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hers, a rush of hot sensation burst through her.  She sighed as though she'd tasted the most sinfully decadent dessert.  She shouldn't be kissing this man, but…
    The air in her lungs evaporated as his arms snaked around her and he hauled her to him.  Heat flared, pulsating between them as he tilted her head, giving him better access to her mouth.
    She raised a hand to stop him, but it took her several moments before she put her fingers next to his mouth and gently pushed him away.  He released her, but kept her hand, pressing a deliciously hot kiss on the inside of her wrist.  A frisson of shivers left her unsteady.
    Before she had a chance to react, he placed another soft kiss on her lips.  "Thanks for dancing with me tonight.  I hope I get to see you again."
    His tactics effectively stole her words.  She touched her fingertips to her lips, remembering the tantalizing feel of him.  It was as if he'd permanently branded her.  "Uh…"  Shit.  He was on that damned avoid list.  "I'm sure I'll see you."
    "I'd hoped to spend a little more time with you."  The timbre of his voice seduced her to the point of almost breaking.  "Can I call you?"
    Avoid.  Avoid.  Avoid.  "I don't know if that's a good idea."
    "Because of Hannah."
    Every fiber of her being rejected the idea of turning him away, but she had to remain loyal to her friend.  "Yes."
    "So even after all this time, she's still determined to ruin what's left of my good name."  He sighed.  "I'd hoped you were the kind of person who made up her own mind." 
    "I am."  Lily was certain she'd heard disappointment in his voice.  "It's not that I believe everything.  It's just…she's my friend."
    "I understand."  He remained quiet for a moment.  "Maybe after some time has passed, you'll see things in a different light." 
    He touched his lips against hers in a whisper soft kiss that made her want to beg for more.  "Good night, beautiful Lily.  Sweet dreams."  
    He left her at her front door, and she watched as he moved through the dark, his shadow a little blacker than the night.  She missed him the moment he walked away.  The interior lights from his truck provided a little illumination, but she couldn't see his face as he climbed inside.
    He started the engine, his headlights glaring into the night.  Gravel crunched as he turned his truck around.  When he reached the main road, his tires squealed as they gripped the pavement, and he sped off into the night leaving her in utter darkness and silence. 
    She released the breath she'd been holding.  Oh, wow.  That hadn't gone at all as planned.  She closed her eyes, touching her lips again, trying to picture him still there.  Damn.  She couldn't help it.  He just didn't seem to be the jerk that Hannah had painted him to be.  She liked Luke, like the sparks that flared between them.
    His kiss would remain seared in her memory for a long time.

CHAPTER FIVE
     
    The next afternoon Lily traveled back down the graveled drive and drove the few short miles into town.  Things already seemed familiar, which was good.  Traffic had picked up since the previous day.  She actually had to wait for a car to pass before she could turn into the grocery store parking lot.
    Lily's gaze immediately flicked to where the big black truck had been parked the day before.  It was gone.  Of course it would be.
    She straightened her blouse, grabbed the envelope that held her resume, and headed into the real estate office. 
    Betty Johnson was a hardened older woman with silver cropped hair and a wiry build.  "You must be Lily," she said as she rose from behind a wooden desk. 
    "I am, Mrs. Johnson."  Lily extended her hand, and Betty shook it with a firm grip.  "I came to apply for your part-time position."
    "Yes, Sondra told me.  Sit down."  She indicated a wooden chair with a faded blue cushion that rested on the opposite side of the desk.  "What are your qualifications?"
    Lily slipped her resume from a