Love Me Tender Read Online Free PDF

an active, cheerful place. Dave nodded a greeting to one of the town’s pharmacists, tipped his hat to the woman who’d taught Robin in third grade, and grinned at a couple of kids licking madly as they tried to keep pace with rapidly melting ice cream cones.
    â€œI didn’t figure you’d have boots and a hat,” he said to Cassidy.
    â€œMaribeth at Days of Your is really nice.”
    â€œShe is.” So Cassidy had bought her gear at the thrift shop. That explained the comfortable, broken-in look.
    â€œShe wanted to get her hair and nails done for a date, so I looked after the shop on my lunch break yesterday. She gave me the hat and boots as a thank-you.”
    â€œHuh.” That was nice of Cassidy—and enterprising. “Sounds like you’re starting to fit in here.”
    She tilted her head up to him, eyes sparkling irresistibly under her hat brim. “It’s a great place. People are so warm and friendly.” She winked. “Guess I can see why you live here.”
    He chuckled. “Like I’ve ever had a choice?” That was pretty much the truth, but it was also true that Caribou Crossing was the only place in the world he could imagine living.
    An RCMP car pulled up beside them and Karen MacLean rolled down the window. “Hey, Dave.” She was in uniform, her striking features set off by the neatly pulled back brown hair and police cap.
    â€œHey, Karen.” Amused at the inquisitive expression in his friend’s golden-brown eyes, he stopped and Cassidy did the same. Merlin jumped up to rest his paws against the window frame and collect pats.
    â€œKaren,” he said, “meet the Wild Rose’s newest employee, Cassidy Esperanza. Cassidy, this is Sergeant Karen MacLean, second in command of our RCMP detachment.”
    After the two women exchanged smiles and greetings, Dave said, “Cassidy wanted to go riding, and Robin couldn’t pass up the opportunity to give her a few pointers.”
    â€œYou couldn’t have a better teacher,” Karen said. Then, to Dave, “Madisun went over the final details with Jamal and me. It’s going to be great.”
    â€œYou getting nervous?”
    â€œJust eager. Can’t wait for it to be official. Well, I don’t want to hold you up. Have a great ride. Nice to meet you, Cassidy. I’m sure I’ll be seeing you around.”
    â€œYou bet. If you come over to the Wild Rose when I’m working in the restaurant, I’ll shoot you a complimentary cappuccino.” She winked. “Just don’t tell the boss.”
    Dave rolled his eyes.
    When Karen had driven away, Cassidy asked, “She’s getting married?”
    â€œNext month. Neither she nor Jamal are church people, so they’re doing it in the town square. Hoping for clear skies, but they’ve got tents on standby. The reception’s at the Wild Rose. And Karen’s family will be staying at the inn, so we want to be extra nice to them.”
    â€œIs Jamal’s family here in town?”
    â€œI gather he doesn’t have family. Or many friends. He’s RCMP as well, and worked undercover for a lot of years. It’s not exactly a stable life.”
    â€œNo, I bet it isn’t. Is he still doing it?”
    Dave shook his head. “Now he’s head of the Williams Lake RCMP detachment. He and Karen bought a house and a little chunk of land between Caribou Crossing and Williams Lake.”
    Before Jamal entered the picture, Dave and Karen used to get together for an occasional dinner or movie, just as friends, but now they only saw each other for lunch every few weeks. He missed her company but was glad she’d found a good guy; she wanted all that home and family stuff and deserved to have it.
    He just wished she hadn’t joined the ranks of the females in his life who pushed him to date. How many times had some well-intentioned relative or friend told him he needed to dip