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getting married,” Linda filled in, growing impatient.
    “You what?” Mac stared at her in surprise. “I didn’t see any ring.”
    Connie’s breath caught in her throat. “You were checking?”
    “Wow,” Linda murmured with delight.
    “Wow,” Connie echoed, still caught up in Mac’s eyes.
    “No ring?” He raised his brow with the question.
    “Oh, that’s because he… What I mean is, there’s no groom. Not anymore.”
    Mac leaned forward, his voice husky. “What’s your proposition?”
    “I was hoping you’d do me a little favor.”
    “How little?”
    “A weekend little.”
    “What’s in it for me?”
    “How much do you want?”
    “Is this about money?”
    “Is there anything else?”
    “You tell me.”
    Of course there wasn’t anything else. This was all about money, and buying time for her grandpa. That was all there was to it. Right?
    “Maybe we should have a seat while I explain.”

Chapter Four

    The next morning, Mac found himself riding in the back of Linda’s shiny new convertible, while the two sisters sat up front. He tried to convince himself he was doing this for a good cause, going along with Connie’s plan. Basically, it was a win-win. He could help her spare disappointing her grandfather, plus he’d get the cash he needed for the down payment to rebuild his store. If it were all about him, he might feel guilty about accepting payment, but the fact was Mac donated ten percent of the proceeds from his shop to Homes for Humanity. When his business had gone ablaze, he hadn’t been the only one to suffer. The steady flow of support he’d provided that local organization had dried up too. Before, he hadn’t hoped to raise enough capital to rebuild until sometime next year. This unexpected opportunity with Connie would give him a chance to break ground sooner. That would prove a boon to the local homeless, and Mac was determined to see it through. He didn’t consider himself much of an actor, but seriously. How hard could it be? All he had to do was walk into some huge mansion and convince Connie’s family, and any assorted staff they had, that he was the Real McCoy. Mac swallowed hard, hoping he hadn’t bitten off more than he could chew.
    He caught Connie checking him out in the rearview mirror and self-consciously massaged his jaw. Once he’d opted in on the plan, he’d decided sprucing up was in order. He’d trimmed his beard and mustache and cleaned himself up nicely. Still, he wondered if what he’d done was enough. As an outdoorsy sort of guy, Mac wasn’t much into finery. He didn’t even own a suit and tie. There wasn’t much need for one in the circles where he traveled. Mostly because those involved sitting with groups of friends around a campfire, tossing back a brewskie or two, while discussing the next great way to save the world. He’d always hoped he’d find the sort of girl who could share that rugged lifestyle with him. Someone equally adventurous and just as comfortable in the great outdoors. Plainly, that wasn’t going to be one of these two.
    Mac was glad it was Connie who needed the groom instead of her sister. Not that Linda wasn’t pretty as well. It was more like instinct told him he’d have a much easier time pretending with Connie. She was smart and funny, and there was something extra appealing about her. He couldn’t quite put his finger on it, but it was there when the two of them were together. He’d never forget the panicked look in her eyes when she’d run straight into him in the woods during her late-night toilet expedition. She’d been half crazed with fear in a way that was unbearably cute. It was all he could do to keep from teasing her into believing there really was a predator in those woods. That would have given him an excuse to hold her longer. And something told Mac that keeping Connie’s lean, athletic body pressed up against his for an extra moment more would have meant sheer pleasure. Mac imagined her pretty blue