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spending time with a man who cheerfully declares himself to be immature and irresponsible is a good thing.”
    The low chuckle came again. “I’m not as bad as all that.”
    â€œAren’t you?”
    He turned in a slow circle. “Look. I’m completely normal. Practically boring.”
    He was many things, but boring wasn’t one of them.
    Before she could point that out, his door opened. A beautiful blonde wearing one of his shirts and nothing else looked at him.
    â€œHello, Josh. I thought I heard your voice.”
    Josh straightened. Charity took advantage of the distraction to slip into her room and carefully lock the door behind her. She leaned against the wall for a few seconds before bending over and turning on a lamp.
    As light flooded the small but elegantly furnished living room, she ignored the sense of defeat knotting in her stomach and told herself she wasn’t even surprised. Of course a guy like Josh would have a woman waiting in his room. They probably came in shifts. From everything she’d heard, he loved women and they loved him back.
    She squared her shouders. Even if she couldn’t control her physical reaction to him, she could control what she did about it, which would be exactly nothing.
    Â 
    B Y F RIDAY C HARITY was more comfortable in the old City Hall building and had learned the name of nearly everyone who worked there.
    Her eleven o’clock meeting was with Pia O’Brian, something she’d been looking forward to ever since Sheryl had put it on her calendar.
    Pia arrived right on time, her brown curly hair tumbling past her shoulders, her well-cut suit emphasizing her long legs.
    â€œHow are you settling in?” Pia asked as Charity led her to the small conference table by the window. “Ready to run screaming back to the big city?”
    â€œI like it here. Small town life suits me.”
    â€œYou say that now,” Pia said, her voice teasing. She set a stack of folders on the table. “Give it a few months, when you realize everyone in town knows your business and they’re not afraid to talk.”
    Charity laughed. “My life isn’t that interesting. Why would anyone care?”
    â€œYou’re new. Fresh gossip for the ladies in town. Just remember—there aren’t any secrets. Not for long.”
    â€œThanks for the warning.” She eyed the folders. “Light reading?”
    â€œI like to think the information won’t put you to sleep, but I can’t guarantee that.” Pia tapped the pile. “These are recaps of the last two years’ worth of festivals, celebrations and general civic good times. The Fourth of July parade, the Christmas Lights FantasyNight, that sort of thing. The ever-popular Gold Rush Days. If it needs a booth of any kind and it’s happening in Fool’s Gold, I’m probably involved. Or at the very least, offering advice. So if you ever need two thousand folding chairs at a great price, see me first.”
    â€œI hope I never do,” Charity murmured.
    â€œNot planning a big wedding?”
    â€œNot dating.”
    â€œMe, either.”
    â€œI’m new in town,” Charity told her. “What’s your excuse?” She couldn’t imagine Pia being without a man. She was so pretty and outgoing.
    â€œA total lack of men,” Pia said cheerfully. “I’m sure Marsha explained that you need to focus on male-based businesses. The last thing we need around here is a beauty college. I do my best with male-oriented events. Golf tournaments, car shows.” Pia both looked and sounded serious.
    Charity couldn’t help laughing. “I know this is a big deal, but you have to admit, it’s really strange.”
    â€œTell me about it. There were ten percent more girls than guys in my high school graduating class. That made prom time very ugly.”
    â€œNot that you went without a date.”
    Pia shrugged. “No, but a