She looked up in time to see Jeff strolling through the door, carrying a cardboard box that looked as if it had come from an online bookseller.Both cats immediately arrived on the scene and tried to trip him as he headed in Melissa’s direction.“Hey, you guys, give me a break,” he said as he stepped over the felines with admirable grace—grace that hadn’t yet failed to warm Melissa’s insides.“I bring gifts,” he said, putting the carton on the counter and leaning across it to give her a kiss that left them both a little breathless.“Hmm, nice. I like your gifts,” she said.He laughed. “I was talking about this,” he said, nudging the box.“This looks like a box of books,” she said. “From the competition.”“Ah, but this isn’t just any box of books. Look inside.”She opened the carton, and right on the top was a large-format paperback book titled A Child’s Book of Stories. “Oh, how beautiful!” Melissa said in a rush as she opened the book and started browsing through.
