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So, Carter had offered her a ride Turned out, she and her dad had been evicted from their rental All they’d let her pack was her clothes and some personal itee their luck

He’d driven her back to Holland Acres Mobile Home Park and paid ed, plus two extra otten the wrong idea

Carter still reiven him in thanks, soft as a butterfly’s caress and more potent than moonshine But he had stopped her, really hione any further

"You knoon’t"

Her nose crinkled a little as she smiled "Thank you"

"You’re welcome" He couldn’t help but dust his thumb over her bottom lip Her breath hitched and it was all he could do to not kiss her right then "How about I give you an advance?"

"A what?" she asked and he could have sworn she stepped closer to hi his head to the side, he let his thu the line of her jaw Melanie really was a pretty little thing Always had been and mischievous as hell, too

She leaned into his touch, her eyes closing and chin tipping up Black lashes brushing the tops of her cheeks and barely visible freckles "You shouldn’t hide those"

"Hide what?" Her sweet breath fanned over his face

"Your freckles"

"Men don’t like freckles"

He chuckled, continuing his exploration of her face and easing his hand behind her neck He wanted to undo the ridiculous bun she’d put her hair up in "Thispossible "In fact I’d like to see if you have freckles in other places"

Of their own volition, his fingers came from around her neck and coasted over her clavicle, down to the deep vee of her shirt He nudged it to one side, watching in pure olden dots disappeared underneath her lacey black bra Her breasts rose and fell, breaths co out in little pants that made hi the dots with e of the cup

Eyes popping open, she gaped at him "You would?" she all but squeaked

It was as if someone had clipped his fender and woke his ass up He dropped his hand and high-tailed it out of his office "Be back later I need anized," he called over his shoulder

Melanie stared after hi in disbelief as the door slammed closed Then she walked over to his chair and flopped down in it, her heart still beating a mile abetween her thighs Dear Lord, the et anything done At least not right now She needed ti up the receiver, she quickly dialed Zoe’s number

"Hello?"

"It worked!"

"Yay," Zoe squealed into the phone "Wait, orked?"

Melanie rolled her eyes "Brain hasn’t kicked in yet?"

"I stayed up until four a," Zoe said with a yawn

"Well your brother said he liked my freckles and wanted to see where else I had them," Melanie crowed "And some other stuff, too"

"Carter said that?"

"Oh yeah He’s co" Melanie should’ve taken the opportunity to touch him, only she had been scared that he would reject her

There was silence on the line, so long that Melanie thought Zoe had hung up A sliver of self-doubt tried to pierce her victory

"Mel, you know I love you, right?"

Oh crap, this couldn’t be good "And I love you, too"

"I’ve never lied,"--There was a pause and Melanie’s forehead wrinkled--"about things that could possibly hurt you I also kno eline said that April called Carter last night, wanting to get back together He’s supposed toat Jack’s"

Melanie’s heart fell to the pit of her stoht, but thanks for warning me"

"I’et hurt," Zoe said, her voice sincere "Carter’s not the type to string women around, but you’re my best friend and I don’t want to take the chance Soh opinions of, turn out to be real asshats"

"You and Gabriel have another fight?"

"No, he’s been really sweet Distant but sweet Then again, Su with Patrick Johnson I don’t think Gabe is too happy about that"

"Carter’s helping out her sister, Rose," Melanie said, grabbing a yo-yo in the shape of the globe She spun it around on the desk top "I swear there is soirls It’s like they have supernatural powers or so Heck, if I liked women, I’d date one of them Only downside would be that if there was a bad breakup, I’d no longer be able get my coconut bath and body stuff"

Zoe snorted, the fa away her blues "Well, as my momma says, the Hollands are an institution, and should be respected"

"Yourhow Leah Ambrose would defend a whole family of women who supposedly preyed on men--married to another or not "Bet she’d never say that aboutas you stay away from her boys, you should be fine," Zoe said, then Melanie heard her friend smack herself "I didn’t mean that Oh, God, I am so sorry"

"It is what it is," Melanie said as she looked around Carter’s office She wrinkled her nose in disgust The entire rooo Work and all Talk to you later?"

"I could bring you lunch?"

"You’re a doll, but I brought it withall of her lunches fro up the phone and laid her head in her hands