Free Sexual Healing for Three by Gracie C. Mckeever Page B

to seek it out unless they were a determined stalker.
    “My ex-wife referred a girlfriend to the place when we found out her boyfriend was hitting her. Then I went over to talk to the guy, let 66
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    him know that Jennifer wasn’t alone in the world and had someone looking out for her.”
    “You do know that kind of behavior might have exacerbated the situation?”
    “I read the material from the Web site, so, yes, I had an idea. But I couldn’t just sit on my hands and do nothing, and I figured I’d take a chance that the guy could be reasoned with.”
    No, he wouldn’t sit on his hands since she could see he was a man of action.
    Donna wondered how much reasoning Russ had done with the guy, and when she looked at the hard-muscled biceps contrasting against the sleeves of his white T-shirt, she bet not much that didn’t involve his knuckles connecting with said guy’s face.
    She didn’t know why the thought of Russ’s possible brutish behavior turned her on, but it did. Or maybe it was the idea of him coming to the defense of a woman in need that did the trick. Either way, she felt her face, as well as other strategic areas of her body, heat, and she shifted in her seat for, like, the umpteenth time since he had sat down beside her and they had been talking.
    “So what happened to your ex-wife’s friend and the guy?”
    He shrugged and raised a glass of water to his lips before saying,
    “He left town.”
    Russ must have really scared the guy. “And your wife’s girlfriend?”
    “She’s still in New York, single and flourishing in her career.”
    Probably afraid to get with any man after her experience, Donna thought.
    After Bo she’d sworn off the male species for a long time and gone out to take some self-defense courses, determined not to let another man put his hands on her again without making him think twice.
    Donna decided it was time to change the subject to something lighter. Usually she was too wary to give and take the way she and Sexual Healing for Three
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    Russ had been doing the last half hour, to drift into waters even remotely personal and heavy. That Russ had the capacity to knock down her guard so easily indicated her initial impressions about him were on point. He was used to being in charge and just as, if not bossier than, Angela.
    “So, what about you, Russ? How long have you been in the architectural landscaping business?”
    “It feels like all my life, but it’s been about fifteen years.”
    “My father was a landscaper. He just sold his business several years ago.”
    “Angela mentioned that to me.”
    Donna just bet and wondered what other coincidental facts about the family Angela had shared with him.
    She knew she was being unfairly judgmental. The man had spent months working on the exterior of her sister’s house. It would be natural for them to get friendly—especially considering Angela’s outgoing personality—and share personal information with each other. But how personal? And had it been more personal than what she and Russ had just exchanged?
    “Listen, Donna, I realize this is an awkward situation for you, coming here with my brother and not knowing anything about me or your sister’s plans. So don’t feel obligated to sit here and let me monopolize your time.”
    She would have argued with him until she saw the proud tilt of his chin. He didn’t want her to take pity on him. Not that she thought anyone would ever make that mistake. He was not one to be pitied. In fact, she pitied the fool who tried to pity him. And she was not a fool.
    Donna caught Chance’s approach out the corner of her eye just as she was about to respond. He looked upset, and that upset her, like she had some kind of intimate bond with him already, one that allowed her to feel his feelings.
    God, she was hanging around Angela way too much!

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    “What’s up?” Russ asked, evidently picking up on Chance’s state too.
    “An emergency at the