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hand over the back of his neck, the muscles there tense and aching. He wanted to hold her. He wanted a second chance at living again. He wanted a lot he couldn’t have. “If we can be friends and move on with our separate lives, I’d welcome it. It’s been years since I had anyone to watch late-night TV with.” Shit. Stop. Talking. Idiot. Everything was coming out all wrong .
    Lila smiled. “I did move on. And that road brought me right back here. I say moving on is overrated. How about moving forward?”
    “Look, I want to keep things simple. Uncomplicated. That’s all I’m saying.” Except for the part where he really, really wanted to see her naked.
    Lila leaned in and stabbed his chest with an index finger. The touch sent a line of fire all the way down his stomach to the front of his pants, tightening his balls.
    “Jake. Sweetie.” Her blue eyes shone with sharp-edged emotion. “I know you’re not stupid. You may want uncomplicated, but when has life ever served up that particular dish? I for one have never had it easy. It’s always messy, in-your-face complex. I gotta deal with it. So I suggest you learn to handle it, too. Because I’m not going anywhere.”
    Jake held his breath until her hand dropped away. He let it out in a long push as she stepped to the driver’s-side door and climbed inside.
    It dawned on him she planned to boil his blood and then leave him stranded in the post office parking lot. Despite better judgment—not that he had ever possessed such a thing—he shrugged and figured what the hell ?
    And before she could back the Lexus out, Jake eased open the passenger door and slid in next to her, smiling when she turned shocked eyes on him.
    Maybe he would get out of this with some semblance of self-dignity. “You’re right. Life is complicated. Now, take me to my office.”

Lesson Number Three —
    Do not wait for quiet, private moments to show your man you love him; those times are too seldom. Show him in the middle of the dusty town street, in the barn while feeding the livestock, or, heaven help me, on the way to Church. Reach out and lay your hand on his arm, get his attention, and look deeply into his eyes. He will do the rest.

Chapter Five
    L ila didn’t know whether to be irritated with Jake’s demand or excited by the prospect of having him all alone for five minutes.
    She chose to be excited. Cautiously excited. She sneaked a glance from beneath lowered lashes before backing the car out of the lot. He consumed the entire passenger compartment with his tall frame and muscular legs, and spilled over onto the console that divided the seats. She could feel the heat from his arm where it rested next to hers.
    She took a deep breath. “Um. Tell me about Reverie. How’s the home-building business recovering out here?”
    Jake tapped his index finger on the gearshift mounted on the console between them, a habit she remembered from way back. He considered the question. “Tough. Natural gas money has all but dried up. There are a few folks building, but nothing like it was a few years ago.”
    Lila nodded. “Are you surviving it okay?” Times had been difficult in construction, but Jake’s fairness and integrity had earned him a reputation, taking his business through the hard times—or so Granny had told her.
    “As good as can be expected. I set money aside. I can maintain my core crew, including Casler. Things are picking up again and we have a big project now, out on the west side of town.”
    “I see.” Lord. She sounded like an idiot. Really? Making small talk? How long could she keep this up before diving headfirst into a topic she desperately wanted to discuss? Like, how were his labs? What did the doctors say? Was he seeing anyone? And would he have dinner with her?
    But what did she do instead? Smile. And nod.
    “Well. That’s awesome.”
    Jake turned and looked at her, a smile turning up the corners of his mouth. “Awesome?”
    Lila’s cheeks reddened under