LITMIR.BIZ

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      “Well, I was planning to get pregnant,” Maddie qualified, her innate honesty forcing her into the admission. “But those plans changed abruptly. Thank goodness I found out in time.”

      “Found out what?”

      “Just s-something.”

      To Maddie’s horror, more tears welled up in her eyes. It was so strange being in a place where people didn’t know everything about her. She’d grown up in a tiny town, where everyone knew everybody else’s business, so what was the point in trying to keep secrets? By now everyone in Slapshot knew about Ted and her failed wedding. Darn it all. Marrying the boy next door had always seemed so natural and expected and now she had no idea of what to do with her life.

      “You still seem upset,” Patrick said.

      He looked uncomfortable, which was fine with her. He’d made her plenty uncomfortable since calling her “gorgeous” and kissing her cheek.

      Maddie tightened her mouth.

      Boy, was she a dope.

      But at least she was smart enough to turn down an invitation from Patrick O’Rourke. He was just the sort of handsome, sophisticated man her father had warned her about before putting her on the airplane in Albuquerque.

      All at once Maddie scowled.

      Why had her father warned her about other men? She’d told him over and over that she wasn’t ever dating again and that marriage was absolutely out of the question. She was sorry about the grandchildren thing, but one two-timing skunk was enough.

      Patrick touched her arm, concern in his blue eyes. “Are you all right, Miss Jackson?”

      She lifted her chin. “I’m just peachy, can’t you tell?”

      “Uh, sure.” But he didn’t look convinced, and Maddie tried to relax. Maybe she wasn’t going to drink coffee with the man, but that didn’t mean she couldn’t be pleasant.

      “Well, it was nice meeting you.” She stuck out her hand. “I hope your sister-in-law has a beautiful baby.”

      “Thanks.”

      He grasped her fingers and she shivered. She’d never met someone with his electric body chemistry. The first time they’d shaken hands, the contact had sent tingles clear to her elbow, and this time the tingles reached the bottom of her stomach. It was different and exciting and the last thing she ought to be feeling, especially under the circumstances.

      “Uh…bye,” Maddie mumbled, pulling free. Trying not to look as if she was rushing, she walked to her rental car and opened the door. She glanced up and saw him still watching her.

      She smiled weakly.

      Her father had always told her to be careful about strange men. It was the sheriff in him. They might live in a flyspeck town in the middle of New Mexico, but that didn’t mean his daughter could take unnecessary risks.

      So, what would he say about Patrick O’Rourke?

      Something succinct, probably.

      Her dad was full of bluster and loud talk, but underneath he was pure teddy bear. Still, teddy bear or not, he’d be really uptight at the idea of a man kissing his little girl who hadn’t known her for at least twenty years.

      Patrick stuck his hands in his pockets and watched Maddie Jackson drive down the street, feeling as if he’d just escaped a whirlwind.

      Lord, the woman was baffling. And entirely too provocative. He wasn’t sure what that business about thinking about getting pregnant meant, though it sounded ominously like a romance gone sour. Even if he was interested in a relationship, he certainly wouldn’t think of starting one with a woman recovering from a broken heart or wanting a baby.

      As usual, the R word made him vaguely uneasy.

      Relationship.

      Patrick shuddered.

      It was fine for his brother to get married, and Kane had gotten himself a great wife, but he wasn’t about to follow his eldest sibling to the altar. He liked running his radio station and not having to worry about having to get home by a certain time. If he wanted to work all night, then that was his business. Switching KLMS from rock-and-roll oldies to country music had been a risk, but it was starting to pay off. He needed to stay focused on keeping things moving.

      “Patrick, what are you doing in Crockett?” The laughing voice made him turn around. “Lately you’re always at the station. You haven’t even been making it to Sunday dinner with the family.”

      “Uh…Beth?” he asked, peering at her closely. He wasn’t taking any chances after running into Maddie Jackson. Heck, he was lucky not to have been slapped or arrested.

      Beth raised her eyebrows. “You were expecting someone else?”

      “You’d be surprised,” Patrick muttered, giving her a tardy kiss. “I just met a woman who’s your spitting image. You wouldn’t happen to have a twin sister stashed someplace in New Mexico, would you?”

      “I don’t think so.”

      He hesitated. “The thing is, Maddie mentioned that she was adopted and looking for her birth family. Honestly, you two are so much alike you could be sisters.”

      “I suppose it’s possible,” Beth said. “Whenever I’ve tried to get information about my birth family I haven’t gotten anywhere. I’d love to ask her some questions.”

      “She went up to the cemetery to do some research. I can ask her to come back if you’d like,” Patrick offered, at the same time groaning silently. Maddie was entirely too disturbing to his equilibrium.

      “That would be great. I’m expecting a shipment at the store, otherwise I’d go myself.”

      She smiled, and Patrick was relieved he didn’t feel anything except warm affection when he looked at her. His sister-in-law was an attractive woman, but from the beginning he’d realized she belonged with Kane—though it had taken them a while to figure it out for themselves.

      “By the way, congratulations on the baby,” Patrick said. “I’m a little smug about it since I’m the reason you and Kane met each other.”

      She beamed. “Kane spent hours on the phone last night, telling everyone from London to Japan. We’re going to have a huge phone bill, but he wouldn’t get off.”

      That was something else Patrick liked about Beth. She was married to one of the richest men alive, but she continued to think like an average person with an average amount of money.

      “That’s great, kiddo. I’m happy for you.”

      But the contrast between Beth’s bright happiness and the shadows he’d seen in Maddie’s eyes made Patrick shift uncomfortably. As hard as he tried, he couldn’t stop thinking about it. Okay, so a woman he’d never met had cried twice while talking to him.

      It was none of his business.

      He was just concerned because Maddie looked like Beth, and since Beth was his sister-in-law, he was confusing family obligations. Except…his response to Maddie Jackson was far too sexual to be confused with anything.

      With an effort, Patrick focused on Beth’s glowing face. “Okay, you wait for your shipment, and I’ll go find Maddie.” He kissed her again and watched as she went inside.

      All things considered, he couldn’t understand how he’d confused the two women. Beth was Beth. Sweet, safe, comfortable. His brother’s wife. He liked sweet, safe and comfortable. He’d screwed up enough of his life with things that weren’t safe and comfortable.

      Down the street was a small grocery shop, with racks of fresh cut flowers in front of it. Patrick ambled over and selected a bouquet of chrysanthemums. It was a small cemetery. He could always say he was putting the flowers on a friend’s grave if Maddie got nervous about him following her. He could

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