title: Double Dipping
author: Brant, Marilyn
description: *Finalist Best Contemporary Novel in the 2012 International Digital Awards!*
  Check out these other award-winning romantic comedies by NYT & USA TODAY bestselling author Marilyn Brant: On Any Given Sundae & Holiday Man. Along with Double Dipping, all 3 are available in ebook/paperback in The Sweet Temptations Collection!
  Who needs a man when you have a pint of fresh Wisconsin ice cream and full access to Cary Grant on The Movie Channel?
  That’s what second-grade teacher and MGM-devotee Caitlin Walsh believes. After being left at the altar by her ambitious rat of an ex-fiancé, Cait has rededicated her life to her students and to the citizens of small-town Ridgewood Grove.
  But when the school’s new financial director, Garrett Ellis, cancels the much-beloved Harvest Hoopla festival, Cait rallies the staff to fight the decision, which puts her in direct conflict with the most formidable man she’s ever encountered.
  As a reluctant heir to the Ellis Fruit and Nut Gift Basket Empire and the second son of one of the country’s most affluent families, Garrett has a penchant for mixing sweet edibles with acts of love. He also has an undercover agenda: to find the person responsible for stealing the district money and to right the situation, while keeping his family background to himself. But in the process, he faces the one woman who challenges his longtime resistance to commitment.
  Both Cait and Garrett end up secretly snooping into each other's past: Garrett looking for the thief, Cait uncovering Garrett’s private family history and his prior girlfriends -- one of whom turns out to be someone very unexpected...
  Love and family complications abound in this small-town contemporary romance with a little humor, a light mystery and a lot of sweet ice cream.
  STORY EXCERPT:
  Garrett watched the curvaceous blonde throw a few things together, and he shook his head behind her back. This was exactly the kind of individual who could get away with skimming budget funds if she wanted to. No one would suspect someone as lovely and as, well, wholesome-looking as Cait Walsh. Not of fiscal misdeeds.
  Still, it would be bad form to deny a teacher her glitter. The school board had approved the office supplies change, but he wondered who’d orchestrated it and why. Something seriously strange was afoot in this district.
  
  He studied Cait. She was young, dynamic and closer to his sister’s age than his. 25, maybe. But unlike Sis, this shapely woman was a neat freak who used round vowel tones as weapons. She challenged him with that reserved posture, that combination of clarity and caution. With those huge gray-green eyes, freckle-splattered nose and forehead creased in concentration over God knew what, she was cute as hell.
  
  Which annoyed him. He had too much to do. A leak to pinpoint. He had no intention of finding anyone “cute as hell.” Least of all a potential embezzler from Wisconsin.
  He saw her lift a bulky beige tote with the letters “CLW” stitched in green. It looked as heavy as a golf bag, but shorter and twice as dense. She had it crammed with papers, scratch ‘n’ sniff stickers, lots of stuff he couldn’t see. He’d have offered to carry it for her, but she grabbed it tight. Didn’t look like she’d trust the FBI with that thing. Huh. Suspect behavior.
  “What’s the ‘L’ stand for?” He pointed to her monogram. “It wouldn’t be Lynn, would it?” He squinted. “Leigh? Or Loretta?”
  “None of the above.” Cait locked her classroom door.
  Then again, maybe secrecy was just part of being a woman. They always thought they had to be so mysterious.
  “So, you’re not going to tell me? Think I’ll laugh?”
  She nodded.
  He puffed out some hot air. He’d have to brush up on his chitchatting. Not a good idea to alienate the staff so soon, even if he had suspicions about somebody. He’d known her for…what? A whole fifteen minutes? And already she clearly despised him. Well, never let it be said he couldn’t make a strong first impression.