learned that the hard way.
Early in the year sheâd faced the biggest crisis of her career with thirteen-year-old Julie Pounderâand everything had gone wrong. Julie was dead, and while Maddy knew she wasnât to blame, she felt responsible. She hadnât been able to deal with the aftermath of the girlâs death; she still couldnât. Every time she thought about it, she wept, and didnât want to spoil this afternoon with tears.
âI canât talk about it yet,â Maddy said, not wanting to elaborate further. âI will in a month or two.â
âAll right,â Lindsay murmured and affectionately squeezed Maddyâs hand. âWeâll change the subject.â
Maddy was grateful. âTell me what you know about Jeb McKenna.â
âJeb,â Lindsay repeated slowly. âYou like him?â
âI donât know him.â She could see that Lindsay was already reading something into her curiosity. It was her own fault for asking, but the strong, silent types had always intrigued her.
âYouâve met him and I havenât,â Lindsay reminded her.
âTrue.â
âCallaâs mentioned her uncle quite a few times and I know about him, but Iâm afraid I canât be any help.â She met Maddyâs eyes. âYouâre attracted to him, arenât you?â
Maddy hesitated, not sure how to answer. Yes, she was attracted; in fact, Jeb fascinated her. She suspected that behind his gruff exterior lay a kind, gentle man, one sheâd like to know.
âI guess I am interested,â she admitted after a lengthy pause.
âOh, Maddyâ¦â Lindsay sighed. âIâm afraid Jeb McKenna will only break your heart.â
Â
Sunday evenings were traditionally the slowest of the week for Buffalo Bob. Most folks tended to stay home. Heâd thought about closing the restaurant on Sundays, but hell, he wouldnât know what to do with himself if it wasnât for cooking and serving up a beer or two. Besides, he had to keep busy or heâd start thinking about Merrily again.
Sheâd left, gone five weeks already. Heâd never understood what made her come and go the way she did. Things would be just fine for a while and then suddenly, without explanation, sheâd disappear.
Usually she didnât even bother to write him a note. Other times sheâd leave something on the pillow. Something he knew she treasured. He guessed it was her way of telling him sheâd be back.
Nothing seemed right without Merrily. A thousand times over the past three years heâd told himself he was better off without her. But he couldnât make himself believe it because deep down he knew it wasnât true.
He rode a Harley and wore his hair in a ponytail, and most folks assumed heâd belonged to a badass motorcycle gang. The truth was, heâd never been involved in gang activities. Oh, he dressed the part, purposely gave people that impression, even dropped hints about the lifestyleâbut it wasnât true. None of it. Heâd been a loner most of his life. He liked to suggest heâd been places and done things he could never talk about, but he hadnât, although he did have a few connections. Heâd been on the fringes of a few shady deals, but nothing serious and nothing he was willing to brag about, especially now that he was a business owner and a member of the town council.
Yeah, he was a success these daysâa genuine, bona fide establishment success. His father would never believe it.
Bob knew heâd made his share of stupid mistakes, but he was a man who wanted the same things every other man did. And that included his own woman. Heâd known right away that Merrily was the one for him. He was crazy about her.
He probably shouldnât be. For all he knew, she could have ten other men just like him in places all around the country. He had no idea where she went or who
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