Читать книгу Snowed in with the Doctor - Dara Girard - Страница 8

Prologue

October

She couldn’t believe it had finally arrived. Lora Rice ripped open the small brown package, then eagerly pulled out the item inside. She swept her hand over the raised letters on the cover of the book she’d ordered: 30 Days to Romance. Just reading the title gave her shivers of anticipation. Late one night, a week ago, she’d been lazing on the couch in front of the TV with a half-eaten box of chocolate bonbons when a beautiful woman had appeared on the screen.

“Tired of sitting home alone on a Friday night? Do you sometimes wonder if Mr. Right will ever come? If you have, I’ve got the answer for you. Yes, he will. But you have to be ready for him.”

“How?” Lora wondered aloud.

“How, you might ask? With my book 30 Days to Romance you’ll learn the skills necessary to attract the man of your dreams. Whether you’re shy and plain or beautiful but awkward, I’ll give you step-by-step guides and exercises to get you out of your shell and into the life of romance. If I can do it, so can you.”

That night Lora had sat up and listened to the testimonials, then ordered the book. Now it was here. Contrary to what her family thought, she was ready for roses and champagne. She wanted a date who remembered her name and didn’t forget his wallet. She didn’t want to spend another holiday avoiding the office party or family get-togethers. And lately it seemed like her family’s only reason to exist was to set her up on a blind date or discuss what was wrong with her love life.

“You’re nearly thirty-seven,” her mother had said only a few weeks ago.

“I’m thirty-one.”

“Oh, really? You look much older.”

“Thanks, Mom.”

“And if I think you’re older, so will men, and they like their women young.”

“Not always.”

“The clock is ticking.”

Lora didn’t care about the clock. It was the pity she hated. She’d been a wallflower all her life. She didn’t need to look in the mirror to know what everyone else saw. A slender woman of medium height with black square glasses and thick black hair always pulled back in a ponytail or bun. She didn’t consider herself a stunning beauty and never turned heads. A man had never winked at her or even whistled. And she’d tried.

Lora remembered years ago that she had gone to her favorite department store and picked out a colorful pink spring dress, which she matched with a paisley lime-green short linen jacket. She had even bought a new pair of two-inch sling-back heels. After pulling her hair into a large braid, she had courageously walked past a construction site nearby, but she hadn’t even gotten a glance.

At birthday parties, anniversaries and the occasional family gathering, she was overlooked and invisible. But she hadn’t cared much while she was in school. All that had mattered to her then were her grades. Her classes got her out of the house and away from her father’s critical stare. She’d flourished in high school, college and graduate school. How she looked or fit in was never a concern; she was in all honors classes, so she could hide behind her accomplishments. In high school she was president of the science club, and in college she excelled in her biology and chemistry classes, to the point that she was selected by two of her professors to work on several exciting grant-funded projects. Graduate school, where she had studied biomedical research, had been grueling, but Lora loved the challenge, and as always, she came out on top, winning several science awards. A white lab coat had been her primary outfit for the past eight years.

Then her best friend died. Suzette had been anything but invisible. She’d been a bright, vivacious Spanish blonde who made Lora’s life feel like a big adventure. They’d gone to concerts together and learned tai chi. But when Suzette died, Lora’s life of adventure seemed to go with her. She’d buried herself in her work as a researcher. One day when she was walking back to her office, she’d seen this sad, haggard woman in a store window, and it had taken her several moments to realize it was her own reflection. This was not the life Suzette would’ve wanted for her. She was the only person who’d really known Lora. Now, with the help of this book the old Lora would fade away and a new one would be born. Lora Rice would no longer be ignored, especially by one man: Warren Rappaport. He was a newly hired scientist in the department, and he was very sexy.

She’d achieved all that she wanted and was a success in her career. Now she was ready to be a success at love.