Tempting Mr. Wrong (Wrong Man) by Kerri Carpenter

years ago.”
    “Sure. That’s why you’re blushing.” Anna laughed.
    “Whatever. He’s not here for me. He’s here to check up on Mya and make sure the house is in tip-top shape, which apparently it’s not. Who knew?”
    Anna shook her head and rolled her eyes. “Um, everyone? That house was a huge fixer-upper. Of course it needs work.” She paused to sip her drink. “So is Lance under some kind of legal obligation to do this?”
    “No, it’s not like that.” Carly told Anna about the letter she’d found for Lance. “Doesn’t surprise me, really. I constantly find things from Chris. Little sticky notes here and there. It’s nice. It’s comforting. Anyway, Anna, let’s talk about something else. What did you have to tell me on the job front?”
    Anna’s eyes lit up. “This is good. You’re going to be so excited.”
    She scooted forward in her seat, wondering what her friend could be about to say.
    “Two words,” Anna said. “Young Heroes.”
    Carly sighed. “My most favorite nonprofit in the world.” Young Heroes facilitated programs all over the country for kids of military families. They tried to get them involved in activities as soon as their families were relocated so they would feel less isolated and lonely. Carly had benefited from their services many times as a child.
    Anna leaned forward and lowered her voice. “They’re hiring.”
    Carly slapped the table hard and loud, causing several nearby patrons to look their way. “Shut the eff up.”
    “Would I kid about this? One of my contacts told me this morning.”
    Anna had contacts everywhere, a good thing considering she worked for an HR firm that helped to place people in jobs.
    Under the table, Carly crossed two of her fingers. “Tell me it’s a development job.” If it was, Carly would die. It would be more than her dream job. It would involve raising money for an organization that had given so much to her. This could be her chance to pay it forward.
    Anna paused before the smile spread on her face. “Development and fund-raising.”
    Carly let out a high-pitched shriek but was silenced when Anna held up a finger.
    “I got you an interview for this week.”
    For the next thirty minutes, they talked interview, strategy, and all things that had to do with the nonprofit. When they were done, both coffee drinks had been consumed, along with two scones, three biscotti, and one fruit plate.
    “Now, let’s get back to the good stuff. Like your homelife.” Anna offered a wink as she wiped the side of her mouth with a napkin and leaned back in her chair. “What’s he like?”
    “Lance?”
    Anna nodded, waiting patiently.
    “He’s…” Carly searched her brain for the right word. “Regimented,” she finally said.
    A one-syllable laugh burst from Anna’s lips. “Regimented?”
    Carly chuckled. “I don’t know. He’s army so he’s really neat and tidy. Like, freakishly so. He’s kinda judgy about the house. He’s hot. He’s punctual.”
    Anna threw her hand up in a stopping motion. “Wait, wait, wait. What did you just say?”
    “He’s always on time. Like precisely. He got out of the army like five minutes ago and he’s already in Pine Springs. That must be some kind of military thing. My brother was the same. It’s so annoying.”
    “That’s because you are time-challenged and you often drag your heels. But that’s not what I meant. What else did you say about Lance?”
    Carly paused and tried to recall what she’d just said. “He’s a neat freak?”
    “After that.”
    “Oh, he has all these opinions on the house. What it needs, what it’s missing.”
    Anna shook her head. “Nope, sorry, sister. You are not getting away with saying that Lance, your new roomie, is hot.”
    Had she said that?
    “Come on, Carly. You’re holding back the best part.”
    “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
    Anna leaned forward. “I was at your brother’s wedding. I remember the way you and Lance danced