Katherine Garbera - Tycoon's Temptation

That was probably true, but hardly the point, as far as Hadley was concerned. She also knew that Evie didn’t allow interference in her life from their brothers, no matter what. Even though Hadley’s concern for her sister lately was increasing, she still envied her sister that ability. “Why are you so set on pushing me at him, Stu?”

He shoved a few more boxes into place, though she hardly could see how, considering how full the stock shelves were. “Maybe ’cause we want to see you happy, Had, and not flitting off somewhere again like you did last summer!”

“I didn’t flit off. I was taking a class!”

“Class,” he muttered. “Like you’re gonna be some famous writer someday. Run off and find your fame and glory or something.”

She pressed her palms to her stomach. “I’m not planning to run off, Stu.” Not like his mother had. Beau’s first wife, Evelyn, had left him with three children well before Hadley’s mother had come on to the scene, and she’d never come back. “And even if I were, shoving Wendell down my throat at every corner isn’t likely to make me want to stay!”

“You oughta be married and having kids of your own by now,” he said gruffly.

“Well, you’re thirty-five. Where’s your wife and kids?” She shook her head, annoyed all over again, and not even having some sympathy for the roots of his behavior was mitigating it. “Stop messing in my life, Stu. I’m warning you.”

At that, he smiled. “I’m quaking in my boots, Had.”

She turned on her heel and strode out, slamming the door behind her hard enough to knock some of his carefully towered boxes right back down again. “Come on,” she gestured to the kids who were waiting. “Let’s go.”

“Had, wait.” Stu had followed her out. “Your truck is good to go.” He tossed her the key. “Until next time, anyway.”

Hadley caught the key and waved the kids toward her truck. Having her transportation back in working order was something, at least.

The kids piled in and she drove back to Tiff’s.

Once the children had left no question that there would not be any leftovers from the lunch Hadley had prepared, she settled them in the kitchen with cookie makings. Before long, Mrs. Ardelle and Joanie joined them, and within an hour the smell of sugar cookies was filling the kitchen.

Hadley left them long enough to finally change out of her church clothes and into her usual jeans and a white T-shirt. Then the phone rang. She stared at it for a moment, hoping against hope that it wouldn’t be Wendell. Didn’t matter. She still had to answer the thing.

“I’m looking for a, um, Wood Tolliver?” The voice was feminine and very husky. A phone-sex voice.

Not that Hadley knew what a phone-sex voice sounded like. “Can you hold on for a moment and I’ll see if he’s in his room?”

“Of course. Thank you.”

Hadley carried the cordless unit with her and knocked on Wood’s door.

He yanked it open a moment later, looking a trifle harried. As if he’d been raking his fingers through his hair a few dozen times. His sleeves were shoved up his arms, and she could see papers scattered again all over his bed. She wondered anew what it was that necessitated so many notes. He seemed to have more of them than her latest manuscript attempt did. “Phone call for you.”

He stared at the phone she extended as if he’d never seen one before. “Who is it?”

“I didn’t ask.” Some woman. Maybe the woman you were with last night. “And I’m busy.” She pushed the phone into his hand and turned away.

Unfortunately, she didn’t move fast enough to miss his impatient “Hello” followed by his much less impatient “Hey, there, sweetheart.”

Well, of course, she told herself.

Guys like Wood Tolliver naturally had a “sweetheart” somewhere. She was just fooling herself to think otherwise.

He may have kissed her, but she was the type of woman the Wendell Pierces of the world wanted, not the Wood Tollivers.

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