Read Online Tempted Again by Cathie Linz - Free Book Online

issues.”
    The mayor’s aunt Gert interrupted him “I heard that you and the new librarian are moving in together.”
    “You heard wrong.”
    “Is that why she was driving in the parade?” Gert continued. “Was she trying to get your attention?”
    “No,” Connor said. “She just made a mistake.”
    “Trying to get your attention is a mistake?”
    “She doesn’t want my attention.”
    Gert frowned. “Why not? You’re a good-looking fellow. She’s single now that she dumped that no-good husband of hers. What’s the problem? It’s not like there are a lot of choices for a divorced woman.”
    “Maybe she’s looking for a younger man,” the woman sitting beside her piped up with. “One of those hottie college boys.”
    “Why would she want a boy when she can have a man?” Gert retorted.
    “You know they say a male’s sexual peak occurs when he’s eighteen and then it’s all downhill after that. Is that true?” Both women looked at Connor for an answer.
    He gritted his teeth so hard his jaw hurt. “If you don’t have any questions about scams and ID theft, I’m leaving.”
    “You’ve scared him,” the woman beside Gert scolded her.
    “He’s a cop. He used to work in Chicago. I doubt he scares easily. Isn’t that right, Sheriff?”
    It was at moments like this that Connor wished he’d stayed in Chicago.
    *  *  *
     
    “How does it feel to be back home again?” Roz asked Marissa once the two of them were seated in Roz’s office later that afternoon, “Are you settling in okay?”
    Marissa nodded. “I just signed the lease on an apartment today.”
    “I know. Sally called and told me.”
    “Right.”
    “Small towns.”
    “I know.” Which had made it difficult keeping her relationship with Connor secret all those years ago. Now she was so glad that no one else knew about their history.
    “I wanted to talk to you about that proposal you had regarding young adults at risk in our community. The school board reviewed it at their meeting and they’ve given it the green light.”
    Marissa blinked. “I can’t believe they moved that fast. I thought it would take months and months.”
    “Karen Griffith, the school guidance counselor spoke very highly of your plan. She was behind you one hundred and twenty percent. But there is one small catch. You’ll have to work with Connor Doyle and the program he already has in place.”
    “Argh.”
    “Excuse me?”
    “Nothing. I…umm…I just had something stuck in my throat. What do you mean, work with Connor?”
    “The board wants you both to integrate your programs together.”
    “I’m not sure that’s a good idea.” Actually Marissa was positive it was the worst idea since NBC put Jay Leno where they did before returning him to the
The Tonight Show
.
    “Well, the library budget certainly doesn’t have any funds to do this on our own,” Roz said. “We have to work with the school district and the mayor’s office. That’s where the funding is coming from. And their decision is that you and Connor have to make it work. Unless you don’t think that’s possible for some reason?”
    What could she say—that he’d been her first lover and then dumped her? That he was a thorn in her side? That she was still battered and bruised from her divorce, still grieving the loss of her marriage and the vows she’d made? That working with Connor when she was still so vulnerable was emotionally dangerous for her? Of course she couldn’t say any of that.
    “Is there a problem?” Roz asked.
    “I didn’t anticipate that my program would be mixed with someone else’s.”
    “I understand.”
    “The two programs are not similar. I did study his program before coming up with my own.”
    “I know you did. In an ideal world, you’d both be able to do your own thing. But that just isn’t possible in this economy. And with these conditions, more kids than ever are at risk. You two will just have to suck it up and do your best. Can you do