Page 13 of Tempted

“Of course. Is she okay?”

“As good as can be expected on this day. She doesn’t feel up to driving, and I can’t go out there. I’ve got a water leak at the bookstore and am waiting on the plumber. I’m afraid a pipe will pop if I leave, and my books will have to learn how to swim.”

“I’ll send Linc over. He’s a contractor and can fix just about anything.”

“No!” Lucy shouted. It had been seven days since the fateful kiss, and she needed more time to be sure her defenses were shored up properly. “I’ve got it handled.”

“Okay, but he knows what he’s doing.”

“I’m sorry; I didn’t mean to screech in your ear. It’s just that I’ve put a call into Ron, and he promised he’d come as soon as his wife has their baby and….”

“Lucy, did something happen between you and Linc?”

“Of course not! Why would you say that? Did he say something? Because if he did, it’s not true, and I didn’t kiss him. I merely stumbled, and that’s why my lips landed on his.” She let out a groan. “And to suggest otherwise is a bald-faced lie. Where else could I put my hands, anyway? It’s not like I have the balance of a flamingo. A person does have to anchor themselves, after all. And…”

“Lucy, I get it.”

“There is nothing to get. And he started it.” She looked out the window and prayed the Almighty was too busy to strike her down for the lie. When she saw nothing but a dark starry night, she let out a breath. “I am not besotted by your cousin like the rest of the females in this town.”

“Absolutely. Never doubted it for a minute.”

“Do you want to know where Olivia is, or do you want to continue interrogating me about one mishap that lasted less than a minute and is barely memorable?”

“I’m ready for the intel.”

“Good, because she doesn’t need to be stranded at the Pink Pig.” And she didn’t need to examine the depth of denial she was drowning in.

“Text me the address, and I’ll jump in my truck now.”

“Okay. And thank you, Zane.”

“In the meantime, I’ll tell Linc to stop by because, last I heard, books and water don’t mix so good.”

She couldn’t stop the sigh and simply gave in to it. “Fine. But only because my life’s work is at risk. Not because I want to see that confounding man’s face.”

“Didn’t think otherwise.”

Not knowing what else she could say that wouldn’t be incriminating, she mumbled a goodbye and ended the call.

She pushed another shelf away as the water moved perilously close. She told herself she could handle Linc’s company, the impending flood, and any other pestilence that decided to show up.

Thirty minutes later, Lucy heard the bells on the front door jangle. “Linc, is that you?”

“Yes, sweetheart.”

She stepped over an ever-growing pool of water and stood in the archway that separated the front and back. Why did his appearance send comfort coursing through her soul? It was so unsettlingandinconvenient. “Thank you for coming.”

“Any time.”

She threw him a grateful smile and told herself the way his tool belt hung from his enormous shoulder wasn’t the best thing she’d seen all week. “I’m not sure if there’s anything you can do.”

“There’s always a solution,” Linc said as he approached. “We’ll just have to work the problem until we come up with an option you like.”

“I just need a short-term fix.” She glanced over her shoulder and grimaced. “My plumber promised to come right after his wife has their baby.”

Linc bent down and kissed Lucy’s cheek. “It’s good to see you.”

She didn’t want to acknowledge the fluttering feeling the small peck produced, so she focused on a swath of pink paint that decorated his T-shirt. “Did you get roped into rehabbing my sister’s Ferris wheel?”

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