to browse. She yawned. I ll talk to you tomorrow. Try to get
some sleep for a change.
Her friend blew out a noisy breath. I doubt it, but I ll lie here as usual. Talk to you tomorrow.
Night.
Lori hung up the phone just as the customer moved to the doorway separating the Easy Mart from
the bookstore. Despite herself, she gasped. Of course, she had expected it to be one of the shifters.
Besides, who else was stupid enough to be up at this time of night browsing through Mr. Tenchow s
food items? All of it was unappetizing if you asked her.
But this man, or rather shape-shifter, was striking. She hadn t seen him before. He was tall and
thickly built, solid muscle if she were to guess. He had long sandy brown hair that hung heavy on his
shoulders and honey-colored eyes that made her heart kick up a notch or two. His jeans hung just
right on narrow hips, and his shirt was unbuttoned at the throat to show the slightest peek at a chest
a woman could lose her sanity lying on.
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