The Man You'll Marry Read Online Free

didn’t turn around.
    “Excuse me,” she said again, louder this time.
    “Yes?” Mark turned to face her, frowning impatiently.
    Now that she had his attention, she wasn’t sure she should continue. “This may seem like an odd question, but, uh…are you married?”
    He frowned again. “No.”
    “Oh, no,” Shelly moaned and slumped forward. “I was afraid of that.”
    “I beg your pardon?”
    “Do you have a girlfriend? I mean, you’re a good-looking guy. There’s got to be someone important in your life. Anyone? Please, just think. Surely there’s someone?” She knew she was beginning to sound desperate, but she couldn’t help it. Aunt Milly’s letter was echoing in her mind, and last night’s logic had disappeared.
    The four paramedics, as well as Mark, were staring at her. “Are you sure you don’t want to come to the hospital and talk to a doctor?” one of them asked.
    Shelly nodded. “I’m sure.” Then before she could stop herself, she blurted out, “What do you do for a living?”
    “I’m a CPA,” he answered wearily.
    “An accountant,” she muttered. She should’ve guessed. He was obviously as staid and conventional as he looked. And as boring. The kind of man who’d probably never even heard of DVDs for entertaining bored house cats. He probably wouldn’t be interested in purchasing one, either.
    Her aunt Milly couldn’t have seen Mark and Shelly together in her dream. Not Mark Brady. The two of them were completely ill-suited. A relationship wouldn’t last five minutes! Abruptly she reminded herself that she wasn’t supposed to be taking Milly’s prediction seriously.
    “May I go?” she asked the paramedic. “I’m not even bruised.”
    “Yes, but you’ll need to sign here.”
    Shelly did so without bothering to read the statement. Mark, however, seemed to peruse every sentence. He would, of course.
    “Uh, Mark…” Shelly hesitated, and Mark glanced in her direction.
    “Thank you,” she said simply.
    “You’re welcome.”
    Still she delayed leaving.
    “Is there anything else?”
    She didn’t know quite how to say this, but she felt the need too strongly to ignore it. “Don’t take offense—I’m sure you’re a really great guy—but I just want you to know I’m not interested in marriage right now.”

Three

    J ill was seated at the table, doodling on the paper place mat, when Shelly arrived. “What kept you?” she asked. “I’ve been here for almost half an hour.”
    “I—I fell off the escalator.”
    Jill’s eyes widened in alarm. “My goodness, are you all right?”
    Shelly nodded sheepishly. “I’m fine.”
    “Shouldn’t you see a doctor?”
    “I already have,” she said, avoiding eye contact with her friend. “Well, sort of. The security guard called in the paramedics.”
    “No wonder you’re late.”
    “I would’ve been, anyway,” Shelly admitted as she reached for a menu, although she knew what she was going to order—the same thing she always did.
    “This has really got you flustered, hasn’t it?”
    “It’s more than the fall,” Shelly explained, lowering the menu. “It’s the man who caught me.”
    Jill arched her eyebrows jokingly. “Aha! I should have guessed there was a man involved.”
    “You might try to understand how I felt,” Shelly said reproachfully. “Especially since I haven’t recovered from receiving Aunt Milly’s wedding dress yet.”
    “Don’t tell me you’re still worried about that first-man-you-meet nonsense.”
    “Of course not. That would be ridiculous. It’s just…it’s just I can’t help feeling there might be something to that silly wedding dress.”
    “Then mail it back.”
    “I can’t,” Shelly said, slapping the menu down on the table. “Aunt Milly warned me not to. She didn’t use exactly those words, mind you. She said I shouldn’t ignore the dress. I mean, how can I? It’s like an albatross around my neck.”
    “I still think you’re overreacting.”
    “That’s the