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“It’s the truth, Mom. Youdodeserve the best. And I’ll make sure you get it -- at least as far as your house is concerned.”

“I know you will, Jo.” Her mom slapped her hands on the table. “Celia called me earlier. She and your brother Tom want us to come over for dinner tonight. Dave and Kasey will be there, too. Everyone in the family wants to see you!”

“And I want to see them, as well,” Jo said. “I’m sure all the kids have grown so much since I saw them last.”

“You won’t recognize them!”her mom said.

“Probably not.”

She’d go and have dinner with her brothers and their families. It’d be great to see them again. But she wasn’t about to let Cam off the hook about the problems in her mom’s house. She’d be keeping a close eye on every step of the construction while she was in town. Thank goodness she’d had some construction experience in the Army. It would come in handy now.

* * *

Three days later, Jo’s phone rang as she was reading a book in her mom’s living room. She looked at the screen but didn’t recognize the number. “Hello?”she said cautiously as she answered.

“Jo, this is Cameron Pierce. I talked to Don and all the foremen, and I’d like to fill you in on what everyone said. Are you free for dinner tonight? I’d ask you to come over to the office this afternoon, but I’ll be in meetings most of the day. Evening will work better for me.”

“Evening’s fine for me, Cam. Where should I meet you?”

“How about I pick you up? I can say hello to your mom and thank her for buying one of my houses.”

Having Cam pick her up at her mom’s didn’t feel business-like. It felt… personal. Jo rolled her eyes. What was she, eighteen again?

Cam’s reasons for picking her up were logical. He was running a business, and probably didn’t have time to meet with everyone who bought one of his properties. And she knew her mom would appreciate Cam dropping by.

“Sure, Cam,” she said after a too-long moment. “That would be great. My mom will enjoy seeing you again.” She recited her mother’s address, then asked, “What time do you want to come by?”

“Does five work for you? I know it’s early for dinner, but I have, ah, stuff to do later tonight.”

“Five is fine. I’m on vacation right now, so I don’t have any plans. I’ll see you at five.”

“Great. Thanks, Jo.” Cam hung up the phone, but Jo stared at the screen for a long moment. Was she doing the smart thing? Going out to dinner with Cam? With him picking her up at the house, it felt too much like a date.

And a date with Cam sounded too damn appealing. It reminded her of high school, and the huge crush she’d had on him. She was an adult now, and beyond the ‘crush’ stage.

But Cam had certainly grown upverynicely. Now he was four or five inches taller than her, when he used to be exactly her height. And his chest was broad and muscular -- probably because of all the physical labor he did. His arms were huge. His legs were long and sturdy. His hair was longer than it had been in high school, dark and wavy. The kind of hair that made a woman want to run her fingers through it.

Yeah, Cam had grown up. And the crush she’d had on him in high school? The crush she’d thought she’d gotten over years ago? Turned out she wasn’t as over Cam as she’d thought.

* * *

Cam rubbed his palms down the sides of his jeans. Drew in a deep breath and blew it out slowly. Only when he was certain he’d gotten himself under control did he ring the doorbell of Jo’s mother’s house.

A few moments later, as if she’d been watching for him, Mrs.Finster opened the door. “Cameron Pierce,” she said. “Come on in.”

Cam swallowed as Mrs.Finster stepped to one side, smiling widely. “You’ve grown up since I last saw you in Ogden. You look good, Cam.”

God, this was just as awkward as picking up a date when he was sixteen years old. And it wasn’t even a date. It was a business meeting.

Although he wished it was a date. He’d never really gotten over Jo Finster.

Too bad she’d come back to the area too late. Before the disaster of his marriage. Before he’d become cynical and bitter.

Before he had a daughter to protect.

“You look great, Mrs.Finster.” He swiped his palms down his jeans. “I understand you bought one of the houses in the Gardens project.”

“I did,” she said, still smiling as she nodded at him. “I’m so excited about it. Can’t wait to move in.”