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“You’re a good cousin,” Lavinia said “Not much like your mother, are you?”

“Mom’s not so bad”

“That branch of the fa rich We had o pluck sos,” Lavinia said “Thanks, kid”

“You bet”

Parker cleaned up the mess of stems and bits of blossom and ribbon, then swept the floor Adie the sa him

It was true

Jaer than she was Did he want a serious relationship with a single mom, or a roll in the hay? Did she want more? James always seemed so much like Harry…slick, insincere Parker, always lovely to see you She couldn’t help feeling as if he was lea a little, as if she didn’t already know they were nauseating and fake

And yet, Ja like a draft horse There had been moments between them, sure Chemistry and all that But the truth was, she really didn’t knohat kind of a man he was, and…

She paused in her sweeping, a little surprised at the thought that was for in her brain

…and if James ever found out just how lonely she really was, it would be horrible

Because nobody knew that

She wanted a husband She wanted more kids, maybe, and yes, she was thirty-five She wanted someone who loved her the way Ethan loved Lucy, who looked at her the way Malone looked at Maggie, and let’s be honest She’d never had anything even close

James was here under orders fro in nine days

Well She couldn’t avoid him forever She locked up the shop and headed for ho, the smell of Goldfish crackers and old leather, the indentation in the backseat fro her who she really was

A h, she pulled into the driveway

Ja stuff for her house Parker’s knees weakened He’s beautiful, said Golly “Preach it, sister,” Parker muttered She forced her attention to the house Her purpose in being in Maine, after all Flip the house Earn a little money for a place back home

She dragged her eyes off Thing One’s arainst hiry and hot that—House, Parker, house!

Jaled the entire western side of the house For now, the color was creales to gray He didn’t look up as she got out of the car, but Beauty caainst Parker’s leg

“Wow, Thing One You’ve been busy,” Parker said as she bent to pet her little dog Yes Adopt a casual attitude Definitely the way to go “It looks great”

“Thanks” He didn’t look at her

“You’re welcome Thank you”

“My pleasure” Still no eye contact

Beauty lay down in the grass and put her ful conversation

“So the library thing was kind of fun, as debts to society go,” Parker said, reaching out to touch a shingle with one finger

“Good” Bang! The sound of the air gun made her jule Bang!

“Collier was there,” Parker said No comment “I reduced him to tears as the Holy Rollers helped bury the squashed kitten”

“He’s a sensitive soul” Bang!

Was James jealous? Please, she wasn’t that desperate Still, perhaps clarification would be in order “Yeah, well, he’s very nice and all, but I don’t think I could be friends with a man who took those books seriously”

No colistened with sweat

“So, Jaht”

“Yes” Bang!

Parker reached out and put a hand on his warm, hard shoulder “Would you please stop for a second and talk to me?”

He put down the nail gun and folded his arms across his chest and looked at her with those dark, dark eyes No s In a very hot way In a s, alpha way Heck yeah!

“Put a shirt on, Thing One Cover up all thatme”

He smiled at that, and crap, it orse than ever, because that smile melted her, and the idea that she could ood, earning that s of the porch and pulling it over his head “There Can you think straight now?” he asked

“Better,” she said “So”

“So I kissed you” He stared at her, the wind ruffling his thick hair

“Yes”

She cleared her throat “And while it had a certain effect, I don’t think it should happen again”