Read Online Love Me Tender by Susan Fox - Free Book Online

to grow up and figure out what they really want.”
    Dave leaned forward to squeeze her shoulder. “Says the woman who’s been married to her high school sweetheart for thirty-five years.”
    â€œThirty-six, but who’s counting?” She shrugged. “Ken and I knew from the beginning and we’ve never had any doubts. But that’s not how it works out for everyone.” Her gray eyes met Dave’s with a look of compassion. “That doesn’t mean you should give up, though.”
    He frowned at her. She knew how Anita’s illness and death had gutted him. No way would he go through that again.
    Cassidy gave one of her musical burbles of laughter. “It’s not giving up if you never chase the dream in the first place.”
    Dave realized that she’d thought his mom’s comment had been addressed to her. And who knows, maybe his mother had been talking to both of them.
    Cassidy went on. “I’m happy for you and Ken, Sheila. But you’ve been sprinkled with some kind of magic dust, to beat the odds the way you have.”
    â€œYou don’t believe in true love?” His mother sounded more than a little shocked.
    Dave did believe in it. If he hadn’t, he wouldn’t have been so furious at fate when Anita was diagnosed. He wouldn’t have been so angry that she couldn’t beat the disease, that the power of his love couldn’t somehow cure her. His heart wouldn’t have shattered when she died.
    â€œIt’s not my place to speak for other people,” Cassidy said. “For me, no, I don’t believe in it. I believe in being independent, respecting others, living life to its fullest. Not chasing unrealistic dreams.”
    â€œLove’s not always the best thing,” Dave said grimly.
    He could see the effort his mother put into forcing a smile and saying lightly, “You kids today. I don’t know what the world’s coming to.”

Chapter Six
    While Madisun bent over her spreadsheet, Cassidy surreptitiously ran a hand over her left thigh, trying to massage out the pins and needles. The two women were in the Wild Rose’s dining room on Saturday afternoon, preparing for Karen MacLean and Jamal Estevez’s wedding reception. They wore white cotton short-sleeved shirts and pants, as did all the staff who would work the reception. Madisun’s long hair was pulled back into a sleek knot at her nape.
    Cassidy forced back a yawn. She felt tired and draggy, but there were hours to go before her workday would be done. She’d been in Caribou Crossing for a month and loved it, but unfortunately, healthy living hadn’t cured her fatigue or healed her leg. She’d assumed that she’d strained it and it would heal with time, but now she wondered if it might be a pinched nerve.
    The normally cool and collected Madisun wasn’t in fantastic shape at the moment either. Color flushed her cheeks and her fingers trembled as she checked items off and scribbled notes.
    Cassidy, who’d come to like and respect the younger woman, touched her hand. “Calm down. Everything’s going to be wonderful.”
    â€œPerfect.” Madisun’s eyes widened with what looked almost like panic. “Everything has to be perfect. Dave put me in charge.”
    Cassidy had played a role in that. Dave, a close friend of the bride’s, had been invited to the wedding, which was currently getting under way in the town square half a block away. He’d mentioned that he couldn’t attend because he had to oversee reception preparations. The man could be a control freak, but so was Madisun. Cassidy had persuaded him to leave his assistant manager in charge, so he wouldn’t hurt Karen’s feelings by not seeing her get married.
    She patted Madisun’s arm. “Because he knows you’ll do a great job.” Quickly, she amended, “A perfect job, I mean. Now, what’s next on the