The Substitute Bride (The Great Wedding Giveaway Series Book 7) by Kathleen O`Brien Page B

but she wasn’t sure it would pass muster.  It wasn’t the classic journalistic feature profile.  Instead, it was quirky, stylistically eccentric.  Her mother would probably hate it, because it broke all the rules.
    “Yeah.”  He tilted his head, curious.  “You didn’t know?  The Applebaum profile is already up at Courier-Dot-Com.  Headline says it’s part of an ongoing series.  Something-something Copper Mountain?”
    Shaking her head, she flicked her iPad back on and called up the Courier’s website.  Her mother had embraced online journalism more enthusiastically than most.  “Nothing can stop the electronic tidal wave,” she’d said, years ago.  “We can either ride it, or we can drown in it.”
    The page loaded quickly, one thing Angelina required of her web crew.  And, just as Drake had said, Erica Applebaum’s picture and profile were prominently displayed. 
    Marly scanned the column quickly, her confusion growing.  Her mother didn’t seem to have changed a single word.
    Drake had bent over Marly’s shoulder, so that he could look, too.  She could smell the fresh, outdoorsy scent of soap and pine and...and masculinity.
    “Yeah, that’s it.  We Are Copper Mountain .”  He glanced at Marly, as if to see what she thought of the tagline.  “Kind of catchy, right?  And it doesn’t limit you much, which is clever.”
    “Yes.”  She made the screen go black again, then bent over to slide the tablet into her bag.  “Very clever.”
    He straightened, but still stared down at her.  “You aren’t pleased?  It’s a wonderful piece.  Frankly, I wouldn’t have believed anyone could make Erica interesting, but you pulled it off.”
    “Of course I’m pleased,” she said, standing, hoisting her bag over her shoulder.  And she was.  Or she would be, if she weren’t so puzzled.  Why would her mother launch a new series when she knew Marly was planning to leave Marietta as soon as she possibly could?
    “Okay, then.”  Drake waved one hand toward the Graff’s impressive front doors.  If he sensed her ambivalence, he didn’t seem inclined to probe.  “Lunch at the diner?  The food’s great since Paige Joffee took over, and besides...that’s where you’re going to meet We Are Copper Mountain , installment number two.”
    An hour later, Drake leaned back in his booth at the Main Street Diner, popping the last wickedly delicious parmesan fry into his mouth and feeling pretty darned satisfied with himself.
    Not only had Marly clearly been intrigued with Fly, who had stopped by to chat and agreed to an interview tomorrow, his day off, but she’d also eaten every single crumb of her bison burger.  He suspected that was the first bite she’d taken since their baby back ribs last night.
    Her cheeks bloomed pink, finally, and he was glad to see it.  He might not have laid eyes on her for nine years, but her memory had always lived vividly in his mind.  And her memory had adorable pink cheeks.
    Even better, though they’d both finished eating, and Fly was long gone, Marly hadn’t once checked the time on her cell phone, not for at least thirty minutes.
    Man, he was batting a thousand.  He wondered if he should just go ahead and kiss her right now, while his luck was hot.
    But if he lunged across the table and went Tarzan on her, she’d flee for sure.  To his surprise, he realized he’d rather have more time together than one stolen kiss, however hot and Tarzan it might be. 
    To his surprise, and, in some ways, to his dismay.  What the heck was wrong with him?  He’d rather talk than make out—especially with a sexy female who had intrigued and baffled him for years? 
    He chuckled into his coffee as he raised it to his lips. That’s it, Everett.  You’re officially old now .  Over the hill .
    “So how did it go last night?”  He’d been waiting for the right moment to ask, and her rosy relaxation seemed promising.  “How did your mother handle the