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“And you’ve got twenty-twenty vision, where I’m concerned?”
She shrugged. “I guess I just…”
Trust you? Do not say that.
“… am immune to testosterone,” she finished.
But she did. She trusted him. Then again, she had to, didn’t she? Not only was he installing a security system for her, but she’d given him access to her most sensitive information. Her deepest, darkest secret.
Awareness quivered deep in her belly. He’d told her she trusted too easily, was oblivious to the dangers around her, and here she was, trusting this man who oozed danger from every pore.
Or pretended to, at least.
Wow, Carrie Logan. You think you had image problems before. Imagine if she hooked up with the most disreputable man in town.
Imagine, indeed.
But she was being ridiculous. Indulging in momentary, and completely unrealistic fantasies. Which was the whole point of fantasies, as she understood them.
A shaft of sunshine landed on them as they walked toward the store, as if whatever romance gods she was trying to ignore were determined to send her a signal.
Oh dear, oh dear, oh dear.
She hadn’t even heard them sneaking up on her.
La-la-la-la, she told them. Can’t hear you. It’s a hardware store. This is as prosaic as it comes. No romance here, friends. Nothing to see.
But romancy feelings were there, no matter how she pushed them away.
She wanted to slap herself in the face.
*
Carrie strode ahead of him into the store, her head held high, her eyes sparkling. She said Hi to the greeter and No thanks to the kid handing out coupons, then pulled a shopping cart free from the stack.
“It’s busy in here today,” she said over her shoulder. “That’s good. Lots of opportunity.”
For a moment in the car, when they’d been gazing into each other’s eyes, Ethan had felt a dangerous heat surge between them. He’d seen the delicate flush on her neck, noticed her breasts rising and falling as her breath quickened.
He was no stranger to seduction. He’d bedded clients before, mutually satisfying, one-time events, after which he disappeared back behind his walls, with no worry of future complications.
But Carrie was different. Sure she had the proper, buttoned-up look of a career cat lady, but he suspected he could have her in a heartbeat, if he wished. She was transparent as glass. But despite the lush sensuality of the girl with the blue vase that surely still lived somewhere inside her, there was an innocence to Carrie that warned him off. Plus, Cherry Lake was her home. And if he wanted it to remain his, too, it would be best not to mess with the town patriarch’s granddaughter.
No, whatever vibes he was getting from her needed to be shut down, and the sooner, the better.
“Hey there, Carrie,” said a gruff voice. “Shouldn’t you be shopping for shoes or lipstick instead of hanging around this dusty mess? Or are you turning your hand to trades? Never a bad idea to have a fall-back plan, right?”
Ethan heard a hearty, familiar laugh and the skin at the back of his neck crawled. Clinton Calloway.
Carrie smiled back and held out her hand. If she was insulted, she hid it well.
“Mayor Clinton, nice to see you. Mayor, this is Ethan Nash. He’s a security expert. He’s installing an alarm system for me.”
Clinton’s eyebrows lifted and for a second his smile cracked. But he recovered himself admirably.
“Mr. Nash,” he said, showing his teeth and giving him the typical two-handed politician greeting. “Good to see you again. How are you settling in?”
Ethan returned the smile. “Well, Clinton, it’s been four years, so pretty good, I’d say.”
“Glad to hear it, Ethan.” Calloway slapped him on the back. “But we never see you around. Our society not quite up to your standards?”
“Now, Mayor,” said Ethan, “that’s no way to talk about your town.”
Calloway shook his head and looked over at Carrie, frowning in mock horror. “Did you hear that? He twists words like a politician.” He slung a casual arm over Ethan’s shoulder. “Nature abhors a vacuum, my friend. Cherry Lake’s not for everyone, but the only way to know if it’s for you is to get involved in the community.”
