Her Surprise Family by Patricia Thayer

Author:Patricia Thayer
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Harlequin
Published: 2011-05-31T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter Seven

Saturday morning, Shelby lay in bed, staring at the newly painted bedroom ceiling. It was the same thing she’d been doing for the past hour. Angry with herself for losing a night’s sleep over a silly kiss. Okay, two kisses. A yearning stirred deep in her stomach and she closed her eyes, remembering the feel of Rafe’s hands on her skin, his hard body pressed against hers, his mouth—

No! She tossed back the sheet and sat up. She glanced around the sunny yellow bedroom just off the kitchen. This had been her refuge. The place where no one could intrude. Now Rafe Covelli had. His dark eyes, his sexy grin had invaded the privacy of her bedroom. She stood and began to pace. She’d sworn to herself she wouldn’t let this happen. She couldn’t let herself be attracted to the man, let herself get dependent on him. Sooner or later he’d leave her. She’d be alone again. Better not to ever love than to feel the hurt of rejection.

Shelby pulled off her nightgown and put on a pair of cutoffs and a blue tank top. Slipping her feet into a pair of sandals, she headed for the kitchen, the black-and-white kitten on her heels. After making herself some coffee and feeding Lucky, she went out to the porch and examined the new flooring. Most of the railing spindles had been replaced and soon they could start to paint the trim. She walked down the steps and around back. The sun was shining through the trees and the sight took her breath away. Even a little run-down, Stewart Manor was a beautiful place. She sat down at the metal table on the patio, pulled her feet up and hugged her knees.

This was her home. Her throat tightened as she recalled how hard it had been for her to get here. How hard she’d worked, from the time she left foster care, through college, to her current work. But sheer determination drove her. And nothing was going to stop her from achieving her dream. A home. A place she belonged. A place where no one could send her away, or push her out of.

“Good morning, Miss Shelby.”

Shelby jumped. “Oh, Ely, you startled me.”

“Sorry, miss.” He walked to the table, his limp slowing his progress. “I thought you saw me.” He smiled as he set down his thermos. “You must have been daydreaming.”

“I guess I was. Please, have a seat.”

“Only for a minute. I have to get started before the heat of the day.”

“Ely, I don’t want you to work too hard and get heat stroke. And I’m going to have to insist on paying you something.”

He shook his head. “It’s not always about money, Miss Shelby. It’s the right thing to do. Stewart Manor has always been a special place to me, and it’s a crying shame they let it get so run-down.” He pulled off his battered straw hat. “Miss Hannah would be ashamed of the condition of her family home.

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