LITMIR.BIZ

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to the new you.”

      “I’m the same old me, Austin.” And that had never been more apparent than when she continued to react to him on a very carnal level. “Only now I have a career that I’ve talked about since we were climbing trees together.”

      He reached out and tucked one side of her hair behind her ear. “Do you remember that one time we were in the tree near the pond on your property? You were twelve at the time, I believe.”

      What girl didn’t remember her first kiss, even if it had been innocent and brief? “If you’re referring to that day when you tried to put me in a lip-lock, I definitely recall what happened next.”

      His grin returned. “You slugged me.”

      “I barely patted your cheek.”

      “I almost toppled out of the tree. You didn’t know your own strength.”

      He hadn’t known how much she had wanted him to kiss her, or how scared she had been to let him. “That kind of thing was not at the top of my to-do list at that time.”

      “Maybe, but I found out kissing had moved to number one on the list that summer after you came back from camp.”

      She felt her face flush. “I was fourteen and you were fifteen and a walking case of hormones.”

      He inched a little closer. “You had hormones, too. They were in high gear that first night we made out behind the gym after the football game.”

      She shivered over the recollection. “Big deal. So you managed to get to first base.”

      His blue eyes seemed to darken to a color this side of midnight. “Darlin’, I got to second base.”

      “Your fumbling attempts weren’t exactly newsworthy.”

      Oddly, he didn’t seem at all offended. “Maybe I was a little green that first time, but I got better as time went on.”

      Her mind whirled back to that evening full of out-of-control chemistry. She didn’t want to acknowledge how vulnerable she’d been that particular night, and many nights after that when they’d met in secret. How completely lost she had been for three whole years, and she hadn’t been able to tell one solitary soul. “We were so reckless and stupid and darn lucky. If my father would have ever found out I was with a Calloway boy—”

      “He would’ve shot first and asked questions later. He’d probably do that now.”

      Time to turn the subject in a different direction. “I’d hoped that after J.D. died, my father would’ve buried the hatchet and been more neighborly to you and the brothers.”

      “Ain’t gonna happen,” Austin said. “Last month he called the sheriff when one of our heifers ended up on his property. He blamed us for not maintaining the shared fence line when it’s his responsibility, too.”

      “That doesn’t surprise me.”

      “I’m surprised he approves of you working for the enemy.”

      “Actually, he doesn’t know because I haven’t told him.” Just one more secret in her arsenal.

      Austin pushed away from the wall, giving her a little more room to breathe. “That’s probably wise. It’s not fun to suffer the wrath of George Romero. But he’s bound to find out eventually.”

      She shrugged. “Yes, but it really doesn’t matter. I’m all grown up now and I make my own decisions, not him.”

      He winked. “Yep, you’re all grown up for sure.”

      Her heart executed a little-pitter patter in her chest. “I need to get back to work now.”

      “Me, too. If I don’t get busy soon, I’m going to suffer the wrath of Dallas.”

      If she didn’t leave soon, she might be subjected to another journey into their shared past, including their sex life. Former sex life. “I’ve got a very busy day ahead of me, so I’ll see you later.”

      He moved closer, as if he didn’t want her to leave. “Then business is good?”

      “So far.” Yet she wouldn’t be tending to livestock for the remaining hours. She would be sending her son off on a trip without her for the first time since his birth.

      “I’m glad you’ve returned, Georgie,” he said as he finally stepped back. “And by the way, if you’re not busy this evening, Maria wants you to have dinner with us. All the usual suspects will be there. Have you met Worth or his mom, Jenny?”

      “No. I haven’t had the opportunity yet.”

      “All the more reason for you to come.”

      But being close to Austin was the best reason to decline. “I’m not sure I’ll be finished with everything before dinnertime.”

      “We don’t usually eat until around seven. If you decide to join us, and we really hope you will, just show up. We’ll set a place for you.”

      If she agreed, she would have to spend even more time with him, all the while trying to conceal her true feelings. If she didn’t, she would insult Maria. “I’ll think about it.”

      He grinned, started away then said without turning around, “I’ll see you tonight.”

      His confidence drove her crazy. He drove her crazy. But right then she had only one immediate concern... Her son’s impending departure.

       Two

      Georgie climbed into her truck and headed home to face what would probably prove to be one of the most difficult times of her life. After she pulled into the drive and slid from the cab, Chance rushed out of the door and ran to her as fast as his little legs would let him. He wrapped his arms around her waist and stared up at her, his grin showing the space where he’d just lost his first tooth. “Mama, did you see the rolling house?”

      Georgie glanced to her right to find the massive RV parked on the dirt road leading to the barn. “I see that, baby. It’s huge.”

      Chance let her go and rocked back and forth on his heels, as if he was too excited to stand still. “Aunt Debbie said I could ride up front with Uncle Ben and she could stay in the back and play cards with Grandma.”

      No doubt the wily pair would be engaging in poker. “That sounds like a plan. Are you packed?”

      He nodded vigorously. “Uh-huh. I gotta get some toys.” He grabbed her by the hand and jerked her forward with his usual exuberance. “Come on, Mama.”

      “All right, already. Just hold your horses.”

      Chance released his grasp on her and threw open the front screen door. Georgie followed him inside to find her mother’s sister, Debbie, decked out in a blue floral sundress and an inordinate amount of jewelry, and her Uncle Ben wearing a yellow polo and white shorts that revealed his usual golf tan that ran from the top of his bald head to his beefy legs. Not exactly December attire, but luckily the region had yet to experience any significant cold weather. But that was all about to change in the next two days, according to the forecast.

      “Georgia May!” Debbie said as she crossed the room and drew Georgie into a hug. “You are still as pretty as ever.”

      Georgie stepped back and smiled. “You look great, too, Aunt Debbie. I love the blond hair.”

      Debbie patted her neatly coifed bob. “Glad you like it. I just wish I could say the same for my husband. When I got it done, he didn’t say a word. I don’t think he’s even noticed.”

      “I noticed, woman.” Uncle Ben crossed the room, picked Georgie up off her feet, hugged her hard and then put her back down. “You’re still no bigger than a peanut, Georgie. And don’t listen to Deb. She knows I’m jealous because she still has

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