In Your Arms Read Online Free Page B

winked. He took a step toward her, but a customer entered the store at that moment, interrupting their light banter.
    “Ah, Lissa! You’re a sight for sore eyes.”
    “Hello, Dr. Newcomb,” Melissa said. “Nice to see you.”
    When he reached the back counter, Dr. Newcomb took her hand and kissed it, lingering longer than was proper. Pulling her hand out of his, she gave him a wary smile. He was an older man who sported a bushy mustache, his salt-and-pepper hair slicked back on his head. Wearing a sharp brown suit complete with a gold watch in his breast pocket, there wasn’t a speck of dust on him.
    “What can I do for you today?” she asked.
    Looking around, Dr. Newcomb spotted Marcus by the sacks of oats and flour. His eyes seemed to narrow as he stared at him.
    “Dr. Newcomb, this is Mr. McCaide. He’s helping my father around the store. You know how my father’s joints act up.”
    “Of course. How do you do, Mr. McCaide?” Holding out his hand, the doctor clearly expected Marcus to cross the room to shake his hand.
    Wiping his palm on his jeans, Marcus grabbed Dr. Newcomb’s hand, pumping it up and down brusquely. “How do you do, sir?”
    “Fine, thank you.” Dr. Newcomb pulled away his hand and reached into his pocket for a handkerchief, wiping his fingers with a tepid smile.
    Melissa looked back and forth between the two men, wondering just what was going on between them.
    “Can I… help you find something today, Dr. Newcomb?”
    “No, Lissa. I came to ask you something.”
    “Oh?”
    It became obvious that Marcus had no intension of leaving the conversation when he leaned his elbows on the countertop. Pursing his lips, Dr. Newcomb stood a little straighter and cleared his throat.
    “Would you do me the honor of going with me to the Patricks’ barn dance?”
    Melissa’s eyes widened. She knew her intake of breath could be heard by both men. Her gaze flew to Marcus and back to the doctor, not knowing exactly what to say. She did want to go, but this man was old enough to be her father! She knew she shouldn’t be picky when it came to men asking for the pleasure of her company, but she wanted someone closer to her own age. Someone more like…
    “I’m sorry, Dr. Newcomb,” Marcus said. “But Miss Bloom has agreed to go to the dance with me.”
    “She has?”
    “I have?”
    “Don’t you remember me asking you this morning, sugar?” Marcus’s eyes were smiling, and when she didn’t immediately answer, he gently stepped on her foot behind the counter.
    “Oh yes! I do remember, Mr. McCaide. I… I’m sorry, Mr. Newcomb, but I’m afraid I’m attending with Mr. McCaide.”
    Nodding in defeat, the doctor implored, “Surely Mr. McCaide won’t deny me the pleasure of one dance?”
    “Of course not.” Marcus smiled.
    “Good day, Mr. McCaide, Miss Bloom.” With that, Dr. Newcomb turned on his heel and swept out of the shop.
    “Marcus!” Melissa gasped, smacking his shoulder. “How could you do that? You did no such thing!” When Marcus leaned in close, she could feel the heat from his body.
    “I couldn’t very well let you go to the dance with that old man, now could I? Besides, by the look on your face at his inquiry, you were asking me to rescue you.”
    They heard Shirley making her way down the stairs once again, this time in an old calico dress, and Melissa grumbled under her breath, “Seems to me you were the one who wanted to be rescued.”
    His bark of laughter rang out through the store. “Ah, Lissa. How well you think you know me.”
    With that, he moved to the rear door of the shop and disappeared outside.

Five

    “How could you do that to me?”
    “Do what?” Melissa asked while she brushed her hair later that evening.
    “Ask Marcus to the barn dance. You knew I was going to bring it up to him.”
    “I didn’t ask him, Shirley. He asked me and I accepted.”
    If stomping on my foot could be called asking, she thought to herself with a grin.
    “Then why