Free Mr. February by Ann Roth Page A

attracted to him. That doesn’t mean he’s the man for me. Although he’s such a great guy. I mean, he got JR a job.” On the phone last week, she’d told Shannon about her brother’s temporary employment and had shared that she’d given him a deadline to move out. “This is his first day at work, and he actually whistled as he left this morning.”
    “That’s a nice change. Back to you and Rafe. You were saying he’s not the man for you, but…” Her eyebrows arched in question.
    “There’s some other stuff.”
    “Such as?”
    “We have this amazing chemistry.” Jillian’s cheeks grew warm, and she knew she was blushing.
    “You two are having sex? Get out of town!”
    “Actually, no, but we have discussed it.” Last week, after engaging in some of the most arousing foreplay of Jillian’s life. Since then, despite continually reminding herself Rafe was all wrong for her, her longing for him had only grown.
    “We both agreed it shouldn’t happen,” she explained. “From now on, we’re going to avoid each other, but if, for some reason, we happen to meet, we’ll make sure other people are around. Because when the two of us are alone together…” Searching for the right way to describe the intense feelings between them, Jillian paused. “It’s dangerous.”
    “The attraction is that strong?”
    Miserable, Jillian nodded. “More powerful than anything else I’ve experienced.”
    “You’re not exactly jumping for joy. Maybe you don’t want to stay away from him.”
    “No, but if I’m going to find a man who wants to settle down and start a family, it’s for the best. May I burp Georgia?”
    “Be my guest.” While Jillian coaxed out a burp, the conversation focused on the infant.
    Then Shannon changed her diaper and laid her in the crib. As soon as Jillian and her friend returned to the living room, Shannon picked up where they’d left off. “When you talk about Rafe, your whole face changes. Are you in love with him?”
    Over the past week, Jillian had mulled over that very question. “I can’t afford to fall for him, Shannon. It’s lust. I think.” She laughed without a shred of humor. “How’s that for a confusing answer?”
    “You sound mixed-up, all right. Speaking of sex, my doctor says Asher and I have to wait a few more weeks before we can have it again. Asher is getting antsy, but between my stitches and feeding this little peanut every three hours, making love isn’t exactly a priority right now.”
    “Well, I fantasize about it with Rafe all the time.” Jillian had even enjoyed a few feverish dreams. “I wish I could stop thinking about him. He’s getting in the way of finding my Mr. Right.”
    Shannon gave her a searching look. “Would it be so terrible to indulge yourself without falling for him? You know, to get him out of your system. Then you’ll be able to move on.”
    “Hmm…” Jillian considered that. Since breaking up with Doug, she’d been involved with several men, without losing her heart to any of them. “That’s tempting, but Rafe and I haven’t spoken since we agreed to steer clear of each other a week ago.” Seven whole days of aching for him. “For all I know, he’s already moved on.”
    “There’s only one way to find out—ask the man.”
    “Chase after him? That’s not my style. If he’s moved on, I’m going to do the same.”
    *
    Wednesday dawned cool and sunny, perfect for working outside. After lunch, Rafe drove toward his property. JR and Zach had started clearing the site of his future home this morning, and he wanted a visual of their progress.
    Zach’s shiny red truck, easily identified by the white Zach’s Tree and Root Removal ad on the door, sat parked in the dirt area closest to the property. After parking the Beemer beside it and grabbing three cans of chilled pop from the passenger seat, Rafe strode down the hill. Trees blocked his view of the work area, but he heard the buzz of the chainsaw and smelled the scent