Imagine That Read Online Free

stepped closer, gazing in feminine appreciation at the splendor.
    The next shop, Marry Me , was a bridal consultant business. Emily’s skin prickled and her breath hitched. She hurried to get past the store, only to stop again when she noticed the window display. A wedding dress was draped over a chair in front of an antique vanity. She could see a pile of hairpins, a pearl necklace, and earrings piled on the vanity top. Her eyes drifted down and she paused. Clothes were strewn across the carpeted floor. First a pair of silk hose, followed by a man’s cummerbund and bow tie. The last item before the trail led off beyond the window was a tuxedo shirt.
    Emily blinked in astonishment. If she wasn’t mistaken, someone had already started the honeymoon. What in the world?
    Despite her newfound aversion to weddings, Emily couldn’t help but smile at the cheekiness of the frankly sensual display. She wondered who had put it together.
    Her walking tour took her past a hardware store and a flower shop. Then she spotted The Bookworm across the street. She froze.
    Just go right on by, Emily Sinclair. Walk away. Don ’ t torture yourself.
    As usual, she ignored her own inner warning and stepped off the curb.
    Ble-ee-eep !
    She gasped and jerked back onto the sidewalk as a car breezed by. She took a few calming breaths. A normal person would have taken almost getting killed in a quest to rip open her own personal scab as a sign. Not her. The near-death experience didn’t stop her impulse to cross the street to the bookstore.
    The bookseller was busy with another customer, but she waved a greeting. Emily tucked her head and fled down one of the aisles. She found the children’s section at the back. Tiny tables complemented by wooden chairs painted in vibrant colors were scattered around the space, and soft beanbag chairs lay in the corner. She had to search for her books as they were shelved among the hundreds of other offerings, unlike the wooden display to her right featuring all seven books chronicling the adventures of the boy wizard.
    Once upon a time, her books had graced a similar pedestal, but she tried not to think about that.
    She slipped Kingdom of Dreams from the shelf and stared down at the cover. Wondered what she would have to do to recapture the creative spark she’d once known.
    â€œSorry I wasn’t able to greet you when you came in,” a voice said from behind her. “Can I help you find something?”
    Emily jumped and turned around. The small, rounded woman she’d seen at the front of the store hurried over.
    â€œSorry again,” the woman said, her smile exuding friendliness and goodwill. “Didn’t mean to startle you. I’m Lauren Nelson, the owner.”
    â€œNice to meet you, Lauren.”
    â€œSo, can I help you with anything?”
    Emily shook her head. “I only came in to look around.”
    â€œDo you have kids? I can recommend something.”
    â€œNo kids. I’ve just always loved the children’s section.”
    Another warm smile blossomed on the shop owner’s face and she winked. “It’s my favorite, too. I assume you’ve read the Potter books?”
    â€œOf course.”
    She noticed the book in Emily’s hand. “Oh, you found E.J. Sinclair,” she said. “You’ll like her, especially this one. It was fabulous. Sword of the Dark wasn’t bad, but it lacked the passion and poetic voice of Kingdom of Dreams .”
    Emily’s lips pulled back into a tight grimace. “Mmm… I remember that review.”
    â€œOh, you have heard of her then?”
    â€œYou might say I know her.”
    â€œDo you? How—” She broke off and stared at Emily for a second. Then she reached for Sword of the Dark . Flipped it over to the back cover photo. “Oh no.”
    â€œE.J. Sinclair. Nice to meet you,” she said before the other woman could sputter an apology.
    Color leached