Death of a Pumpkin Carver Read Online Free Page B

you have come to accept in your mind that Danny is the past and Dr. Aaron is the future,” Liddy said with an impish grin.
    â€œOh God, here we go . . .” Mona moaned.
    â€œ What ?” Hayley yelled loud enough to garner some curious looks from a few grizzled fishermen at the other end of the bar. “What are you talking about?”
    â€œShe was going on about this before you got here,” Mona sighed. “She thinks you’ve still got the hots for the boring animal doctor.”
    â€œThe proper word is ‘veterinarian,’ Mona, and he’s not boring. He’s very nice. He’s got a good career, and he’s still not seeing anyone. He’s a wonderful catch.”
    â€œExcept for one little thing. He broke up with me!” Hayley screamed.
    â€œThat’s just because you didn’t make enough time for him,” Liddy said, slapping the bar with her palm to punctuate her point. “If you ask for a second chance, I’m positive he’ll grant you one, and you two can finally be back on track.”
    â€œLiddy, read my lips . . . It’s over! I didn’t fight for Aaron when he ended it because I knew in my heart he was right. We’re better as friends. I’m done with that chapter of my life. And right now, I’m very happy and content being single and I have absolutely no interest in jumping back into another relationship anytime soon.”
    She thought she was being definitive and crystal clear about her intentions, but Liddy just nodded, a skeptical look on her face.
    The door flew open and Danny ambled in, wearing jeans and an open plaid shirt and a brown leather jacket and boots, looking like some kind of sexy Easy Rider. He ran a hand through his thick, wavy hair and flashed that smile, which caused even Liddy to drop her mouth open.
    She whipped around to Hayley. “Oh, he’s looking really good.”
    Danny strutted right up to Liddy and enveloped her in a bear hug, squeezing her head against his rock-hard chest. “I’d recognize that gorgeous face anywhere. You discover some kind of fountain of youth or something, Liddy? Because you haven’t aged a bit.”
    When he let her go, she was blushing and giggling and had no idea how to respond. She just just kept fixing her hair as she struggled to stop the silly noises coming out of her mouth. Not knowing what to do, she finally picked up her margarita glass and sipped on it until it was empty.
    When Danny spied Randy reaching to grab Liddy’s now-empty margarita glass, he grasped his hand and held it instead of shaking it. “There’s my sexy stud brother-in-law. Look at you. Man, I’m just a no-nothing nobody, but I’m telling you, bro, you should have stuck it out as an actor! I swear with your movie-star looks, right now you’d be bigger than that Thor guy . . . what’s his name?”
    â€œChris Hemsworth?”
    â€œYeah, him,” Danny said, not letting Randy’s hand go.
    â€œHe’s like an Australian sex god!” Randy squealed before catching himself, embarrassed by his high-pitched voice.
    â€œHe’s got nothing on you, in my opinion,” Danny said, a seductive smile on his face. He was always good at charming the socks off both women and men.
    Especially gay men.
    He had an easy way about him, and unlike a lot of heterosexual men, Danny was not threatened by his gay brethren.
    In fact, he was flattered by their attention.
    Which made him all the more desirable to women.
    And that’s where he made out like a bandit.
    â€œOh, stop . . .” Randy said, giggling alongside Liddy now.
    â€œYes, Danny, please stop. You’re laying it on a bit thick . . . even for you,” Hayley said, rolling her eyes.
    â€œNo he’s not. I don’t mind if he keeps going,” Randy said with a big fat grin on his face.
    â€œIt’s a shame I’m straight and a lousy shot,” Danny said, shaking his