Trouble's Brewing by Eva Marie Everson, Linda Evans Shepherd Page A

know these kinds of things.”
    I gave him one of my most charming smiles. “Is that so?” I reached for my silver platter of chocolate meringue kisses. “Try one.”
    Clay’s eyes lit up. “I’ve heard you’re a fine cook.” He took a bite of my melt-in-your-mouth meringue, an old family recipe handed down by my great-grandmother Louise Annabelle Appleton. With his mouth still full, he chuckled. “Now I’ve got proof.”
    “Have a seat and let me pour you a cup of my fresh French vanilla coffee.”
    “Don’t mind if I do.”
    “And help yourself to another meringue or two or three.”
    Clay sat down on my fabulous gold chenille settee, and I placed the kisses and his china cup of vanilla coffee on the marble coffee table in front of him. I settled in the matching winged Victoria.
    I waited till Clay had taken a sip of coffee and popped another meringue into his mouth. “So tell me about yourself. Are you seeing anyone?”
    My, was that a bit of color rising in his cheeks? Clay swallowed, blinked, then smiled wryly. “I’m the one who gives the interviews around here.”
    I batted my eyes and smiled. “Oh, and you do a marvelous job at that. But being the proprietor of this lovely new bridal boutique, and seeing that you are one of our town’s most eligible young bachelors, well, I can’t help but be a bit curious.”
    Clay shifted uncomfortably then stared me down.
    “My love life is something I absolutely do not talk about,” he said with a grin. “Especially with wedding consultants.”
    “Oh, then, you’re a man with a past. Tell me, anyone I know?”
    Clay stood up and glanced at his watch. “Look at the time, and me with those deadlines.”
    I rose and faced him, blocking his exit. “Now, Clay, I didn’t mean to scare you off. If you don’t want to talk about it, I understand. Just know that I am your friend, a safe friend. I’ll only bring up the subject again when you’re ready to try out my new dating service.”
    Clay stopped looking toward the door and turned his full attention on me. “A dating service?”
    “Certainly. A computerized dating service. My son is going to install it for me when he visits me from college—he goes to University of Texas, you know. He’s coming in for Thanksgiving this week.”
    “Really.”
    “And I’m going to need a few volunteers to beta test it for me. Imagine, you can sign up, complimentary of course, because you are the press. A little investigative reporting about the benefits of my dating service will provide another fabulous front page story, I think.”
    I couldn’t tell if Clay was shell-shocked or just terribly impressed with the enormity of my proffered gift.
    “Why, that is one incredible idea. As a matter of fact, I’m looking for someone to write a local gossip column, or, should I say, advice for the lovelorn. You seem to have a way with words, and I think you would be perfect for the job. You could draw in your wedding advice so it would be a form of advertisement. Understand, you would pay for the privilege of seeing your name in print. Still, I think such a column could have a lot of benefits, for both you as well as for my paper.”
    My, the thought of it all was enough to make the blood rush to my head. “Clay. Did anyone ever tell you that you, you are a genius?”
    Clay smiled in a very satisfied way. “Not nearly enough.”
    “Listen, I plan to have fresh-baked treats every morning here at the shop. Now, I’m not an official bakery. But to tell you the truth, Buttering Up Reporters my baked goods will be complimentary for people like you, people who can keep me informed, if you know what I mean.”
    “I know exactly what you mean. And as I too am in the information business, it would be my pleasure to stop in and see you.”
    The phone rang. When I picked it up, I heard the impatient voice of Deputy Donna on the other end of the line.
    “Lisa Leann? I was wondering if you have some luggage I could