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His always went farther, and one year a melon plant took root beneath the big pecan tree.
    “So,” Trey said, plunging a heavy butcher knife into the melon and steering the topic away from family. “Why do you have to stay here for a month? Not that I’m complaining or anything.” And then he flashed those damned dimples again.
    June curled up on the porch swing and tucked her feet underneath her. The moonlight glowed from behind, illuminating the curls of her hair, but leaving her face concealed in shadows. She looked like a dark angel, all soft curves and sensuality.
    “It’s completely bogus,” she said. “But I have to stay for a month of community service. I can work at the church or with some charity that fixes old homes.”
    Luke nearly fell backward in his chair, and he lurched forward to catch himself. “You mean Helping Hands?”
    “Yeah, that sounds right.”
    “That’s great—” Trey began.
    “Church,” Luke interrupted. “You’ll want to work at church. It’s air-conditioned.”
    June leaned forward into the porch light and gave him a glare that said she’d rather burn in hell for ten eternities.
    “No, trust me.” Luke used his eyes to send Trey an unspoken message: Back me up, man . “You’re better off working with those nice little church ladies.”
    “Oh?” June sat up and gripped the edge of the swing. “The ones who think I’m running a den of iniquity? No thanks.”
    Shit. What had he done to deserve this? “Tell her, Trey.”
    “Uh, okay.” He shrugged, twisting his lips in confusion. “Building and repair is hot, dirty, dangerous work, but you can—”
    “Exactly!” Luke nodded and pointed at June. “Not to mention bugs and critters. No scorpions or rabid raccoons in church.” If that argument didn’t sway her, nothing would. Brave as she always was, June shrieked like a teakettle every time she saw a creepy-crawly. “Or snakes,” he added for good measure.
    June bit the inside of her cheek and stared into the darkness. “Well…we’ll see.”
    “Here you go.” Trey handed June a thick, dripping triangle of melon. Then he grabbed one for himself and joined her on the swing without offering Luke a slice. “One of my friends back home used to cut a hole in the top of the watermelon and stick a bottle of vodka in it, upside down.”
    “Oh, right. I’ve heard of that,” June said. Was she batting her lashes at Trey, or did she have something in her eye? “You leave it in the fridge overnight, and all the vodka soaks in.”
    “Yeah. It was pretty good.” Trey rested one arm on the swing behind June’s neck in a covert wraparound move that every guy learned in high school. “You know, there’s a little bar in the next county. Nothing fancy, just a few pool tables, but the beer’s wet. I was thinking we could…”
    Uh-oh. Luke knew where this was heading, and he didn’t like it one damned bit, though he refused to examine why he felt that way.
    “…have a drink while you’re in town.” Trey sucked melon juice off his bottom lip, and not so innocently either. “Maybe the bartender can mix one of your special recipes.”
    “Time to go.” Luke stood and shouted to Pru through the screen door. “Thanks for supper.”
    Trey tilted his head and stared at Luke like he’d grown a third arm. Luke fished his keys out of his pocket and skipped down the front porch steps toward the truck. “See you around, Junebug.”
    Luke didn’t see June’s expression, but she told Trey thanks, but no thanks. She wasn’t allowed to cross the county line. For no reason at all, Luke’s chest felt ten pounds lighter.
    Once he and Trey were on the road headed back to town, his buddy switched off the radio.
    “What’s with you?” Trey asked. “I had a shot with her back there. And why don’t you want her help with the Jenkins place?”
    Luke tried to sound casual, but his voice came out ten decibels louder than he’d expected. “Can you imagine her working with