What was going on? He wanted to see her? And take Emma to the dance? Attend the talent show? Stronger than the force of gravity, temptation yanked Greer's brain like a rope.

He must have sensed her turmoil. "Look, if you'd rather not go with me, that's fine. I just thought it'd be convenient since we're going to the same place. But I can come on my own."

She laid a hand on his forearm. "No. That'd be great. I thought of something else and got distracted." You know, ripping off your clothes and screwing you in to next Wednesday.

Greer ran her tongue over her teeth.

Why did he have to show up and mess with her emotions? With those gorgeous eyes, hot body, and kind heart. She wasn't supposed to get involved with guys like Jackson Bellefonte. Nuh-uh, no way. But since sharing the sunset with him, she'd been fighting a fierce attraction. Well, it'd been there from the beginning, but the logical side of her brain kept it in control. Now the stupid side was thinking way too much.

Listening to her sensible psyche, surely what he'd meant was he wanted to check on her. Make sure she'd not called in someone to take over parenting duties and then left town. Yeah. That had to be his motive. She needed to get him out of there before saying something she regretted. "You've got to leave. I have carpool duty today."

"Okay, but before I go, I do have an ulterior motive for stopping by. I thought this weekend would be a good time to keep my promise to Emma. You know, our grand adventure."

Had he said that earlier and Greer edited out everything but the last part? A dose of embarrassment and a dash of depression merged into a case of stupidity, causing the words to freeze in her throat. To buy time, she stood, sauntered to the end of the counter and picked up her purse. "That sounds good. She'll be excited."

He moved to the door, opened it and stepped onto the porch. "My mom's birthday is next week. Maybe we can work in a shopping trip, too."

Greer pulled herself together, regaining composure. "Now I understand. The earring, the invitation, both excuses to get help with gift selection."

"Not at all. I already know what I'm getting her. I just need you to help pick out the right one."

"What do you have in mind?"

"A curling iron. She said she needed one."

Greer laughed. "Are you kidding?"

He pulled his brows together. "No. That's what she said."

"Oh, Jackson. Now I know why your former fiancée called off the wedding. She couldn't bear a lifetime of blow dryers and blenders."

"What's wrong with getting what they ask for? I thought that was a good thing."

"She said she needed one, not wanted one. Get her something she doesn't expect. That's the kind of gift women want."

"Like what?"

"I'll give it some thought. Keep in mind this is the woman who played the most important part in making you the man you are today. Between the two of us, we can come up with something she'll love."

"Alright."

"Good. See you later." She stared after him until he drove away, then went to pick up kids.

When she returned, Mom sat on the sofa pretending to read a magazine. Emma ran to the backyard to play and Greer braced herself. "I know you're not interested in Psychology Today, so you can drop the act."

"There is not a decent thing to read in this house. Only finance and psychology crap."

"Those were their careers."

"Yeah, well you'd think there'd be at least one fashion magazine."

Greer laughed so hard she sputtered. "That from a woman who doesn't wear clothes."

"Point taken. Now about your visitor. I'm not sure it's a good idea for him to take my granddaughter to the dance. You know. Just the two of them."

"Don't be ridiculous. He's the most trustworthy man I've met in a long time."

"If you say so."

"I do, and besides, Emma loves him."

"From the way you looked at him, she's not alone."

"Sorry to disappoint. He's counseling me."

"For what?"

"I'm a new mother to a six-year old. Don't you think I need professional advice?"

"No. At her age, she's already pretty self-sufficient."

The statement had Greer blinking, but then again, considering the source, why should she be surprised. "I'm not sure how to deal with grief in a child, so Jackson helps me with that."

She grinned. "Are you sure it's not an excuse to see him?"

"Jesus, Mom. He's a minister."

"She flapped her hand in the air. "Of course he is." Then she drew her face tight. "Holy crap, you're serious. He doesn't look like any preacher I've ever met."

"I know, right?"

"There's that expression again. The same one you get when you look at him. If he's so great, why not make a play for him?"

Greer closed her eyes and shook the idea away. "Why would I want to do that?"

"To settle down? More important now than ever since you have Emma to raise. It'd be good to have a partner to help."

"Give it up, Mother Matchmaker. A love connection is not in the cards."

"Have you done a reading?"

"No, and don't intend to, so drop it."

"Just saying, he could be the one."

To deal with her mother, Greer had learned the best strategy was to change the subject before she got off on a tangent. "He isn't my type and I'm certainly not his. I'm just lucky to have him for a friend."

For Greer to read anything more into it—ridiculous. More than likely there was a deeper agenda. He knew about her promiscuity and how little responsibility she'd had in the past, so part of his job involved helping her acclimate to her new role. Their relationship was as it should be. Counselor. Client. Friends.

End of story.

*

The decision to return the earring had paid off big time. Jackson had pulled off not one, not two, but three dates. Smooth. The thought made him laugh out loud.

No need to deny it. He liked Greer and wanted to find out if there could be more than friendship. Dangerous ground for sure because she planned to leave, but if he played his cards right, maybe he could convince her to stay. It made perfect sense. She had a house here. This was Emma's home, and as long as Greer had access to a computer, she could work from anywhere.

When she'd angled her head just right and mentioned his lame excuse for showing up unexpected, he'd gotten a zing in his southern zone, and it'd been a while since that had happened. Her expression in response to his subtle flirting told him she liked it.

He pulled into the parking lot at the office and checked his phone for messages. He opened Greer's first. What about jewelry?

He texted back. What kind?

Charm bracelet?

To hell with the back and forth, he wanted to hear her voice. She answered on the second ring. "No to the bracelet?"

"She has one. Mother's Day from Ian and Isla. Hey, should I ask Emma for the date over the phone, or wait until Saturday when we're together?"

"I think she'd be thrilled with a phone call. You want to talk to her now?"

"Sure."

After a few seconds of rustling and muffled sounds, her sweet little voice came on. "Hello."

"Hi, Emma. Your Aunt Greer told me you have a dance coming up, and I wondered if you'd let me be your date?"

"Yes, sir! Aunt Greer said we'd buy me a new dress. Oh, and you have to wear a suit, cuz it's formal. Do you have one?"

"I do. Did she mention we're going on our adventure this Saturday?"

"To the movie and Wild Animal Safari?"

"Yeah."

"Yay!"

"Let me talk to your aunt again." Emma giggled in the background when Greer took the phone.

"You made her happy."

"Since she needs address and I need a present, we should make a day of it and get to the mall as soon as it opens. I'll pick y'all up at nine-thirty."

"Sounds good. And Jackson, thank you for doing this."

Her voice quivered, and for a split second he wished he could take her into his arms. He looked forward to the first time that happened. All the firsts he had planned excited him.

*

Greer was surprised to see the same car she'd seen earlier, speed away. Odd, that car seemed to show up on her street every day. She ended the call with Jackson, and pressed the phone to her chest. A whole day with him might be more than she could handle. But on the bright side, maybe she would discover he had a horrible habit she couldn't tolerate. That'd be good. Kill her attraction and make life easier.

Struggling to clear her mind, she turned to face Emma, who still had the sweetest expression. The kind a girl gets when the object of her affection first notices her. "What color dress do you want for the dance?"

"Purple. No. Pink. No. Momma says green is a good color on me because of my eyes. I like lime green."

"Well, whatever you choose, I'm sure you and Jackson will be the best looking couple there."

Emma widened those beautiful eyes and grinned. "When I grow up, I want to marry him."

Greer sighed. "Me, too." Oh, hell. Did I say that out loud?

"Aunt Greer, you're silly. You're already growed up."

"Yeah, I'm getting there."

*

Jackson ran past the yellow house at the end of the street, with a new real estate sign in the yard. He'd always liked that place, but the color seemed a little girly for a bachelor. The sun behind him, sweat trickled between his shoulders. Rounding the next corner, he slowed his pace and pulled buds from his ears. Over the years, he'd found it the best method of relieving stress, and lately he'd had plenty of that. Clipping stride again, he checked the heart monitor on his wrist. All good. He always felt better after a run, but if he ever missed a day, it was hard to get started again. Discipline had never been his strong suit once he stopped playing baseball in college.

Down the street from his apartment, a car pulled from the curb and raced away. From that distance, and now with the sun in his eyes, the vehicle looked similar to Halley's, but he couldn't be sure. After the lecture he'd given her, and the threat of a restraining order, she wouldn't be stupid enough to continue following him. Would she?

Reaching his porch, he unlocked the door, and went inside, glad to be in air conditioning. After getting a bottle of water from the fridge and downing half of it in one gulp, his thoughts returned to earlier in the day. He congratulated himself and decided a celebration was in order for how he'd gotten Greer to agree to go out with him. Well, she didn't consider their outings as dates, but he did. So what if she planned to leave? He still had time to convince her otherwise, and he'd damn sure put forth extra effort to do that.

A spark of interest brightened her eyes when she'd mentioned he didn't need a reason so see her. Like hell he didn't. He had the biggest reason of all. He wanted her. He already fantasized about crushing her hair with his fingers and tipping her chin up to claim her lips. Have her sigh against his mouth. Clutch his shoulders to bring him closer, and surrender to him. And even though he'd never been a jealous person, the thought of her with someone else caused a fire to burn in the pit of his stomach. Monopolizing her time would take care of that.

He strode down the hall into the bathroom and started the shower.

Emma liked him and she was his ticket to Greer and there was nothing wrong with that. His interest in the child was sincere. He wanted to help her get over the loss she'd suffered. Hearing the excitement in her voice when he asked her to the dance make him happy.

Stripping, he stepped into the warm spray and let it rain on him. Palms braced against the tile wall, he dipped his head under the gush of water and reached for the shampoo. After that, he lathered on body wash. Whoever invented liquid soap got his vote for one of the best ideas ever. Ten minutes later, he toweled off and turned his attention back to the need for celebration.

Wasn't much fun to party alone, but he doubted Isla wanted Ian to go out again this soon, and Thomas was out of the question. He only got a pass once in a blue moon.

Jackson chuckled. What he wanted was to have fun with Greer. Hell, why not? She had a built in baby sitter until Friday. He checked the time. Eight. The sun hadn't set. He pulled out his phone and texted.

Want to go for a drink?

*

Greer sat on the back porch watching Emma and Mom play a game of chase. She'd always been a good playmate. In more ways than one. Greer chuckled and recalled the Playboy Magazine spread, even after having two kids, her mother looked great. Most of Greer's friends, especially the boys, loved coming to her house, because the entire layout, framed and displayed, hung in the living room, right next to her autographed pictures of Cheech and Chong. Greer had a gut feeling Mom and Tommy had an affair, but there was no concrete proof.

Laying the laptop aside, she checked the time. Almost eight. There was a lot to hate about Fairhope, but at night the temperature dropped and made it nice outside. She guessed that was God's way of letting people enjoy the sunsets. Who'd want to sit in blazing heat and watch the culprit causing their discomfort disappear into the horizon. Somehow, that might take the magic out of it. And magic it was on the night she'd shared it with Jackson.

She bit her bottom lip. A few more weeks and she'd be out of there and back where she belonged.

Mom climbed the two steps onto the porch and collapsed across the chaise lounge, heaving for breath. "Whew. That's all I can do, Emma Grace. You've got to let me rest." She pulled her body to a sitting position and looked over at Greer. "I have something I need to tell you."

Recognizing the tone, she braced for some crazy ultimatum. Man, she hoped Hugh Hefner wasn't planning a senior citizen edition. "O...kayy."

"Why did you say it like that?"

"Because I'm preparing for the worst. You're not posing nude again, are you? I mean its okay to go all Eve in the confines of Carolina Foothills Resort, but in print will be too much. Think of your granddaughter."

"Relax. That isn't it." Drawing a deep breath, she sat up straight. "I'm getting married."

Greer's throat tightened. "What? I didn't know you were dating."

"His name is Rickard and he joined the group six months ago."

"Oh, so you have literally been seeing him. All of him."

Mom shot her a pointed glare as if to murder the sarcasm. "I may as well add to your disapproval. He's also younger. By ten years."

Greer coughed out a laugh. "That explains it."

"What are you talking about?"

"Oh come on. How many times over the years have you claimed how a piece of paper meant nothing? That you didn't believe in marriage. And now you've thrown your principles to the wayside and become a cougar?"

"His idea and since I love him, I want to make him happy. We are planning an August wedding. I'd like for you to come."

Greer bit back another cutting remark because her mother looked so—hopeful. "Sure. Wouldn't miss it. Does Dad know?"

"Yes. I invited him, but I doubt he shows. The man has been eighty since he was forty. Never wanted to go anywhere or do anything. The major reason for our divorce. Rickard is the exact opposite. He loves to travel, cook, rock climb, try new things."

Yeah, I bet he does. Damn, Greer had to bite her tongue. Mom kept feeding her perfect fodder for snarky comebacks. Her phone dinged and when she read the message she must have grimaced, because Mom picked up on it.

"Bad news?"

"No. Jackson wants to know if I'll join him for a drink."

Mom smiled. "Go. If that hunk asked me out, I'd sure take him up on it. I mean, if I was twenty years younger and not engaged to be married."

She pulled her brows tight. "I don't think so."

"Why not? He's single. You're unattached. He's interested. You like him. What's the problem?"

"That last part. I like him. Too much. I don't need a complication." She cupped her hands over her mouth and checked to make sure Emma was out of hearing distance. "That makes it harder for me to leave here. Besides, he and I are worlds apart on the compatibility chart."

"Ridiculous. Haven't you heard opposites attract?"

"Yeah, and haven't you divorced a man because he didn't want the same things you did? I rest my case."

"That's not fair. Your dad and I were happy for many years."

Greer couldn't deny she'd thought about being with Jackson. He was hot as hell, but in the big picture, she couldn't picture herself as a preacher's girlfriend. No way. But it would be interesting to see heads snap from bodies if he ever showed up at a service with a fortune teller.

Mom's voice brought her back to reality. "Please go. The man is seriously interested in you."

Greer shook her head so fast her vision blurred. "He's interested in helping me. Not in a romantic way."

"You've had enough experience with men to know that isn't true. Haven't you noticed how he looks at you? If you haven't, you're not paying attention."

Greer searched for a response, but when it didn't come, Mom continued her encouragement. "I know you've asked yourself a million times why Avalon died, and since you and I trust karma, we have to accept there is a reason. What if he's it?"

Greer's stomach plummeted like it did at the end of an elevator ride. "That makes no sense."

"Really?" Mom arched a brow and drew a deep breath. "When I was here at Christmas, something wasn't right between Avalon and Evan. I tried talking to her, but she said it was my imagination. I think they were headed for a break-up. What if you can Jackson can provide Emma with stable parents and prevent her life being torn apart. Besides, I know you're lonely."

For a split second, the words registered but not the meaning, then they assaulted her with so much emotion she fought tears. "Torn apart? Are you kidding? Her life couldn't be more ripped to pieces. For you to think my happiness has anything to do with that tragedy dumps a shit load of guilt on me! And I'm fine."

Mom lowered her head and gazed up at Greer. "That's not what I mean. I'm saying, to deal with it, we need to look for some good to come from the loss."

As if she didn't already have enough to deal with. "You have no proof Ava's marriage was in trouble. Even if it was, maybe they worked it out. To suggest such a thing caused her death is ludicrous!" Greer wanted to say more, but thank goodness her phone rang. She looked at caller ID. Jackson. "Hey."

"Hey yourself. Did you get my text?"

"Yes. How soon can you be here?"

"Twenty minutes."

"See you then." So much for not spending time with him.

She needed a drink, or better yet, to get shit faced.

--------------------------------

Who do you think is stalking Jackson and Greer?

Is it Halley Rae, or just a total coincidence?

And how do you think a drunk Greer and Jackson will fare?

Til next time,

x zuz