It's Never too Late - By Tara Taylor Quinn Page 0,10

age, she’d been aware of the camaraderie and neighborliness of the folks in the town where she’d been born. A whole group of them had gathered downtown to wave goodbye as she’d ridden off in her grandmother’s car.

“Lucky woman,” she said under her breath, and then winced. That had come out louder than she’d intended. What in the hell was the matter with her? She was around good-looking men all the time. And didn’t care one way or the other.

His grin unsteadied her nerves. “What was that?”

“I said it’s my lucky day.” Addy straightened up to her full height and passed him the sheet of instructions. “If you could just lift that basin, I’ll guide the tube and then I can get the rest.”

She’d just lied. She’d said “lucky woman,” not some tripe about “her lucky day.” Adrianna Keller, straight-and-narrow line walker, had knowingly and deliberately told an untruth for no other reason than to protect herself from further embarrassment.

“I beg your pardon, ma’am, but I don’t think that’s what you said.” His grin had grown into a full-blown smile. But there was something kind about the glint in his eye.

“That’s quite the accent you have there, cowboy.” She figured two could play this game.

“I’m a West Virginian through and through.” Looking from the instructions to the box, Grandson dropped the sheet she’d handed him, bent down and lifted the basin. “Ready?” he asked, as though holding two tons was no effort at all.

Moving more quickly than she’d have figured possible in the heat, Addy did her part. She held the tube and guided it into the basin.

And in seconds, her fountain was in place. Not working yet. The most important ingredient—water—came next. And she had to plug in the power source....

“I’m Mark, by the way.” Gorgeous Grandson held out a hand.

Wiping her sweaty palm on the seat of her shorts, Addy placed her hand in his. And melted a little more.

“I’m Ad...Adele,” she stammered. Not Addy. Or even Adrianna. Not Keller, either. “Adele Kennedy.”

The sheriff of Shelter Valley had advised that they choose a name not unlike her own in case she had slipups. And here she was, slipping up on her very first try.

“I hope we weren’t too loud when we arrived last night. I’d planned to make it in earlier but Nonnie had a spot of trouble in the hotel yesterday morning so we got a late start.”

“I wouldn’t know,” Addy said. “I just got in this morning.”

“You were out of town?”

“I’m just moving to town,” she said, wondering how often he visited his grandmother if he didn’t even know that her neighbor had left.

“No kidding.” His warm, friendly gaze continued to mesmerize her. “We’re just moving in, as well.”

“We? You live with your grandmother?”

His grin faded. “Yes.” His sudden change of stance, arms folded at his chest, told her that he was ready for her if she wanted to make something of the fact that he was a grown man living with his Nonnie.

“I’m sorry.” Bowing her head, Addy took a second and then glanced over at Mark. “I didn’t mean that to sound as though I was shocked.”

“But you were.”

“Maybe.” She shrugged. “But probably not for the reason you’d assume. I think it’s great. Just coincidental. I lived with my grandmother, too. Was raised by her, actually. She died a couple of years ago and I still miss her so much.” Squinting up into the sun, she offered more of herself than she should have, considering her new persona—more than she usually did upon first meeting, even when she was living her own life.

His grin was back. “Then you’ll understand if I sometimes seem a little forward. I learned a long time ago that it’s easier to give in to the hand at my back than it is worth fighting it.”

“The older they get, the more strong-willed they become,” she said.

“And more outspoken, too,” Mark added, nodding.

“And the more willing you are to do everything they ask because you know your time with them is limited.”

His head tilted at her words and he studied her silently before saying, “I have a feeling it’s going to be good living next to you, Adele Kennedy.”

Addy smiled, nodded, mumbled something appropriate and wished, just for a second, that she really was Adele Kennedy.

CHAPTER FIVE

HE’D FLIRTED WITH the woman. It had been less than a week since he’d left Bierly, since he’d sent Ella a goodbye text promising her that he’d be back, whether she waited for him or