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I want from you is something that’s in his best interest anyway. So, will you hear me out?”
    He sounded earnest enough, and her anger had cooled to a minor sort of bristling. “You have five minutes, starting now,” Shannon said, deciding it would be best to avoid looking at him directly, kind of like protecting her eyes by not staring into the sun. She began cleaning up the various bits of lumber she had trimmed off this morning, turning her back to him.
    “Okay. I need you to help me stop Drew from making a big mistake.”
    “Yeah, you mentioned that last time. You know, your brother has a pretty good head on his shoulders. Just what mistake is it that you think he’s making?”
    “The youth center. I’m sure it sounds good in theory, but I don’t think he’s thought it all the way through. Hey, is this thing okay to sit on?”
    Shannon glanced around and saw him testing the strength of her half-finished deck with one hand. “Of course it is,” she answered shortly, feeling a defensiveness born of too many run-ins with good old boys who assumed a woman couldn’t possibly tackle home improvement projects by herself. “I know what I’m doing.”
    He looked up at her, surprised. “I wasn’t implying that you don’t. I just thought it would be good manners to get your permission first. See? I’m being a good boy today.”
    “Oh,” she said, nonplussed. “Then, yes, you can sit there.”
    He settled onto it and ran his hand along the smooth wood of her workmanship. “Nice,” he commented. “I’m very impressed. I have trouble even putting a picture frame up on a wall.”
    “Trying to kiss up?”
    He grinned slowly. “Well, now, if kissing will help … ”
    She reminded herself quickly that she disliked him, even as his words made her pulse speed up unexpectedly. Well, like Clarissa said, a woman would have to be dead not to notice a man like Michael Kingston. Perfection had to be acknowledged, whatever form it took. “You’re down to four minutes now,” she said stiffly.
    “Fine. Drew wants to create a place for underprivileged kids to get help with their homework, play sports, and all kinds of other good things. That’s a great idea. If he wants to do that, I’m all for it. Just not at Kingston Manor.”
    Shannon started to open her mouth to protest.
    He held up his hand quickly. “Before you call me a snob or tell me to get lost again, let me explain. I’m the last person that place would mean anything to, and that probably makes me sound like a huge hypocrite when I say this now, but that place is full of my family’s heritage — Drew’s heritage. It was built from the ground up by a Kingston, and it’s been in the family for generations. It should stay that way.”
    She was instantly suspicious. An estate like that was worth an awful lot of money, after all. “Why? If you’re hoping to find any legal loopholes, you’re in for a big disappointment. Drew’s had lawyers prepare everything very carefully, and your parents left Kingston Manor to your brother free and clear. If you’re planning on swooping in and getting your own hands on the place — ”
    “I don’t give a damn about any of that!” he said with a vehemence that surprised her into silence. “And I don’t want the place for me. I don’t belong there, and I never did. I want it for
him
.”
    “You want it for him,” she repeated doubtfully, not sure what he meant.
    “Yes. One day my brother will have a family of his own. He was born to be a family man, and I have zero doubt he’ll be a model dad. Little League, PTA — he’ll do it all. He’ll have kids to carry on the family name, the family traditions. He should hang on to the place for their sakes, if nothing else.”
    “You really expect me to buy that? That this is all because you want to be uncle of the year to some kids that haven’t even been born yet, and you’re all about family now? Forget it. Your reputation precedes you.”
    Her words