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“Let’s go to dinner Friday and you can tell me all about it”

Her pulse leaped Her stomach somersaulted The Sheenans would not be happy if they knew she was having dinner with him but, at the same time, this wasn’t just any writer, this was Sean S Finley A literary rock star A literary rock star that looked like a real rock star

His dark eyes gleamed His lips curved up in what could only be described as wicked “We can swap teacher stories,” he said

Her heart was out of control Doubt andwarred with curiosity and fascination “I’m still pretty new”

“And I’ve been out of the classroom for quite awhile But we can talk books And ideas And what brought you to Marietta”

She shouldn’t say yes

She shouldn’t

And not just because Harley and the whole Sheenan clan would have a fit if they knew, but why risk ain, and talk about his books until he wanted to crawl under the table and die, but at the same time…she couldn’t say no He was one of her favorite writers His books lined her keeper shelf back home in Visalia How could she not want to talk to hi on now?

She smiled ruefully “Okay”

“Where do I pick you up?”

“This isn’t a date Maybe I should meet you there”

“I was thinking we could go to Livingston Have dinner at the Gallatin Steakhouse Heard it’s good Have you eaten there?”

“No But I’ve heard good things about it, too”

“I’llseparately Unless, you’re more comfortable, and if that’s the case—”

“It’s fine” She hesitated “I’m not uncomfortable I’ll text you my number and my address and then you can let me knohat time the reservation is for, and when you’ll pick me up”

“Sounds like a plan”

He shouldn’t be doing this

He shouldn’t involve her

Shane gave his head a slight shake as Jet walked away and he opened the Word document on his colas Ranch, Chapter 17

But he didn’t start working i blankly out the , at a distant point across Main Street

She wasn’t what he’d expected

He wasn’t sure what he’d expected It was obvious to all, she was pretty—cheerleader, ho, brown hair that hung past her shoulders, and light golden brown eyes with very black lashes Her cheekbones were high and her lips were full and she had a flawless cream complexion He’d anticipated that she’d soundwoman without much to say

But the , and she proved to be well-read, too

She had a mind of her own Opinions He liked that she was interested in history, as well as the world around her

He liked her

Whichher

He was taking her out Friday to get information Their dinner wasn’t about her, but about her connection to the Sheenans, specifically Brock Sheenan

Jet’s sister, Harley, had married Brock Sheenan, the oldest of the five brothers, a couple years ago The Sheenans were a wealthy, ranching fa in Paradise Valley since the turn of the century, and Shane was living in the Sheenan ho leased it for a year The lease would be up end of March, and at that time Shane would return to New York to finish his book The book hadn’t co, but Shane was finding it difficult to focus on the Douglas ranchhiht and day

Shane exhaled slowly, aware that his pulse had quickened

The Sheenans

He could never think of theut His chest was just as tight Anger rolled through hi

He hated the in their house, he was almost consumed with them

They were far too co But after all this ti Their

But the opposite had happened

After spending nine ued—and conflicted—than ever