Free Burning Up by Susan Andersen

they’d have men lined up the length of the fairgrounds, ready and willing to lay down theirhard-earned cash for the opportunity to make her do it again.
    So he nodded. “Good thinking,” he agreed, congratulating himself that it didn’t even sound grudging. “I’ll run it past her.”
     
    “Y OU MIND THE LIFEGUARDS now!” Janna called after Tyler and Charlie as they tumbled from the car and raced for the gate to the town pool.
    Macy raised an eyebrow at her cousin, causing the other woman to make a face in return. “I know, I know.” Janna said. “Wasting my breath.”
    “And so unnecessarily, too. Unless things have changed dramatically since my time, those lifeguards keep an eagle eye on the kids and expel anyone foolish enough to give them lip.” Reaching across the console, she gave Janna’s thigh a comforting pat. “That’s one thing you don’t have to worry about. I’ll head back to supervise as soon as I get you situated with the therapist and make a quick stop at the Shop and Save to pick up some TP for Auntie.” She glanced down at her pool wear, then shot Janna a sly smile. “Think the patrons there will be as scandalized as the fire chief was over my display of skin?”
    “You know this town. Some will, some won’t. But Macy, about Gabe—”
    She grimaced. “I know, be nice, he’s a good man, a righteous, upstanding member of the community, yadda, yadda, yadda.”
    “I’m sure he’s all those things.” Janna’s lips tiltedin a wry smile. “But what I was going to say was, what’s with all the verbal foreplay between you and him whenever you’re together?”
    “What?” She pulled her gaze from the road to stare at her cousin in shock. “No verbal foreplay! We don’t do that.” Then, directing her attention back to the traffic, she admitted, “Well, at least he doesn’t. He seems pretty into Grace. And if that shouldn’t halt me in my tracks, I don’t know what will, since I’ve never poached another woman’s guy in my life. But man. ” She shook her head. “There’s just something about him. He opens his mouth or, okay, just stands there giving me that cool, judgmental look and it’s like he’s catnip and I’m the cat, he’s Mad Dog and I’m the wino, he’s crack and I’m the—”
    “I get it, Mace.”
    “Well, I wish I did. I’m not sure I even like him. But I sense all kinds of heat beneath that outer chill, and boy, am I attracted to him. I’ve never felt anything quite like it.”
    “I’m thinking he’s pretty attracted to you, too.”
    “But don’t you see? If he is, that makes him a pig. And me a guy-rustling pigette. Because there is Grace.”
    “Who is a sweetheart,” Janna said.
    “Yeah, she is,” she agreed trying to ignore the sinking feeling in the pit of her stomach. “I really like her.”
    “So do I. But I gotta say, Macy, when it comesto sparks between her and Gabe? I see zip. Nada. None.”
    Not particularly liking herself for the satisfaction that hearing that gave her, she said as she wheeled the car into the clinic’s parking lot, “Maybe their fascination with each other is something they prefer to keep private. They’re both pretty contained.”
    “I suppose.” But staring at the blue-and-white County Seat Sports and Spine sign, Janna didn’t sound convinced.
    Or even as if she were actually still paying attention to the conversation. Macy touched her arm. “You nervous?”
    “Big-time. Which no doubt makes me a big fat baby.”
    “No, it doesn’t. You’ve been through a lot, and this is something new added to the mix. But first times in everything are always the hardest. I think it’s that going-into-the-unknown thing. I bet your progress will grow in leaps and bounds with the therapy, though.”
    “If it doesn’t kill me. I’m tired of hurting and I bet this is gonna be painful.”
    “There is that possibility.”
    Janna’s head snapped around and she laughed. “That’s one of the things I love about