If Greer had thought more about Jackson's invitation, she might have refused. But since leaving Emma with him to wait in the school office, she'd seen a sparkle in her niece's eyes. The child missed her dad. That became clear when she latched on to Jackson's hand. Greer wasn't trying to replace Ava, but at least she provided a mother figure, and now it seemed Jackson would take care of the counterpart.

He probably didn't have a clue it was happening, but he would soon. Then what? And she needed to tell Emma they'd be moving when school was out, and intended to, but not today on the heels of trouble. That was enough for anybody, much less a six-year-old.

She rinsed the last plate and loaded it in the dishwasher, then stared into the backyard where Emma turned cartwheels. Athletic genes ran in the family. Evan, a star point guard in high school, and Ava, district champion in track.

Greer wondered if Jackson played sports. The way his butt filled out a pair of jeans, she'd guess baseball, but Nova would disagree. Damn, Greer missed her best friend. A visit would be nice. She should call her.

Emma rounded off, somersaulted. She had the talent show routine down pat. Sadness overwhelmed Greer because the child blamed herself and that broke Greer's heart. Just as she'd feared, Emma had heard her parents argue.

Her phone chimed and disrupted her thoughts. Shari was back and ready to meet. As eager as Greer was to find out all she could about the possible divorce, she wanted to spend some time with Andreas. Not a long lasting relationship. Now with him or any man. Was she kidding? The feeling was mutual. Besides, even if the sex was average, after he left, who knew when she'd have another partner?

Well, there was the babysitter list that could give her night out, but Greer didn't know the hotspots in Fairhope. She figured university students filled most of the bars, not that she had anything against a guy her own age. They'd just never been her flavor.

She texted Shari and arranged to have coffee early. That would give Greer a chance to see Andreas before her lunch session with Jackson.

After another sleepless night, the next morning Greer's nerves jumped. Growing up, she'd always hated when her mother harped about any mistake she'd made, so taking the other path, she'd not brought up the school mishap again. But all that nagging might have been what kept her and Ava on the right course.

Shari suggested a coffee shop not far from the elementary campus, and Greer found it with no problem. She claimed a parking spot near the front door of Latte Da. A bleak sky threatened another storm, and she hated the thought of it. The building already looked as if it had weathered a few. Two grimy benches sat against dirty brown stucco, the dust covering emphasized by light shining through the windows.

Once inside, she spotted her early morning date, waved to her, then stopped to place her order. Thank goodness, the interior was cleaner than the exterior. A glass case filled with an assortment of muffins didn't have a single smudge. The aroma of cinnamon, vanilla, and roasted coffee beans hung in the air. As she scooted into the booth, Shari pointed at her plate. "You should try this, it's delicious. Strawberry cream is my favorite, but you can't go wrong with any of them."

Greer wasn't much on chit-chat. Come to think of it, she didn't waste time with anything. Get to the point and get it over. That tactic worked perfectly the day before when she'd threatened to go to the paper. Suggested a human interest story of how her niece had lost her parents and now faced bullying at school. Once she'd pointed that out, the principal's demeanor changed before he even spoke. If she'd learned anything from dealing with her own troubles with authority figures, it was attitude. Walk in as if you had the upper hand, and in most cases, you would.

"I'm not hungry. I called you because I found divorce papers. You were Ava's best friend, right? Surely she confided in you."

Shari sipped, then set her cup back on the saucer. "I suppose I was. Your sister was a hard person to know. She kept everyone at arm's length. Without going into much detail, she told me a couple of years ago, Evan had an affair with a woman at work. When confronted, he admitted it and ended the relationship. But things were never the same. Even I could see it."

"You're saying she couldn't get past it?"

"She never really forgave him. Couldn't regain the trust they'd had, and the relationship suffered." Shari leaned forward and lowered her voice. "A while back, the rumor mill circulated Ava was carrying on with one of her clients." She flapped the air with her hand. "I don't know if it was true, but then two months ago, she and Evan saw a marriage counselor. That's where they were headed when the accident occurred. She didn't talk to you about it?"

The waitress placed a cup in front of Greer. "Need anything else, hon?"

"No, thanks." Greer focused on Shari. "Ava and I weren't close. We used to be, but I guess like her marriage, our connection deteriorated. We got busy with life and living six hours away, we didn't visit as we should. I regret it."

"Well, by getting help tells me they still loved each other. Don't you think?"

"Maybe. Or perhaps it was for Emma." Greer checked her watch. Andreas should be awake by now. "I've got to go. Thanks for meeting with me."

"No problem. I hear you had trouble at school yesterday and put Mr. Baxter in his place."

"I wouldn't say that. I met with him and luckily he was willing to cut Emma some slack. We went in this morning and she apologized to the little boy, and I to his parents."

Shari laughed. "Well, the grapevine has it you handled Mr. B. like Silly Putty. Good for you. He can be a real jerk."

Greer said goodbye and drove to Andreas's motel. Two hours later, she rolled over, looked at the clock, then bolted upright in bed. "I need to go."

Andreas pulled her back to him. "Stay. You don't have to pick up the kid until three."

"I can't. I have an appointment at noon." She pressed a sweet kiss to his lips. "Are you sure you can't stay another day? Emma has a lock-in tomorrow. We could have the entire night together."

"Wish I could, babe, but I've already delayed my trip for you."

"So after today, we'll never see each other again?"

"Oh shit. You're not gonna cry, are you?"

She sat up again. "Don't be silly. But I am sad." Scooting out of bed, she pulled on her panties, and searched for her bra. "You've been a nice interruption." She finished dressing and grabbed her purse.

He put on his boxers and followed her to the door. "If I'm ever back this way, I'll call you. And if you visit Vegas, you have my number." He gathered her in his arms for one last kiss, then she stepped into the sunshine.

Andreas was another example of why she chose men like him. That way, when they left, there'd be no need for tears, because he was not the kind of man she could ever love. And he wasn't the sort of guy who'd ever love her, or any woman. That was the easiest way to protect her heart.

Wanting to freshen up before lunch with Jackson, she climbed behind the wheel of the Lexus and headed toward home for a shower.

                                                                                          *

Jackson sat at his drafting board and studied the house plan. Mrs. Simon had decided she wanted additional closet space in the guest bath. Damn, he hated when construction got underway and the client requested changes that entailed moving walls. But after working on it for two hours, he'd solved the problem. He hoped. Never knew when dealing with senior citizens. They were the hardest to please. Set in their ways and always right. At least that's what they thought.

His intercom buzzed and pulled him from his frustration. He picked up the phone. "Yes, ma'am?"

"Mr. McBride is here."

"Send him back."

Jackson turned to face the doorway to wait for his visitor. Within a few seconds, he appeared. "Hey, Thomas. How're you doing?" Jackson stood and met his friend half-way.

Thomas grabbed him into a bear hug. "How the hell are you, man? Good to see you."

Jackson motioned for him to sit, then walked around his desk and reclaimed his chair. "What have you been up to?"

Thomas sat and rested his right ankle on his left thigh. "Same old, same old. Growing crops and babies. You?"

"Staying busy. Jessie and the kids?"

"Doing fine. Can't believe my eldest is about to start middle school in a couple years. Damn, I'm getting old."

"Right there with you in the age department."

"Pft, I'd love to be twenty-six again." Thomas removed his cowboy hat and balanced it on his knee. "I'm surprised you called. Glad, but surprised."

"I need a favor."

"Name it."

"I want to take a girl out to your old place to watch a sunset."

Thomas's rowdy laughter filled the room.

Jackson raised his hands. "Hey, it isn't like that."

"Can't be. Hell, you only get your driver's license and lose your virginity once. But you can put the moves on a chick in the same location. Hopefully, your technique has improved."

"I didn't have a problem with technique back then, but these days I'd rather use my moves in air conditioning and a comfortable bed in place of the back of a truck. This time, I'm just going for the sunset."

Thomas cocked his head. "Whatever you say. I'll leave the gate unlocked."

"Thanks. Now, does Jessie ever let you have a guy's night out?"

"Sure, and I'm due one."

"How about Saturday night?"

"Sounds good. That way I can get a full report of how the date goes." He laughed again.

"I'll meet you at Bucky's at eight."

"Whoa, whoa, whoa. Better make it nine. That way, I can help with the baby. Jessie's ritual of a long, hot soak, is the only quiet time she gets." Thomas stood.

Jackson got up and walked around the desk. "I'm looking forward to it."

"Me, too. Bring big brother if you like. I've not seen him in a while. He doing okay?"

"Yeah, and that's a good idea. I'll invite him."

Jackson ushered his friend out of the building and watched him drive away. The memory of that first sunset washed over him. That was the best summer of his life. It was great to have a girl as eager and curious about sex as he had been, but the hot nights of discovery came to an end when her dad took a job in Oregon.

Jackson smiled. He imagined sex with Greer would be more memorable than any he'd ever had. Too bad it would never happen.

When he arrived at Bay Breeze Café, he stopped to tell the waitress he'd signal when they were ready to order. Greer sat in their regular booth. Funny, how in a few days, it'd become theirs. He laughed under his breath. Hell, before she left Fairhope, maybe they'd even have a song. "You been waiting long?"

"No. You're not late. I came a little early."

He slid across the seat and propped his arms on the table. "So I guess we should talk about yesterday. I stand by my first impression. You're better at this parenting gig than you give yourself credit."

"The things I said to Emma weren't true."

"What do you mean?"

"All that bullshit about getting help with a problem. What I wanted to say was show me that little bastard and I'll teach him a thing or two about calling you names."

He whispered a laugh. "Believe it or not, that should be your reaction, but the fact you didn't voice it proves my point."

"Thanks." Greer stared out the window, then faced him again and took a deep breath. "I talked to Shari earlier. Ava and Evan were in counseling for all the good it did. According to what Emma said, they were still fighting." Tears pooled but Greer gave her head a slight toss, then straightened and spoke again. "I don't think they were going to make it, and even though the divorce papers were pretty generic, I'd bet the screaming match the morning of the wreck was over who would get custody. "

"You may be right, but they were trying to salvage what they had."

Greer fiddled with her napkin tearing a piece off and rolling it between her fingers.

Jackson waited for her to say something, but when she didn't he broke the silence. "What are you thinking?"

She hesitated as if considering her answer. "Looks like another storm is brewing. I don't know how you can stand them."

The slight quiver in her voice proved she didn't want to talk about her sister anymore, so Jackson went with the subject change. "You don't like Fairhope?"

"Are you kidding me? Cotton fields, gulf humidity. If I'd been raised here, I'm sure I'd love it, but I can't wait to leave."

"You've got to give me the opportunity to change your mind. Emma has the lock-in on Friday, so let me take you out and show you some positive things about my city."

She didn't answer, just pulled her brows together. And he wondered if he'd been to forward. Maybe she wasn't interested in spending date time with a minister. She'd said she didn't have a man in her life, but with her looks, she could get one. "If you already have plans, that's fine. I just thought you might enjoy an evening out. We can do it some other time."

"No. I don't have plans. I'll go. Will it be formal or casual?"

"Now you're making fun. We have fancy events, but that's not what I have in mind." The sunset and isolated location would provide the perfect setting for him to come clean about the deception, and he needed to do that. He waved at the server.

She appeared and took their orders, then Greer brought up Ava again. "My sister and Evan probably both had affairs and Shari said things hadn't been good in a long while. I don't understand it. They were so perfect for one another, and they couldn't even make it work."

"You don't know that."

She shredded more of the napkin, and made another ball. Maybe she was building a snowman.

She laid it next to the first one and started on the third. "Finding out they'd lied to each other proves happy endings don't exist in the real world."

This might be the perfect segue into his confession, so he took the opportunity. "Everyone lies, sometimes.

"Not you. You're a good guy. Too bad all men can't be like you."

Damn. Now what was he going to do? He didn't know. But somehow, someway, he had to tell her the truth and once he did, he was pretty sure it would set him free—from ever seeing her again. And that's one freedom he did not want.