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closet. In the end, it's going to reflect and respect the architecture, pay homage to retro, and, Buddy, it will rock."

"You're the boss."

She grinned. "Damn straight."

The boss moved outside, to build her rail and pickets in the April sunshine.

When her father pulled in, Cilla had her sides run, and had worked up a fresh sweat.

"Doesn't that look nice," he commented.

"It's coming along."

He nodded toward the house, and the cacophony of construction noise. "Sounds like more's coming along inside."

"First-stage demo's done. I've changed some things, so we'll have more demo on the second floor later. But the inspector's coming tomorrow. " She lifted her hand, crossed her fingers. "To approve the rough plumbing and electric. Then we'll boogie."

"It's the talk of the town."

"I imagine so." She gestured toward the road. "Traffic's increased. People slow down, even stop, to look. I had a call from the local paper for an interview. I don't want pictures yet. Most people can't see what it's going to be while it's at this stage, so I gave the reporter a quick hit over the phone."

"When's it going to run?"

"Sunday. Lifestyle. Janet Hardy still has the switch." Cilla pushed back her cap to swipe the back of her hand over her forehead. "You knew her, Dad. Would she approve?"

"I think she loved this place. I think she'd be pleased you love it, too. And that you're putting your mark on it. Cilla, are you building that railing yourself?"

"Yeah."

"I had no idea you could do that. I thought you had the ideas, then you hired people to work them out."

"Some of that, too. Most of that, I guess. But I like the work. Especially this kind. I'm going to go for my contractor's license."

"You... Well, how about that?"

"I'm going to start a business. This house? Talk of the town, and that's going to turn into revenue for me down the road. I think people might like to hire the woman who rebuilt Janet Hardy's little farm, especially if she's Janet's granddaughter. And after a while?" Her eyes narrowed and gleamed. "They'll hire me because they know I'm good."

"You really mean to stay."

So he hadn't believed it. Why should he? "I mean to stay. I like the way it smells here. I like the way I feel here. Are you in a hurry?"

"Nope."

"Do you want to walk around a little, play landscape consultant?"

He smiled slowly. "I'd like that."

"Let me get my notebook."

Walking with him, listening to him as he gestured to an area, described the shrubs and groupings he suggested, Cilla learned more about him.

His thoughtful way of listening, then responding, the pauses between while he considered. His ease with himself, the time he took.

He paused at the edge of the pond, smiled. "I swam in here a few times. You're going to need to get these lily pads and cattails under control."

"It's on the list. Brian said maybe we'll do some yellow flags."

"That would be a nice choice. You could plant a willow over there. It'd make a pretty feature, weeping over the water."

She scribbled. "I thought a stone bench maybe, somewhere to sit." Remembering, she looked up at him. "So, is this where you kissed Ford Sawyer's mother?"

His mouth dropped open in surprise, and, to Cilla's delight, a flush rose up into his cheeks. He chuckled, and began to walk again. "Now how'd you hear about that?"

"I have my sources."

"I have mine. I hear you kissed Penny Sawyer's son out in the front yard."

"Buddy."

"Not directly, but he'd be the root of it."

"It's a little weird."

"A little bit," Gavin agreed.

"You haven't answered the question."

"I guess I'll confess I did kiss Penny Quint-which she was in those days-more than a few times, and some of those times here. We went steady for a number of months in high school. Before she broke my heart."

He smiled when he said it, and had Cilla smiling in return. "High school is hell."

"It sure can be. The heartbreaking took place here, too, as it happens. And back there, near the pond. Penny and I had a fight-God knows about what-and we broke up. I admit to having been torn between wooing her back and making a play for your mother."

"You dog."

"Most boys are dogs at eighteen. Then I saw Penny, near the pond, kissing Johnnie." He sighed, even now, remembering. "That was a blow. My girl-or I still half thought of her as my girl-and one of my friends. It broke the code."

"Friends don't move in on exes," Cilla said. "It's still the