First Impressions Read Online Free PDF Page A

table’s surface. “Once it’s refinished, you’ll have a real gem.” Shane added three generous spoons of sugar to her mug. Wincing a little, Vance sipped his own black coffee. “Do you know anything about antiques?”
    â€œNot really.”
    â€œThey’re a passion of mine. In fact, I’m planning on opening a shop.” Shane brushed absently at the hair that fell over her forehead, then leaned back. “As it turns out, we’re both settling in at the same time. I’ve been living in Baltimore for the last four years, teaching U.S. history.”
    â€œYou’re giving up teaching?” Her hands, Vance noted, were small like the rest of her. The light trail of blue veins under the pale skin made her seem very delicate. Her wrists were narrow, her fingers slender.
    â€œToo many rules and regulations,” Shane claimed, gesturing with the hands that had captured his attention.
    â€œYou don’t like rules and regulations?”
    â€œOnly when they’re mine.” Laughing, she shook her head. “I was a pretty good teacher, really. My problem was discipline.” She gave him a rueful grin as she reached for her coffee. “I’m the worst disciplinarian on record.”
    â€œAnd your students took advantage of that?”
    Shane rolled her eyes. “Whenever possible.”
    â€œBut you stuck with it for four years?”
    â€œI had to give it my best shot.” Leaning her elbow on the table, Shane rested her chin on her palm. “Like a lot of people who grow up in a small, rural town, I thought the city was my pot of gold. Bright lights, crowds, hustle-bustle. I wanted excitement with a capital
E.
I had four years of it. That was enough.” She picked up her coffee again. “Then there are people from the city who think their answer is to move to the country and raise a few goats and can some tomatoes.” She laughed into her cup. “The grass is always greener.”
    â€œI’ve heard it said,” he murmured, watching her. There were tiny gold flecks in her eyes. How had he missed them before?
    â€œWhy did you choose Sharpsburg?”
    Vance shrugged negligently. Questions about himself were to be evaded. “I’ve done some work in Hagerstown. I like the area.”
    â€œLiving this far back from the main road can be inconvenient, especially in the winter, but I’ve never minded being snowed in. We lost power once for thirty-two hours. Gran and I kept the woodstove going, taking shifts, and we cooked soup on top of it. The phone lines were down too. We might have been the only two people in the world.”
    â€œYou enjoyed that?”
    â€œFor thirty-two hours,” she told him with a friendly grin. “I’m not a hermit. Some people are city people, some are beach people.”
    â€œAnd you’re a mountain person.”
    Shane brought her eyes back to him. “Yes.”
    The smile she had started to give him never formed. Something in the meeting of their eyes was reminiscent of the moment in the store. It was only an echo, but somehow more disturbing. Shane understood it was bound to happen again and again. She needed time to decide just what she was going to do about it. Rising, she walked to the sink to rinse out her mug.
    Intrigued by her reaction, Vance decided to test her. “You’re a very attractive woman.” He knew how to make his voice softly flattering.
    Laughing, Shane turned back to him. “The perfect face for advertising granola bars, right?” Her smile was devilish and appealing. “I’d rather be sexy, but I settled for wholesome.” She gave the word a pained emphasis as she came back to the table.
    There was no guile in her manner or her expression. What, Vance wondered again, was her angle? Shane was involved in studying the details of the kitchen and didn’t see him frown at her.
    â€œI do admire your work.” Inspired, she