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this tour could be a great way for me to jump-start my business." Maddie took a quick breath, then continued, her excitement gaining momentum. "I already have themes in mind I could incorporate to give each home an individual look and to demonstrate my style."
    Lance wiped a drop of perspiration from his cheek. "Most of the people shopping for houses out this way are pretty conservative, Maddie. You can't do anything flamboyant or too contemporary."
    "Yeah, the historical society has to approve the restoration projects so none of that weird sponge painting like you have in your bathroom," Reid said.
    "And no voodoo paraphernalia or feather headdresses like you hung on the walls in your bedroom," Lance said.
    "The voodoo spell is copy of a famous legend," Maddie said. "And that headdress is a Mardi Gras mask I brought back from New Orleans."
    "Still, we have to stick to code," Reid added forcefully.
    "And you can't quit mid-job like you did on a couple of your other little projects," Lance said.
    Maddie's jaw tightened. "I am a professional, guys. You don't have to worry. I know what I'm doing, and I'll finish the job, on time, too."
    The boys exchanged uncertain looks, hem-hawed around in a hushed discussion, then finally, very reluctantly, agreed. Maddie jumped up and hugged both of them. "Thanks, you guys. Working with you will be wonderful. I won't let you down, I promise."
    "Yeah, okay," Reid mumbled.
    Lance scrubbed his hand along his neck. "You'll have to talk to Chase about some of the house designs, the unique features he's including."
    Maddie hooked her arm through Chase's, trying to ignore the fact that he hadn't commented on their kiss before her brothers arrived. She must be rustier than she'd thought. "No, problem there. Chase and I will work well together, won't we, Chase?"
    Chase's jaw tightened as his gaze roamed over her mouth, then trailed downward over the clinging dress, pausing briefly at the swell of her breasts, her hips, and finally down to her bare toes again where she noticed his eyes linger on her toe ring. Her sparkling red nail polish glittered beneath the light of the moon.
    Another disapproving frown flitted onto his brooding face. Still, Maddie could have sworn she felt a current of some primal urge dance between them. Then the minute was gone, and Chase started cracking jokes about her poor sense of direction and how he couldn't imagine her driving a van all over town when she still got lost in the Savannah square. He finished by reminding them that she'd decorated her room with fluorescent painted toilet paper tubes tied together when she was eight.
    Once again Maddie had been relegated to kid sister.
    She stood, ready to tell him off, when he yanked her back down. Chase brushed his cheek against her ear and whispered, "Here's a brotherly tip: Next time, you might want to go with the white underwear, shortstop."
    Maddie's temper exploded. She leaned on her toes and whispered the first comeback that popped into her head. "Heck, Chase, next time, I'll show a little cleavage. And I won't wear any underwear at all."
    * * *
    Chase grimaced inwardly at his inability to hold his traitorous tongue in check. He'd never meant to make that comment to Maddie about her panties, but damn, he'd seen a whiff of that black scrap and her bare butt beneath the dress in the moonlight and nearly choked on his coffee. The fact that Maddie was acting rather strangely herself, talking about barhopping and picking up men hadn't helped either. And that... that kiss.
    He wasn't sure whether to be worried about her or to warn every single man in Savannah to watch out for the sex siren that had suddenly been unleashed into the city. His poor buddies. They had their hands full.
    Recognizing trouble brewing, Chase decided to hit the road and fast. "I gotta get out of here. Maddie looks tired."
    Maddie raised one beautiful auburn eyebrow.
    He shrugged. "Okay, I'm tired. I have a few years on you, shortstop." And a few mental