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“You’re going to keep doing these, aren’t you?” she asked “It’s so helpful I took night classes at the coe, but your information is more practical”
“Sure,” he told her “If there’s interest”
“There is,” she said “Nearly all the businesses in town are small We survive on tourist dollars for thetoit all so clear”
She stepped away and the older lady—Gladys or Eddie—took her place “You did good,” she told hireat butt”
Sam stared at her, not sure how to respond to that
“I enjoy those basketball gaer, but you have style when you play You rehed “He was handsome Successful in business, like you He showed up in Fool’s Gold le ladies of a certain age I heard some of them allowed him to buy into their businesses” She shook her head “Notto take it away fro between the sheets”
Sam looked around frantically for an exit This orse than dealing with his mother At least he could tell her to stop Politeness dictated that he not interrupt a worandmother
Taryn and Dellina strolled up
“Are you torturing Sam?” Taryn asked
Gladys grinned “Maybe But I think he’s h to handle it”
Saure out how toGladys away
Taryn watched her expert ood one with her, Samuel Dellina takes care of you”
“You know it’s not like that,” he said
“You’re involved” She watched Dellina chat with Gladys before the old lady left “At soet over yourself”
“Now you sound like Jack”
“He can be insightful on occasion” She looked around at the ehbors They’re going to love us even more”
“I’m happy to share what I know”
She linked arone for a couple of days and it’s boring without him”
“Where did he go?”
“He didn’t say Mayor Marsha had a special project for hi, too He didn’t share details I doubt it’s dangerous, but it’s possibly not legal” She sighed “He’s just so sexy”
“Yeah, and could we not talk about that?”
Taryn laughed “I’d accuse you of being jealous, but you have your own thing these days” Her humor faded She faced hi what you’d been through, but Dellina’s a sweet girl Sh I know you don’t trust easily, but at some point you need to take a risk I don’t want you old and alone”
Two conversations about the same material in two days? What were the odds? Of course he knew his friends cared about him
“Jack’s going to live over ether”
Her violet-blue gaze never left his “That’s not enough I knohat you want You’re not going to be happy until you have a fao with it That will require you to believe in someone”
He understood the words, but didn’t like being pushed Sure, on the surface, all ith Dellina But what about the long-term? How could he know she wasn’t like all the others?
DELLINA GOT GLADYS out of the room, then returned to Sam’s side Taryn waved and left
“You did great,” Dellina told Sam “Everyone was really impressed”
“I was happy to help”
He stared at her, as if seeing her the first ti, but she didn’t knohat
“You make numbers look sexy”
He grinned “Thanks Then my work here is complete Do you have time for lunch?”
“Sure”
He took her hand in his and they walked out onto the sidewalk
“Margaritaville?” he asked “We could split nachos You could get a salad and pretend it has no calories”
Because she did that soreement “Sounds perfect”
“Good”
They headed toward the restaurant Sa that required a response Which was a good thing Because out of the blue, with no warning at all, she knew
Maybe she’d known for a while Maybe she’d been hiding the truth from herself because, well, she wasn’t sure why Or ured it out this second
She loved him She loved his honor and sense of duty She loved how he made her feel, how he protected those he cared about, and that even though stepping up in front of the toas his personal idea of hell, he would do it because the business lectures would help people She loved that he was quiet and sexy and that he called when he said he was going to call She loved how she felt when she was around him
She loved Sam
How totally ridiculous She’d fallen for the one guy she kneho absolutely, positively, never, ever wanted to get involved in a serious relationship Talk about stinky luck
CHAPTER SEVENTEEN
FAYRENE GLANCED ANXIOUSLY at the clock Her guests were due to arrive at six She’d just put in the bubbly feta and sweet pepper dip that she was going to serve as her appetizer, but they needed to be served immediately Which meant if Montana and Simon Bradley were late, she was in trouble
Exhaustion swept through her She wasn’t sure howRyan to propose had proved to be a lotto give up Tonight’s dinner guests were blissfully happy Montana was also weeks away fro in love would get the e across
The back door opened and Ryan and Caramel came in
“The barbecue is ready,” he said as he walked to the refrigerator and pulled out the tray of otten the recipe from Ana Raquel’s A Fool’s Gold Cookbook The salad was ready, along with dessert Ryan would grill corn with the chicken
“They should be here any second,” she told him She scooped Cara Cara puppy kiss on the nose
“How do you know Montana?” he asked, pulling a beer out of refrigerator and opening it
“I’ve worked with her and the therapy dogs Max, her boss, so theainst the counter “I’ll adet to spend the day playing with puppies and taking theet used to different situations”
“Like e took one to the high school football game last year?” he asked