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"You don’t look like the type to take anything seriously, especially a business Do your brothers do all the work and you’re the pretty face of Pierce Brothers Construction?"

Missile launched Hit confir "No I pull et the h" Male pride etched his hard tone Respect flowed through her He wasn’t afraid of real work

"Exactly Who are you to judge et married? Think I’ down on the bar Coffee sloshed over the side "Actually, just the opposite," he said tightly "I think you’re too good for eous, you own a business and seee You becoet your heart broken Don’t you deserveabout his own parents? Did he have a messy divorce in his past? He practically bristled with male intensity and an innate raw sex appeal that was part of his nature A plate of sweet potato fries was plunked down between the silverware and pushing it in front of him

"Bad experience?" she asked

He stiffened "Just the truth Don’t ever put thoughts in aze drilled hers, patient yet determined She’d never known aat a woman, as if he wanted to strip away each layer and find the soft center She fought a shiver "Understood"

The tentative truce softened the tension He nodded and began eating the fries "What are you going to do while you search for Mr Right? I can offer a nice distraction"

She rolled her eyes "Yeah, I bet you can, Slick Thanks for the offer, but I’ll pass"

"You dating soularly yet?"

A lie would be easier Still, she told the truth "No But I don’t want to be distracted if he co white teeth opened slowly and then closed around the end He tugged, and the tip pulled off, disappearing into his ue caesture His gaze swept lazily over her body, as if he was iood," he murmured

Arousal daiving him her iciest stare, and casually crossed her arms in front of her chest to hide her erect nipples If she was sticking with her plan, she needed to keep her guard up Evidently her search for a husband gave hia on it"

He spit out the fry in shock, then burst into laughter She couldn’t help her answering grin at his obvious delight with her banter Thank goodness the man had a sense of huet back to my customers"

She turned, but he raised up his hand to stop her "Wait How about a consolation prize?"

"Sorry, the prize bucket is closed"

"Lether foot Even though it would give her ift He ht be the best--but she was positive that when she was ready to renovate, she’d be able to find so "Sorry, Slick I’m very choosy about who touches ht shone froet on your list, won’t I? Because I want it bad, Raven Real bad"

Holy crap, her body practically ith the need to shoot over the bar they were talking about, fist his shirt in her hands, and kiss that lush, sinfuls she wanted him At least she could control his inability to do her bar And do her

"Take a lesson froet what you want"

He never flinched "Maybe But I’et what I need"

Because she couldn’t speak, she did the next best thing Rolled her eyes like she wasn’t worried and walked away, pretending to serve another custo he knew exactly hoorried she was Because for one tiny ive him exactly what he needed In every way possible

Finally Dalton left, and she steeped herself in prepping for the evening crowd and following thein herthe cordless in her hand "Phone for you, Raven!"