LITMIR.BIZ

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homes in Jackson Hole and from everything Kate had heard, his business was booming despite the economy.

      “If that person wants references,” Lexi said, “feel free to give them our number. I know Travis and Mary Karen would also be happy to sing your praises.”

      “Thank you for that. Much appreciated.” Joel shifted from one foot to the other, as if embarrassed by the compliment.

      Since Joel’s Montana-based company had established a presence in Jackson Hole almost five years ago, he’d built homes in the mountains surrounding Jackson not only for Lexi and her husband, but for Mary Karen and Travis Fisher, as well. Kate knew he was in the process of building one for Cole and Meg Lassiter, the couple who owned the shop where they were seated.

      “Daddy.” Chloe tugged on his arm. “You promised we’d stop and pick up my new ice skates before your meeting.”

      “You ice skate?” The question popped out of Kate’s mouth before she could stop it. If she truly wanted them to leave—which she did—she was doing a poor job of hurrying them on their way.

      “Since I was a little girl,” Chloe said with a nine-year-old’s maturity. “Do you like to skate?”

      “I used to,” Kate said. “When I was your age.”

      For her, skating had been a way to forget her troubles at home. She hoped it wasn’t that way for Chloe.

      “That’s cool,” Chloe said, then ducked her head, staring down at her hot-pink sneakers.

      Joel pulled his phone from his pocket and glanced at it. “We better get going.”

      From the distant look in his eyes, his thoughts were already on his next appointment.

      Kate kept the disappointment she had no right to feel from showing as she watched them walk out the door.

      Or at least she thought she’d hidden her disappointment.

      “His wife hasn’t been gone all that long. From what I understand they were childhood sweethearts.” Lexi took a sip of her latte, a look of sympathy in her eyes. “Give him time. He’ll come around.”

      Kate blinked. “I’m not interested in dating Joel.”

      “Really?” A tiny smile played at the corners of Lexi’s lips. “Could have fooled me.”

      Even though Kate was absolutely, positively certain she didn’t want to date the handsome contractor, she could see where he could catch a woman’s eye. “I’ll admit he’s a good-looking man.”

      “Oh, you noticed.” Lexi looked as if she was trying to keep from laughing. “Even though you’re not interested.”

      After a second Kate chuckled and took a sip of her drink. It was probably best to let Lexi think what she wanted. If she protested too much, her friend’s curiosity radar might be activated and she’d ask even more questions.

      Questions Kate had no intention of answering.

      For now her secret was safe, held close and tight against her heart. And that was just where she intended to keep it.

       Chapter Two

      Sunday morning, Kate rose early and flung open her closet doors, searching for just the right dress to wear to church. She’d promised herself at the first of the year that she’d start attending services on a regular basis. January had gone well, but by February she’d already fallen off the churchgoing wagon.

      She was ready to try again. After all, she couldn’t build relationships or meet new friends sitting home alone.

      After donning a simple slip dress in a wild swirl of colors, she pulled out a pair of dangling earrings that had been an impulse buy. Even though at the time they seemed a little bold, today they fit her take-charge-of-life mood.

      The decision on what shoes to wear took way too long. By the time Kate waltzed through the front doors of the church she usually attended in Jackson, the congregation was already on their feet for the opening hymn.

      There was space for her in the back pews, which were normally reserved for parents with babies and small, noisy children. While Kate loved kids, this morning she didn’t feel like being surrounded by them.

      Instead she strolled down the center aisle looking for a place to sit. As she reached the midway point, a sick feeling had taken up residence in the pit of her stomach. Perhaps this was a sign for her to casually pivot on her designer heels and head for the door.

      The escape was already in progress when the sound of her name aborted the flight plan and had her turning back toward a pew she’d just passed.

      Chloe gave her a shy smile. Joel motioned to her.

      His brown hair, which normally looked like he’d just run his fingers through it, had been carefully combed and the stubble on his cheeks had been shaved away. He looked very business casual this morning in a navy blazer with a blue-sapphire plaid shirt and tan chinos. He also looked very handsome.

      While Kate took a hesitant step toward him, he and Chloe moved over. Joel gestured to the tiny space he’d opened up next to him. A space so small that if she accepted his offer, she might as well be sitting on his lap.

      Her heart skipped a beat. Her breathing quickened.

      Kate rapidly considered her two options. Sit down. Or make some lame excuse and walk away.

      Before she could second-guess the rightness of her decision, she squeezed in beside him. It was tight. Very tight. His muscular thigh pressing against her bare leg ignited feelings that had no place in a house of worship.

      Joel’s gaze lingered on her earrings—or was it a bit lower, say on her breasts?—before turning his attention back to the hymnal.

      While slip dresses were popular and no more revealing than a skirt and tiny tee, Kate suddenly felt exposed. As though she was caught in one of those horrible dreams where you leave the house in your underwear and only later realize you’d forgotten to put on the rest of your clothes.

      It didn’t help that someone had set the air conditioning on low and she was freezing. Or she would be if Joel wasn’t beside her. The guy was like a blast furnace and the warmth radiating from him made her yearn to throw caution to the wind and cuddle close.

      It took every bit of control to ignore the spicy scent of his cologne and his heat, that wonderful heat that wrapped itself around her like a favorite blanket, tethering her to him.

      Still, she remained in firm control of her emotions until it came time to share the hymnal with him and Chloe. Standing beside the tall, broad-shouldered man and the girl with a ribbon tied awkwardly around her ponytail felt a little too much like heaven. Or was it hell?

      Regardless, it was a vivid reminder of what she’d given up all those years ago. Breathing became difficult and tears stung the back of her eyes.

      The only way she held it together was by focusing on the letters and notes swimming on the pages before her. And by ignoring the man next to her and the child in the pink jersey dress with the crooked smile on his other side.

      By the time they rose for the closing benediction, Kate’s emotions were raw and bleeding and too close to the surface for comfort.

      She needed to put some space between her and Joel.

      Between her and Chloe.

      The second the minister quit talking she’d say a quick but polite goodbye, then sprint for the exit. Unfortunately her escape plan didn’t include Lexi Delacourt appearing out of nowhere to block her way out of the pew.

      “You look absolutely gorgeous, Kate.” The social worker gave her a quick hug, then shifted her gaze to the man now trapped beside her. “Doesn’t she look nice, Joel?”

      “Beautiful,” came the deep rumble behind her.

      Something

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