“Needed to get out for a ride. Thought I’d stop by when I came back through town to say hey.”

He looked to Beth and she licked her lips nervously. And that was before he slid his sunglasses down, exposing those intense eyes as he took her in.

“Welcome back to Petal, Joe.” She managed to talk to him like she’d talk to anyone else. Mainly because she was trying to pretend she wasn’t imagining him naked and bringing her cake.

Ha. She was totally imagining him naked bringing her cake.

“Beth?” She didn’t miss the way his gaze lingered on her br**sts where her shirt clung. It wasn’t white so she missed giving off the wet T-shirt thing. And good, ’cause kids and all, and because she didn’t do wet T-shirt contests. But she was glad he found them nice enough to look at a while.

“Yep.”

He got that look. The one guys got when they liked what they saw. Then his gaze darted to William, and the look changed to oh yeah, that’s my friend’s little sister. Damn. She was clearly going to have to knock him out of that box.

“Nice to see you. Last time I did you were still in high school, I think.”

She was sure he never even noticed her as a person back then. “Probably.”

He really looked good. Like, really, really.

But before she could get warmed up enough to flirt, he turned his attention back to her brother and she hid her frown.

“Come on in. I’m planning on some time on the porch. Gotta keep an eye on all these sprouts.” William had pretty much forgotten about her now that his friend had arrived. Boys.

“I’m gonna run. I have an appointment in a while with my bed and a nap.” She tiptoed up and hugged her brother, who kissed her forehead when she stepped back.

“Thanks again for watching the kids.”

“Anytime.” She looked to Joe again. “See you around town, Joe.” And she totally would. Because now it would be her mission.

The kids all came running, laughing and squealing to give her hugs and kisses, and she told them she’d see them the next day at her sister Tate’s house.

She didn’t even try to pretend she didn’t throw some sway into her walk when she headed to her car.

Chapter Two

Beth looked through her closet, trying to decide what exactly to wear that day. Since Joe had been in town two weeks—and because she’d failed to bump into him all those times she’d tried to—it was time to just go right over and say hello.

It was neighborly after all. Really, as a Southern woman it was her duty.

“Wear something red. Red is a great color on you. It’s a confident color.” Her best friend Lily riffled through her clothes and pulled out a dress she hadn’t worn in ages. “This.”

It was simple enough. Hit her right above the knee. A boat-neck collar, which always suited her face. Sleeveless, which was good because it was August in Georgia and she didn’t want to look any more sweaty than she had to when she stopped by Joe’s garage to deliver her welcome basket of goodies.

And checked him out a little closer.

“I can’t believe I missed it when he came over to William’s place.” Lily shook her head.

“You did miss an eyeful. When he rode up on that motorcycle, I nearly choked on my tongue.” Beth bent, looking for the right shoes. Heels were sexy, but she was on her feet a lot at work so she needed low ones. “I suppose someone could say that was a welcome back.” She frowned a moment.

Lily snorted. “That wasn’t a welcome back. You were at your brother’s house when he came over. Not the same. He’s a friend of the family and back in town. You’d still take him something because that’s what you do. If he’s g*y, married or otherwise unobtainable, then you say hey welcome back and go to work. No harm no foul.”

“Thank you for enabling me.” She winked.

“It’s my sacred duty as your best friend to enable you.” Lily smoothed over Beth’s hair. “You have such gorgeous hair. Have Tate do something to it. A bun, some braided thingy, whatever. Then he can see your neck. You have a great neck.”

Beth ran a hand down the front of the dress, looking at herself critically. “He’d probably rather look at my boobs. Boys like those.”

“I wouldn’t know anything about that. God, you’re such a floozy.”

They both dissolved into laughter.

“I’ve got to run in a minute. I brought the invitation to the wedding so don’t forget to take it. Nathan is totally on to us both. He gave me that look of his when I was getting ready to come over here earlier.”

“He’s good at that look. Learned it from Tate, who is the master. But none of those boys is the boss of me so he’ll have to suck it up. Still, he’ll be a good daddy some day.” Beth looked herself over in the mirror. She’d come a long way from that girl who had to make do with hand-me-downs and whatever Tate could find for them at garage sales and thrift stores. She’d made something out of herself. She was a business owner. She had a nice apartment. Her fridge and pantry had food, and the last time she hid from a drunken argument was years before, the last time she’d gone to her parents’ place.

Beth Murphy had grown up and left all that crap firmly in her past.

“You look so cute in that dress.”

“Nice call.”

Lily winked. “Always eager to help you snag a man. Since you’re so homely and all.”