LITMIR.BIZ

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I didn’t realize how muggy it was out here.” He shed his suit jacket and loosened his tie as he smiled at Belinda. “I meant to tell you, that dress looks great on you. It reminds me of summer days like today.”

      Since Sam was standing so close, it was easier to relax and casually accept the compliment. “Thanks. It’s a favorite of mine.”

      “I can see why.”

      Behind her, Sam opened the car door. “Belinda?”

      “Sorry,” Paul said quickly. “Don’t let me keep you. We can always arrange a time to get together later and talk.”

      Belinda couldn’t believe his arrogance! She’d innocently acknowledged one comment about her dress and he immediately assumed that was all it took to win her over. What conceit! She stiffened defensively. “I told you before, Paul. I don’t think you and I should have anything more to do with each other.”

      He nodded. “I’m afraid you misunderstood me. I meant that Dr. Barryman and I needed to have a private talk. I suppose it is inevitable that I’ll bump into you again, though. This is a pretty small town.” The corners of his mouth lifted in a smug-looking smile. “Tell you what. I promise to do everything I can to avoid you. How’s that sound?”

      “Wonderful.” Feeling like an idiot, Belinda shaded her eyes and focused her attention on Sam. “Okay. What’s going on here? Why does Paul want to talk to you in private? I’m starting to feel like I’ve come in halfway through a complicated movie and can’t make sense out of the plot.”

      She saw the doctor set his jaw stubbornly, so she turned back to Paul. “Well? I’m waiting. Which one of you is going to fill me in?”

      “I have no objection,” Paul said, maintaining his casual air. “It has to do with the sale of the Whitaker estate.”

      “Why do you need to talk to Sam about that?”

      “Because your boyfriend, here, is up to his eyeballs in the deal. I’m surprised he didn’t tell you.”

      Frowning, Belinda said, “So am I.” It was bad enough that Sam was keeping an important secret from her. To learn about it from smug, gloating Paul Randall was much worse.

      At that moment, if someone had asked her to choose which of the two men was more irritating, she’d have been hard-pressed to decide.

      By the time Sam dropped her off at home, Belinda had managed to find out very little about his plans. All he’d say was that he had some wealthy silent partners whose interests he needed to protect, and that what he was trying to accomplish would be good for Serenity. She’d been around him long enough to know he couldn’t be badgered into revealing more details until he was ready.

      Since he hadn’t offered to take her out for Sunday dinner the way he usually did, she assumed he was miffed. Well, too bad. If he expected her to ever consider him husband material, he was going to have to accept the fact that she expected to be treated as an equal partner in any serious relationship.

      She opened the passenger door and stepped out as soon as Sam stopped his car in her driveway. “Thanks for the ride.”

      He leaned across the seat. “Belinda?”

      Pausing, she bent down to see what he wanted.

      “Is it true?” he asked.

      “Is what true?”

      “You and Randall. I’d heard a few rumors but I didn’t pay much attention to them. I figured you’d never go for a guy like that. I mean, his father was a bum with a prison record, wasn’t he?”

      Belinda’s stomach tightened, though not from hunger. “Paul’s father was an auto mechanic when we met. What the man may have done before he and Paul moved to Serenity is none of my business.” Or yours.

      “And they lived in a shack out behind Butch’s gas station where the old man worked?”

      “It was a trailer, not a shack,” she answered. “It was the best poor Mr. Randall could do, under the circumstances. Paul worked odd jobs to help out….” She paused, then added, “Until he went away to college.”

      “I’ve heard all about the night he left,” Sam said, “but I won’t go into that because I don’t want to bring up memories that are painful for you.”

      Oh, right, Belinda thought. As if you haven’t already. “Why are you asking me so much about Paul?”

      “I’ve found it pays to know my enemies.”

      “Paul’s not your enemy. Besides, there’s absolutely nothing between us. Not anymore.”

      Sam began to smile at her. “I know that, honey. I just wanted to see if you were in a good position to help me out. I think you are.”

      “Help you? How?”

      “I need to find out what Randall’s plans are for the Whitaker place and how close we are to coming to terms during negotiations.” His grin grew. “If you and I work together, we’ll have a definite advantage.”

      Belinda refused to believe he was asking her to become some kind of amateur spy. Sam would never do that. He might be overly practical but he wasn’t nefarious.

      “What I have in mind is for the good of Serenity,” Sam added. “I promise. You’ll see. The whole town will benefit.”

      “From what?”

      Chuckling, Sam straightened, making her bend lower to look him in the eye. “Oh, no, you don’t. I’ll let you in on my plan when the time comes. Until then, it’s my little secret. All you have to do is be your charming self and report whatever Randall tells you about my project.”

      “Didn’t you hear what I said to Paul this morning? I never intend to see him again, let alone talk to him.”

      Sam looked triumphant. “On the contrary. You’re going to see Randall this coming Wednesday night.”

      “I am? How? Where?” Her heart began to pound at the thought. The sticky afternoon air no longer seemed to contain enough oxygen, no matter how rapidly she breathed.

      “At the business dinner I told you about last week. We’ll be representing the Chamber, remember?”

      “Yes, but…”

      “I guess I forgot to mention that it’s at the Whitaker house. That location wouldn’t have been my choice, but we’ll make the best of it. Now that I’ve seen what kind of man Randall is, I’m certain he’ll be there.” He paused and slipped the car into gear. “I know he said he liked that dress, but wear that simple black dress of yours instead, so he keeps his mind on the deal, will you? I’ll pick you up Wednesday at six-thirty sharp.”

      As Belinda watched him drive away, she was surprised how aggravated she was. Sam’s attitude made her feel like blurting out a few colorful phrases that had never before passed her lips. She wouldn’t do it, of course. It was wrong to curse, even if what she said didn’t actually take the Lord’s name in vain.

      But after the morning she’d just had, she certainly understood what drove people to say such things!

      Boy, did she.

      Chapter Three

      Restless, Belinda immediately changed from the teal dress to shorts and a loose shirt, then walked over to her grandmother’s house rather than phoning to see why she hadn’t been in church that morning. Eloise had ventured into the garden in spite of her sore ankle and was carefully watering a bed of new seedlings. She smiled a greeting.

      Belinda pushed her bangs off her forehead. “Whew. I can see why you’re out here watering. It’s sure hot today.”

      “No kidding.”

      “So, what’s new? How come you missed church?”

      “I didn’t

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