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he’s...gorgeous. Sexy in a cool, reserved way. If you go for that kind of thing.”
    “And you do.”
    “No, I don’t.”
    “Oh, you do.”
    Lexi reached into the fridge and snatched out a bottle of water, snapping off the lid with one quick twist. “Okay, maybe, if he wasn’t the enemy.”
    “Hardly the enemy. He’s just doing his job.”
    Hope was making excuses for him? She hadn’t even met him yet. “Whose side are you on?”
    “Yours,” was her friend’s immediate answer. “Ours. Everyone’s. But maybe I’m a little more objective.”
    “Hope, the man came here to put an eyesore on the outskirts of town.”
    Hope shrugged. “We both know that’s not going to happen. At least not the way things are right now. So maybe he’s here for another reason.”
    Sure, to make her life a tangled mess.
    “All I’m saying is you should give him the benefit of the doubt.”
    Lexi choked on her water and stared at her friend. Had Hope really just said that? Out of everyone, she understood just why Lexi would hesitate to trust anyone, least of all a complete stranger.
    Hope had been there when she’d discovered Brandon’s deception. “You know what happened the last time I trusted a man who showed up ‘randomly’ on my doorstep. I’m not inclined to give anyone the benefit of the doubt. Especially a man we know for a fact is here to make trouble.”
    Hope blinked and shook her head. “What happened with Brandon was not your fault, Lexi.”
    “Of course it was my fault. I let my lust blind me to what he was really after.”
    “He was a deceitful user and a talented liar. He’d have told you whatever you wanted to hear.”
    “Exactly. I should have known it was too good to be true. Guys like Brandon and Brett don’t go for girls like me.”
    Hope’s eyebrows buckled and deep frown lines bracketed her mouth. “Intelligent, kind, beautiful and successful women, you mean?”
    Lexi sighed. Hope didn’t understand. She hadn’t lived in the shadows her entire life, crowded out by her powerful father, her perfectly charming mother or her larger-than-life brother. Next to them, Lexi was just...normal. She was good. Not bad, but not stellar.
    She was the kind of girl who had to borrow little black dresses and shocking red pumps. Her entire wardrobe consisted of jeans, plain shirts, running shoes and hair bands so her ponytail didn’t get chocolate dipped along with the pretzel sticks.
    She woke up at five and fell into bed exhausted at nine. And in between she was more likely to have flour and powdered sugar on her face than lipstick and mascara.
    And she was okay with that. Lexi had come to terms with who she was a long time ago.
    “It doesn’t matter. I insulted him and ruined his shoes. And even if I hadn’t, I’m not interested. This time there’s no chance for confusion. He’s only here to get what he wants. Luckily, I have nothing to do with that.”
    * * *
    B RETT STARED AT the folder in front of him. A large manila envelope had arrived by messenger this morning. He hadn’t had time to worry about it, too preoccupied with preparing for his meeting with the town council, which had been a complete waste of his time.
    The room had practically been empty. Only the council and a handful of people had turned out for the agenda. But it didn’t matter. Brett had pulled out all the stops, sophisticated presentation complete with fancy graphics, a full scale model and twenty minutes of detailed research for increased town revenue.
    One of the council members snored. Halfway through Brett’s presentation someone in the audience fell off their chair. The noise got more attention than he did.
    Brett was frustrated and not a little pissed.
    What had happened to that Southern hospitality they were supposedly famous for? Apparently it was showcased by the spread of finger sandwiches, coffee and cookies. He wondered if they’d come from Lexi, but he hadn’t seen her.
    And maybe that’s what disappointed him