1512298433 (R) Read Online Free PDF

time, he had to check for the real meaning. “I can do that myself just by leaving town.”
    “But that would hurt her feelings. I know she loves having you here.”
    He had to concede the point to her. “I love being here, but I do not like being forced to meet every single woman in Holland Springs. Now she’s bringing in out-of-towners.”
    She laughed, the sound making his heart turn over in his chest. He liked the sound of her laugh, but he couldn’t remember the last time he’d heard it. Or at least a laugh that was with him and not at him.
    “Bless your heart, Heath. If only you could find the right girl to get your momma off your back.” Her hand came around the newel post, fingernails tipped in the same pink color as her pants.
    “At this point, I’d do just about anything,” he half-joked.
    “I know a girl who could help you out, but you would have to return the favor.”
    He had to hear who she had in mind. Taking a step closer to the porch, he tilted his head back slightly. “Who might that be?”
    Haven’s gaze dropped away from his. “Me.”
    With bated breath, Haven waited for his reply. Either he would laugh off her supposed joke or—
    “Are you serious? You don’t even like me.”
    “That’s why it would work.”
    An incredulous look covered his handsome face. “We can’t go five minutes without fighting.”
    “I wouldn’t say that we fight,” she said lightly.
    “See, already disagreeing with me.”
    “A disagreement is not the same as a fight.”
    His lips flattened at her correction. “You have to be in a bad way to ask for my help,” he said, his blue-eyed gaze capturing hers. “What favor do you need?”
    “For you to marry me so I can keep Chesson House.”
    He didn’t laugh, which was a good thing because she probably would have thrown something at him. But he didn’t say a word either. And that was worse because she had no idea what he was thinking.
    Contrary to his opinion of how she viewed him, she actually did think he had a brain. It wasn’t skills only that made him one of the best players on the Buccaneers and in the entire league. Oh, no. Skills weren’t everything. Skills might have gotten him there, but his brain kept him on top.
    “Heath?” She had to know what he was thinking; it was the only way she could stay two steps ahead of him. They’d known each other for so long and had danced the same angry dance over the years that she knew how he would react before the words came out of his mouth. However, this was new territory.
    “I don’t think that’s funny.”
    Letting go of the newel post, she moved to the stairs and jogged down them, then walked right up to him. This close, she was reminded of how big and muscular he actually was. Not overly so, but just enough to get her blood pounding.
    “Wasn’t trying to be funny,” she said, tipping up her chin. “I really do need your help.”
    “Uh-huh.” He crossed his arms over his chest. Arms that were tan and well defined from years of playing ball.
    She swallowed down a swoony sigh.
    Usually, his nearness didn’t affect her like this. She wasn’t noticing his face, or eyes, or arms. And she most certainly wasn’t noticing the way the sleeves of his button-down shirt were carelessly shoved up his arms in the most enticing of ways.
    “I promise I’m not joking. You can talk my lawyer, if you don’t believe me.”
    Heath jerked his head toward the back. “Your lawyer is one of the women my mother introduced me to this afternoon.”
    Haven felt her eyes go wide. “She’s certainly determined, isn’t she?”
    “Yep.”
    Taking a chance that her touch would throw him off balance, she carefully placed her hand on his arm, right at the spot where bare skin met cotton. His skin was hot and roughly smooth in that way men’s bodies were.
    His muscles rippled, and she fought back a gasp. Successfully.
    The corner of his mouth kicked up, like he just knew she’d barely contained herself.
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