An Accidental Kiss (Dearly Beloved) by Dawn Douglas Page A

full-time in a busy public library, processing book returns and checkouts, helping the public find crucial information, and answering incessantly ringing phones all day long left her with little interest—or energy—to do more than veg out on the couch after a quick dinner at home.
    She cast her mind back to her last date, with some guy named Eric—the sensitive type. He’d wept copiously into his dessert as he gave Marcy an account of his divorce, then teared up again when she’d gently declined another date. Before that it was Wayne, the plumber and wannabe country singer who wrote his own songs. She’d been so embarrassed when he’d broken into song on their first date—right there in the restaurant, for God’s sake—attracting amused and disbelieving stares from other diners. Just thinking about it made her insides shrivel.
    Yet, here she was, agreeing to go through that ignominy all over again. Am I really that desperate?
    Marcy thought of the silence that often surrounded her at home, and how much she’d like it to be replaced by conversation and laughter. She thought of snuggling on the couch with a man and watching a movie. And she thought of the ache in her heart each time she saw a couple kiss on television, or walk past her on the street holding hands. Yes, Marcy Garrett, she thought grimly.
    You are that desperate.
    ****
    Frank Anderson had been railroaded, and he resented it. His sister lived hundreds of miles away in Arizona, but she didn’t let that stop her from interfering in his life, quizzing him endlessly on his diet, his emotional well-being, and his love life. This time it was the crying that made him cave in.
    “Frank, you cannot shut out the world forever,” Lillian sobbed down the phone.
    He’d clamped his lips shut. She was being absurd. It was just women he’d shut out of his life, not the world.
    “This woman sounds perfect for you.”
    Frank snorted. As far as he was concerned there had only ever been one perfect woman and she died six years ago.
    “Look, I know you’re thinking of Katie,” Lillian said, as if she’d read his mind. “She was my best friend, as well as your wife, and I know she wouldn’t want this for you.”
    He just stood there, desperate for her to shut up, but he loved Lillian and didn’t want to hurt her feelings. “I can’t.”
    “She’s a single mom, forty-five, quite attractive. Her mom, Kath, is in my online book club and says Marcy works in a library and loves reading. She’s probably a big fan of yours.”
    Something inside Frank wilted at the thought of a starry-eyed, middle-aged writer groupie asking where he got his ideas.
    “You know, I promised Katie before she died I’d do everything I could to help you move on, and God knows I’ve tried. If you just do this one thing, I swear I’ll shut up and never say another word about it to you.”
    “Is that a promise?”
    “You’ll do it? You’ll go on this date?”
    Frank could almost see her triumphant grin. “If that's what it takes to get you off my back, then yes. Okay.”
    “That’s great!”
    Now, two days later, Frank scowled at the phone number his sister had emailed him, which he’d obediently printed out. Of course he wasn’t going through with it, but Lillian wasn’t picking up her phone so he was going to have to call this Marcy woman himself and concoct some lie about having a vicious head cold or a previous engagement. She’d probably be annoyed and disappointed, but it had to be done. Steeling himself, Frank picked up the phone and punched in the number. On the other side of the line, a phone rang five times before being picked up.
    A young girl’s voice said, “Yeah?”
    “Um, may I speak to Marcy, please?”
    “Mom’s not home right now. Can I take a message?”
    “Could you tell her that Frank Anderson called and he’s not going to be able to make it tomorrow night?”
    A long silence greeted his words before she said, “You can’t do that. She’s bought