Love Makes the Difference (Sully Point Book 1) Read Online Free Page B

have to increase my workouts if I keep coming here."
    "You work out? What kind of exercise do you do?"
    "Some cardio, some weights and running on the beach--enough
to stay in shape."
    "Ah," she said and bent her head down so her
flushed face wasn't quite so visible as she boxed up his baked goods. Weight
lifting! I knew it.
    He took the box when she handed it to him and stood there.
She stared at him, puzzled, and he said with a grin, "Are these free or
were you going to charge me something?"
    Now the blush was truly pronounced. "Of course, yes. I
think I might need more coffee this morning."
    "That reminds me, I'd like a large cup of coffee with
cream if you have it."
    "Sure. No problem." She turned to the counter running
along the side wall and reached for a large cup.
    "The coffee smells really rich. Do you use a dark
roast?"
    "Yes, plus this special machine we have makes
unbelievably good coffee," she said as she gave him the coffee cup.
    "Hmm, we'll see about that." He set down the box
of goodies and took a sip of coffee. "Oh, well now, that is damn fine
coffee. You're right, this might be the best coffee I've ever had."
    "I see you're wearing one of the tourist t-shirts. Are
you trying to fit in more?"
    "It seemed like a good idea after hearing about the
stories flying around about me."
    She laughed. "Sam, I hate to tell you this, but wearing
a Sully Point t-shirt isn't going to do much to stop the rumors. A small town
like this thrives on rumors. Anyone with the least bit of mystery around
them--well, let's just say fitting in isn't going to be easy."
    His face looked thoughtful. "So--do you think of me as
surrounded by mystery?"
    "Me?" Oh yeah, she thought. "Of
course not, you seem like a regular guy
to me."
    "Are you making fun of me now, Anna?" Sam asked
with a widening grin on his face.
    "Only a little." She laughed. "If you want to
get to know people in town better, you should come by the Spaghetti Dinner
tonight at St. Luke's Church. Most of the town turns out for it every year,
even if they don't attend the church. We set up tables out on the lawn and then
some of us dress up to be the peasant servers."
    "Peasant servers?"
    She grinned. "Basically it means we dress in peasant
blouses and ruffled skirts. There's lots of visiting between tables and plenty
of people to get to know."
    "It sounds like fun and something I should do. If only
to see you in a peasant girl outfit."
    She didn't know what to say to that and smiled. "Oh, before
I forget, I'm supposed to tell you Cody's friend just sold his pickup and he
doesn't know of anyone else who might have one for sale." Her father had
been sure to mention the information about the pickup truck to her when he
called earlier. He seemed sure she would see Sam before he did.
    "That's too bad. I'll wait a while and see if one comes
up for sale in the paper."
    "Do you need a pickup for your work?" Anna asked
with a mischievous grin.
    "Trying to trick me, aren't you? But I'm not saying. I
could always need a truck to bring construction supplies out to the beach
house."
    "True, you could," she said with sparkling eyes.
"Except, according to my father, you're almost finished fixing up the
place."
    "And it's back to me," he said with a smile.
"So...you've been discussing me with your father?"
    She searched frantically for a clever answer and came up
with, "Yes."
    He nodded and stood there as if waiting for more.
    "Well, with all the rumors, of course you'd come up in
conversation," she said rather defensively.
    He laughed, then said, "I have a proposal. I won't bug
you about your secret life and you agree to leave mine alone as well. How about
it?"
    She operated the cash register and took his twenty and made
change before agreeing to his deal. As she handed the money to him, he said, "Hey,
are you okay? What's that?"
    Glancing down, she discovered a smudge of cobalt blue mixed
with black on her left wrist. "It's nothing," she said quickly and
covered her wrist with her right