Portland, Maine 1979 Susan Moore is a blond twenty-eight year old freelance writer. After following assignments across the United States, she decided to settle in Portland. A year ago, she met her best friend Diana at a fundraiser for Maine Medical Center, and they quickly develop a sisterly bond. On Susan's morning jog on the Eastern Prom, she finds herself being appraised by a pair of cornflower blue eyes and a charming smile that belong to a man named Aaron. Thinking this is a onetime occurrence, Susan flirts before dismissing him as she continues her run. When she reports to her volunteer position at a local youth center the next day, she is introduced to social worker Mike Larkin, who both antagonizes and intrigues her. A second chance meeting brings Aaron and his dog Bear into her life. Susan is quickly drawn to both men for different reasons: Aaron is laidback, patient, and witty, and his boyish charm fascinates her. Mike is possessive and controlling, and he is constantly trying to lure her into his bed, but she is also attracted to his softer side. As life throws her one curveball after another, she struggles to deal with the changes wrought within her life and soothe her emotional turbulence. With which man will Susan choose to entrust her heart?

COBWEBS

By Bobbi LaChance

AuthorHouse

Copyright © 2012 Bobbi LaChance
All right reserved.
ISBN: 978-1-4685-5169-3

Contents

Chapter One..............................1Chapter Two..............................7Chapter Three............................13Chapter Four.............................19Chapter Five.............................25Chapter Six..............................33Chapter Seven............................39Chapter Eight............................48Chapter Nine.............................54Chapter Ten..............................63Chapter Eleven...........................72Chapter Twelve...........................81Chapter Thirteen.........................93Chapter Fourteen.........................105Chapter Fifteen..........................112Chapter Sixteen..........................119Chapter Seventeen........................127Chapter Eighteen.........................134Chapter Nineteen.........................143Chapter Twenty...........................150Chapter Twenty-One.......................157Chapter Twenty-Two.......................165Chapter Twenty-Three.....................171Chapter Twenty-Four......................180Chapter Twenty-Five......................189Epilogue.................................197Acknowledgements.........................201About the Author.........................203

Chapter One

Portland, Maine, 1979

Susan dropped her keys into her pocket, stepped outside and checked her watch as she wandered down to the sidewalk where she warmed up by stretching out taut muscles. Smiling, she began a slow trot up the hill. The fragrance of the neighborhood flowers wafted on the breeze. A seagull flew overhead, making his complaints known to anyone who would listen. This was her favorite time of morning. Sometimes she ran on automatic pilot, suddenly finding herself back home, oblivious to the route she had traveled to get there.

As she ran, she thought of the day ahead of her. She was to meet her friend Diana in the Old Port for lunch. Diana had met her during a fundraising project for Maine Medical Center and they discovered they had a lot in common. They bonded and soon were best friends. Their bond had grown so much over the last year that often people took them to be sisters rather than best friends.

Glancing at Casco Bay, she saw sailboats and a motorboat lazily making their way along the shoreline. The wind teased her bangs; the sun kissed her face. She loved running because it relaxed her. While working on a mental grocery list, her train of thought was abruptly interrupted. A large shadow popped into her line of vision as she slammed into something hard and furry. The impact caused her to tumble down an embankment. Landing in a sitting position, she was temporarily stunned. She swallowed, blinked, and turned her head to the side. Something slimy and cold nuzzled her ear and hot breath blew against her neck before she was slurped by a very long, rough pink tongue. Startled, her breath seemed to hitch in her chest. A dog sat down beside her and barked twice to get her attention. He pawed the air, showing her he wanted to shake hands.

She just sat there trying to regain her composure. A shadow blocked her sunlight. A husky voice asked, "Are you all right?" as an extended hand pulled her up onto her feet. She stumbled. The hand steadied her. She stammered, "I think so," still not comprehending what had happened.

"Let me help you back up the hill," he offered. He kept her hand in his as he carefully guided her up to the sidewalk. Once there, he gently brushed the dirt off her shoulders and pulled several leaves from her hair. The dog bounded up the embankment and came to sit in front of her with a red Frisbee in his mouth, his tail wagging.

"Drop it, Bear! I don't think she wants to play right now."

She looked up. He was very tall, very male, and quite handsome. The eyes that stared down at her were cornflower blue and filled with concern. "Are you sure you're all right?" His smile was charming.

She glanced down. There were dirt and grass stains all over her slacks, and during the fall one of her fingernails had broken. She wiped the sweat from her forehead. To reassure him, she said, "All body parts accounted for. I don't think I'm injured. Something just knocked the wind out of me." She looked around her, taking in the area. "What did I hit?"

He explained apologetically, "I think you ran into Bear. I had thrown the Frisbee out a little harder than I meant to. Just as it sailed across the sidewalk, you, a red Frisbee and one golden retriever collided and all of you went flying over the hill."

He hunkered down to the dog's level and rubbed its ears. She stooped down and rubbed her hand under the dog's chin. His fur was as soft as the down batting for a quilt. She could see he was well groomed. As she stroked his neck he rewarded her with a soggy kiss on her wrist. She said, "You're beautiful!"

The man answered, "I know."

She looked up at him. A full grin was on his face and his eyes were dancing with mischief. "I was talking about the dog," she said as she stood up.

"Oh," he laughed. "I thought it was my boyish charm you were attracted to." She looked directly into his blue eyes, now filled with a devilish look. His lips quivered as he attempted not to laugh.

"Does your dog flirt as much as you do?"

"I'm working on him, but to tell you the truth, he always gets the girl in the end."

"I'll bet," she replied, obviously enjoying the banter.

The man held out his hand. "I'm Aaron Dennison, and this is my best friend, Bear."

"I'm Susan." She shook his hand and all her feminine parts turned warm. She thought, Why am I so flustered?

She glanced down at her watch and back up at Aaron. "Nice meeting you, but I have an appointment. Have a nice day!"

She saw him looking her over intently, the way only men can do. Smiling, she turned to go. As she was leaving, he questioned, "Just Susan?"

Looking back, she grinned and replied, "Just Susan!"

She headed down the sidewalk. When she snuck a look back, he was still watching her. Her cheeks got hot and she felt like she had a bowl of butterflies in her belly. She thought, It was nice to be appreciated. But still, she sighed inwardly, enough adventures for one day!

Aaron stood on the sidewalk watching her disappear. He thought, I've been working too hard. I didn't even get her number. Looking down at his dog, he said, "Bear, old friend, she was mighty fine!"

Chuckling, he tossed the Frisbee and Bear was off, running down the parkway.

* * *

Arriving home, Susan glanced in her full-length mirror in the hall and came to a dead stop. She was a disheveled mess. Stepping closer to the mirror, her mouth fell open. A dirt smudge streaked down one side of her face. Her ponytail was lopsided and strewn with bits of grass, and her clothes were filthy. "Oh my God!" she moaned, heading for the shower.

Two hours later, she boarded the bus for Congress Street, looking forward to connecting with her friend Diana. The bus was crowded. Some teenagers were wrestling in the back of the bus and the driver bellowed at them, "Knock it off back there or I'll kick you off the bus!" All heads turned to look at the unruly teens as they sat down and quieted. At the next stop, they piled out the back exit door and a collective sigh passed through the bus. A young toddler began to sing a nursery rhyme, smiles were shared, and the rest of her ride was uneventful. As she got off at her stop, she thought to herself, This has been a different morning. She spotted Diana...