The Scent of Rain Read Online Free PDF

afraid of anything, other than not getting the equipment my scientists need to stay competitive.”
    â€œAsk Daphne if she’s willing to sell her wedding dress.”
    â€œWhy? Do you have something to tell me?” He stared at Abby’s apple cheeks and marveled at how much Ben looked like his sister. No wonder everyone believed the boy belonged to her when they went out anywhere. Pride filled his heart as he looked at the two of them. They were the reason it was worth working for Dave. “Doesn’t a failed wedding dress have bad mojo or whatever it is you say?”
    â€œNot if it’s from Paris. Besides, we don’t know why the wedding was called off, right? Maybe she dumped him because he was a total dog and her gown had magical powers that told her so and she had to shed both him and the dress to be free of his dark evil.”
    â€œYou need to get out more. And quit watching all those Housewives ! I regret ever telling you about Daphne coming. There is no drama, other than that I need to keep her around until the next shareholders’ meeting in order to get my equipment, so let’s hope I have some interpersonal skills left.” He switched gears. “What’s this about you needing a wedding dress, anyway? Spike hasn’t proposed, has he?”
    The last thing their house needed was another mouth to feed, and Spike wasn’t exactly the working sort.
    â€œNot for me. I was thinking for you. Maybe if you had an elegant wedding gown hanging in your closet, you’d remember that there is an opposite sex and get out there and date again.”
    He chuckled. “When would I have time to do that? Besides, you and Anne seem to have my future all planned for me, so why should I go looking? Won’t you both tell me when you’ve found Ms. Right?”
    â€œYes, we will. This one just fell into our laps, though, so I’m hoping she’s a believer.”
    Jesse sighed. “She’s from California, so don’t get your hopes up. Besides, if she’s a nose, I doubt she’s going to like the smell of soured milk and discarded french fries that fills my car. I am to a nose what Pepé Le Pew is to that kitty he fell for.”
    â€œLove makes all things smell beautiful.”
    He groaned. His sister’s romantic view of the world made a jobless guy like Spike look like marriage material. “I have to get to the office. Ben, be a good boy.”
    â€œIf she’s been in Paris and you have to make Dayton seem equivalent, you’d better put on your game face. Show her the romance of Dayton. And remember that she’s probably just had her heart broken.”
    â€œI can’t afford to feel sorry for her. Can’t afford much of anything with her in my budget.”
    â€œYou can always afford to be kind, big brother, or you might turn into Dave. I already like this girl. Can’t tell you why, but I have a good feeling about her.”
    Jesse shut the door behind him. Why everyone thought he needed a woman in his life was beyond him. Abby nursed a romantic dream that having a ready-made family was the stuff of fairy tales. Sleepless nights, endless laundry, and a man with a hole in his heart didn’t exactly add up to Camelot. If this Daphne had the laser-sharp senses everyone said she did, she’d understand instinctively that he was not an option, and they could move forward to get him the machinery his scientists needed. If she wanted to stay on after that, they’d be able to formulate Basil Lemon Verbena hand soap that much faster.

Chapter 3
    A fter San Francisco, Dayton seemed . . . flat. From her taxi, Daphne scanned the landscape. The buildings, the dry brush, everything was one level and mostly an inherent beige color. She hoped the lack of color wasn’t indicative of the new life before her. She sniffed hastily, to the point where the cabdriver turned around to see what she was doing.
    â€œI’m just