The Reluctant Bachelorette by Rachael Anderson Page B

marbles for brains if she
thought that stunt would really work.
    Luke began to feel like he was cursed. Ever since he’d
returned to Shelter, there had been nothing but problems. The town was about to
go under. He was bachelor #21 on some ridiculous internet reality dating show.
His veterinary practice wasn’t taking off quite the way he’d imagined. And now,
Missy Green.
    Was this some sort of sign? A
get-out-of-Shelter-before-the-sky-starts-falling warning? Luke’s steps slowed.
His gaze drifted up toward the clouds, willing them to reform into words.
Sentences. Answers. Why did he come back here? Why did it feel like it made
sense, that it was the right thing to do?
    The stratus clouds continued to float slowly past, a freeform
display of nothing at all. No answers. No assurances that he’d made the right
decision and that everything would start looking up.
    Luke let out a breath and turned to head back, pausing when he
caught sight of a painted wooden sign. It was simple. No fancy graphics. No
scrolls or decals. Just letters painted in a bold burgundy on a whitewashed
background.
    The Bloom Boutique.
    He stared at it for a moment. Then stared at the store itself,
with the handwritten “Be back by 1:00” note taped to the front door. Luke felt
the sudden urge to hang out on the inviting front porch steps until Taycee
returned, just to see her smile and hear what she’d have to say. She’d make the
day look brighter.
    A strange “here’s your answer” feeling washed over him, but Luke
shook it off. It was only a coincidence. That’s all.

    Over a week of early mornings and late nights had finally
brought Taycee past the halfway point of the first two weeks. Her dates with
Kent, Miles, and Gavin were now in the past, and Jason—well, almost. Only a
doorstep scene to go.
    Jason pulled to a stop in front of her apartment. “Stay right
there. I’ll get your door.”
    As much as Taycee appreciated a guy who’d open the door, Jason
was over-the-top. He’d practically pushed the waiter aside to pull out her
chair during dinner, and every time the air conditioning kicked on, he’d ask,
“Are you too cold? I can ask the waiter to turn that down if you want.”
    “Thanks, but no. I’m good.”
    “You sure?”
    “I’m sure.”
    “Are you hot then?”
    “No. Really, I’m good. Promise.”
    It was a good thing they hadn’t come across any puddles,
because Jason probably would have stripped off his yellow polo shirt and thrown
it down. Either that or scooped her up and carried her across. He was like a
gentleman on a mission. And Taycee, well, she was a girl who liked to jump a puddle
every once in a while, maybe even splash in one.
    Jason helped her out of the car and kept her hand in his as
they sauntered up the walk. On the doorstep, he caught her off guard by pulling
her into his arms and trying to kiss her.
    Palms on his chest, Taycee pushed him back. “Down boy.”
    A teasing glint sparked in his eyes. “Playing hard to get?”
    “No. I just don’t kiss on the first date. Never have, never
will. Thanks for a fun night.” With that, she left him standing on the doorstep
without even a hug goodbye. The door closed between them, and she immediately
twisted the deadbolt as if it would somehow keep her from ever having to see
him again.
    Taycee took a long, relaxing hot bath, and then wrapped herself
in a soft terry cloth robe, crawled into bed, and opened her laptop. It had
been two days since she’d talked with Missy and still no scandalous stories had
surfaced on the Behind-the-Scenes of Shelter’s Bachelorette Blog . Started
by an anonymous citizen a few weeks before the show began, the blog was always
an entertaining read, especially now that it focused mostly on the new
bachelors in town. The writer was skilled in taking a tiny morsel of truth and
turning into something outrageous.
    Like today.
    Taycee’s jaw dropped when she read the title of the post: “Can
Poly-dating Go Both Ways?” Below