Catching the artist's eye

After Lucy Mulligan's volunteer shift at the library, she never imagined she'd have a 'meet-cute' with a handsome man. But when Harry Peters introduces himself, sparks fly...

- Kate Fellowes

Lucy Mulligan smiled at the friendly volunteer walking over to relieve her at the Silver Lake Library book sale. The opening rush had passed a few hours ago and Lucy was relieved to have some free time. Now, she'd finally have a chance to browse among the books she helped sort and display. Perhaps she'd find a treasure to take home. There had been that book of photographs she was eyeing earlier...

Navigating through the crowded aisles, Lucy aimed straight for the Arts section, visualizing the oversized book with the red binding. Her eyes scanned the tables before she even arrived, and she spied the book quickly, pleased no one had snapped it up.

She reached for it, just as the man on the other side of the table did. Lifting her gaze, she met the icy blue eyes of the shopper—and they looked almost as startled as hers.

She took him in. Head of white hair, so retirement age, like her. Slightly tanned face with attractive creases setting off his mouth and his forehead. He had a cleft in his chin so deep she could fall into it. Wow.

“Um,” she said.

He smiled in a way that could be called charming. “It seems we're at an impasse,” he said, his voice a low rumble that stirred something deep within Lucy.

She smiled back, still holding onto the book. “I guess we are.” Then, in her best teacher's tone, she said, “Give me a good reason to hand it back to you.”