Free Switched, Bothered and Bewildered by Suzanne Macpherson Page A

one of them personally. The supermarket people thought she was Jana Lee spiffed up from the spa and Carly knew it was her, but Dean thought she was Jana Lee. Jillian's head spun with it all. Oh, what a tangled web we weave when first we conspire to deceive. Her dad used to say that to them when they'd try to lie their way out of something as kids. Correction: When she lied. Jana Lee just didn't do that kind of thing.
    Speaking of webs, Jillian twisted herself a few times in front of the mirror to make sure she didn't look too Vampira in this getup, then grabbed her own red lipstick and gave herself a quick painting. There. That ought to do it.
    She sauntered down the stairs calmly but noticed that her heart was beating pretty darn fast. Hopefully she wouldn't have a panic attack on a date with the repair guy, for goodness' sake. She'd dated CEOs of San Francisco corporations. She could do this.
    No one was in the living room. Her entrance was for nothing. She followed voices and found Carly and Dean—and Monty the dog—looking into the washing machine, talking.
    "We probably should have run a rag load first. I hope it comes out," Dean spoke into the washer.
    "What comes out?" Jillian looked over their shoulders.
    "Some funky streaks on my sheets," Carly said. She looked up at her aunt and got a goofy look on her face.
    What? Jillian thought. Is my hair sticking up?
    "Let's run it through again. Maybe it will wash out." Dean pulled the detergent off the upper shelf, measured out a double capful and started the machine back up. He shut the lid carefully, removing Monty from his odd position, and turned to see Jillian. Dean got the goofy look too.
    "You clean up good," he grinned.
    She was thinking the same thing about him. Black T-shirt, black leather jacket, nice jeans. He was yummy. His dark hair and deeply tanned face made him look like he'd just flown back from the Mediterranean. He must work outside. He was taller than she remembered. Maybe because he wasn't hunched over washer parts. "So do you, Dean. What's the plan, Dew Drop Inn Tavern?"
    "Something like that. Carly, are you okay with this? Run a load of those old wet towels. It should only take one time through, but don't move to the nice stuff for a few more. Jeans next."
    "I've got plenty of all of that, thanks, Dean." Carly winked at Jillian over his shoulder in a very I'm not good at winking way, but Jillian got the idea. Dean was on the okay list for now.
    "Carly, honey, I'll be back early. Don't forget your homework."
    "Yes, Mother, I won't forget."
    Okay, they sounded completely lame. Jillian had to get Dean out of here. "Let's ride, Dean." She grabbed her purse off the kitchen counter. "Oh, I owe you for this afternoon. Write me up an invoice and we'll do it over a drink."
    "Romantic type, aren't you?" Dean took Jil-lian's elbow and guided her out of the utility room door, not letting Monty follow. He moved with her down the steps to the driveway.
    "Excuse me, Dean, but I'm not a delicate flower.
    Thanks for the elbow ride, but I can make it on my own." She turned in a rather huffy manner, took one step, caught her slim vintage high heel on a big hunk of gravel, and fell on her face. Well, more like her hands and knees.
    Dean picked her up. He actually did. He put his arm around her waist, picked her up and moved her onto a grassy strip next to the house. Then he straightened her up, dusted the dirt off her knees, turned her hands over and looked at her palms. Jillian was so surprised that she let him.
    "Looks like minimal damage. Shall we proceed?" He ran his hands over her palms to dispense with any remaining debris. His touch was sexy. He was sexy.
    Dean opened the truck door for his date and offered her a hand up. She took it, and he watched her slide into place. She was pretty. Very pretty, and very spirited. He shut the door and walked around the back of the truck so he could have a moment to compose himself. He'd been stifling a laugh since she'd