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adjusters saw everything imaginable in the course of a day—even outright stupidity. He’d also been attacked at least twice by dogs that should have known better, since he was a huge improvement over their owners.
    The buzz of female chatter made its way down the corridor, followed by footsteps. Two women. He recognized them both immediately. Remy and Jessie. As different as twins could be, but still alike in so many ways.
    The moment they reached the openness of the entry and had a good look at him they froze. Jessie threw an arm across her sister’s chest, like a mother trying to keep her child from flying forward in a car coming to a stop too fast.
    Remy tilted her head and blinked, as if not quite believing her eyes. “Jonas? Jonas Galloway?”
    “Yep. It’s me. How are you doing, Remy? Jessie?” He shuffled his feet, wishing he’d used the time in the car to prepare what he needed to say. “I’m sorry to bother you so early on a Saturday. Would you happen to have a few minutes for an old friend?”
    Jessie stepped forward, crossing her arms. “An old friend?” she repeated. “Jonas Galloway, you’re the reason my sister is all alone and never married. You can’t sashay back into her life like nothing happened.”
    The revelation was both painful and enlightening. He had no idea what to say to that.
    Remy did. She shoved her sister aside with a force that seemed to surprise them both. Jessie staggered slightly. “That’s the dumbest thing you’ve ever said. Where the heck is Cade with your moving van? I swear, girl.” She shook her head.
    Amazingly, her hair was still long, still blond and still gorgeous, Jonas couldn’t help noticing when she opened the door for him.
    “Pretend you didn’t hear that, Jonas. I’m not the loser my sister has made me out to be, and you did not ruin my life. Just to be clear.”
    Jessie’s mouth opened and closed a few times but whatever she’d hoped to offer in her own defense was put on hold by the sound of a truck pulling into the driveway.
    “They’re back,” she exclaimed, grinning as she headed for the door. He noticed she had an odd gait and he realized her ankle was wrapped. Even so, she managed a good speed and Jonas had no choice but to step inside or be mowed over—gimpy foot or no gimpy foot.
    “Hi, you two,” she called, hobbling toward the moving van, where a man and teenage girl waited. “You took long enough.”
    “Jessie’s married?”
    Remy shook her head. “Not yet. She and Cade have to decide a few details, but I think everything will work out great in the end.”
    “And if anyone would know, it would be you, right? You’re the Dream Girl of Baylorville, Louisiana. Aren’t you?”
    “Oh, for heaven’s sake,” she shouted, clamping her hands to her hips, which made the flowing material of her dress dance around her knees. “See? This is exactly what Jessie and I were just talking about. Once you get a reputation in a small town, it is impossible to change people’s minds.”
    She pivoted on one heel and stomped to the edge of the porch. She leaned over the railing, as if addressing the entire town, and yelled at the top of her voice, “I am not a psychic.”
    The hem of her skirt came up, revealing the very legs he’d never stopped dreaming about. Still as gorgeous as they had been fifteen years ago. He couldn’t help but look. And remember. Until she spun around and caught him staring.
    Her eyes narrowed and she advanced on him with the sort of intensity he’d witnessed in combat. If looks could kill…
    A second later, the realization struck him that he was turned on. Good grief. His mind had snapped. Not only was he here on a mission of life and death, he wasn’t over her. He still wanted her.
    Remy.
    His goddamned sister.





CHAPTER THREE
    “O KAY ,” R EMY SAID, returning from her outburst to stop a foot in front of him. “I don’t know why you’re here, but let’s get one thing straight. I don’t read tarot