Page 2 (1/2)

Charity took the folder with the signed letter of intent with her as she walked to the end of the hallway Mayor Marsha Tilson’s office was behind huge carved double doors, both of which stood open

There was a big desk, two flags--US and State of California--and a small conference table that seated six by the

Marsha sat in the sroup in the corner As Charity entered, she saw that Josh was already there, lounging on a sofa, looking breathtakingly handsome and completely at home

Marsha, an attractive, well-dressed woman in her sixties, s about you, Charity You’ve had a busy ratulations Josh here tells n the letter of intent"

Charityher best to appear friendly without actually looking at Josh When she reen eyes, she could have sworn she heard the theround

Josh stood and gave her a lazy grin One that made her toes curl inside her pu out his hand "I’iven the syht lead to heart failure, or so She sed, sucked in a breath, then braced herself for it

His large hand engulfed hers Sparks even bigger than those that had killed her computer jumped between them Her stomach flipped, her privates cheered and she half-expected to see fireworks shooting up by the ceiling

"Mr Golden," sheinto the seat behind her She did her best not to think about the fact that, thanks to Sheryl’s screen saver, she had now seen his bare butt

"Josh, please"

And how ular basis? she wondered, turning her attention to the," she said, pleased to find out she could speak in a complete sentence "He knew about the other offer of land, which was the problen Once that was dealt with, the other problems were easily solved"

"I see" Marsha looked at Josh, who shrugged modestly

Given the fact that Josh was obviously a fa his butt for the camera, she would have expected him to jump at the chance to h, he didn’t

"We have the letter of intent," Charity continued "I’ll have Sheryl set up ato move forward With the construction bids already in place, we can streaet the research facility built quickly"

"Excellent" Marsha set settled? You’ve had a busy first hour We’ll have lunch to"

"Thanks" Charity rose "Nice toaway so there was no chance for hiain

Once she was safely back in her office, her first order of business would be to give herself a stern talking-to She had never once, in her whole life, reacted to a --it had the potential to interfere with her ability to do her job She could accept that soenetic uy She didn’t like it, and she wouldn’t allow herself to act like a freaked-out groupie or sex-starved crazy person when she was around Josh Fool’s Gold was set a grip on herself and her hormones

There had to be a reasonable explanation, she told herself fir that well Or she could be h broccoli Whatever the cause, she would figure it out and fix it She refused to live her life all quivery and weak She was strong She was self-actualized She was not going to let a little thing like a gorgeous od mess up her day

"WELL?" MARSHA ASKED when Charity had left

A single ith a thousand rie? They couldmuch effort into the task A skill he both admired and feared

"She’s smart and fair," he said

Marsha raised her eyebrows "You don’t think she’s pretty?"

He sluo Why do you feel a compulsion to pair up everyone you o well"

"Not your fault She was a bitch"

He opened one eye "I thought you liked Angelique"

"I was concerned that if she stood in the sun, the heat would hed "Very much a possibility" His ex-wife had been born beautiful, but hadn’t rested until she was extraordinary

"So you like her," Marsha asked

He had a feeling they weren’t talking about his ex anymore "Why does my opinion matter?"

"Because it does"

"Fine I like her Are you happy?"

"No, but it’s a start"

He was used to theIt ith the not very subtle invitations He supposed if a man had to live under a curse, his was easy to live with Toowith the with him

He stood "I said I’d watch out for her and I will I don’t knohat you’re worried about This is Fool’s Gold Nothing bad happens here" Which hy he’d coreat place to escape Or it had been Lately it felt as if his past was catching up with him

"I want Charity to be happy," Marsha said "I want her to fit in"

"The longer you don’t tell her the truth, theto be"

Marsha’s ht time"

He crossed to her, bent down and kissed her soft, wrinkled cheek "There’s never a good tihtened and headed to the door