Foxfire by Carol Ann Erhardt Page B

clawing the rich paint as she slid to the
ground.
    Connor revved the engine and rolled down the
window.
    “I’ll make you pay for that,” he yelled.
    With a growl Tiffany lunged, and the window
quickly closed. The dog trotted back to Grace, tail wagging
proudly.
    Grace looked with satisfaction at the deep
scratches in the Jaguar's perfect paint job. Tires spun in the
gravel. Connor turned the car around and sped away.
    When his car was out of sight, Grace laughed.
She felt victorious.
    Tiffany sped off into the woods, turned and
ran back.
    Grace grabbed the dog's face and leaned down
to stare into Tiffany's eyes. “Good girl. That deserves a
treat.”
    Walking to the house, she fought the desire
to look over her shoulder. The hairs prickled on the back of her
neck, making her feel certain someone was watching her. Spider legs
crawled her spine, until she could stand it no longer. She spun
around.
    Adam stood on the path, a solitary figure
between two overshadowing pine trees. Only the grim set of his lips
were visible beneath the lowered ball cap. The air changed as if a
huge cloud hovered above. She forced a smile.
    “Hi, Adam.”
    “If that man gives you any more trouble, you
just let me know.”
    She stared at his shadowed face.
“Thanks.”
    “We take care of our own around here.” His
lips turned up in a brief smile before he trudged up the hill
toward his house.
    Grace mounted the steps and came to an abrupt
halt.
    A single red rose lay on the welcome mat.
    She stared at the perfect red bud, round and
plump and clinging to the end of a green thorny stem. It looked out
of place on the rough weave of the mat. She turned to look for Adam
but he was already out of sight.
    Grace picked up the flower and carried it
inside and filled a glass with water. She put the lonely bloom into
its depth. Adam must have left the rose. It was too much of a
coincidence that he'd been present for the scene with Connor. Poor
Adam. He must have waited for her to return and find his gift. She
sensed his loneliness and could even empathize. Maybe she should
have dinner with him. She'd have to make him understand they could
only be friends, though. He was much too old for her, nearly old
enough to be her father, and he certainly didn't seem the romantic
type.
    If Tyler gave her a rose, it would be
romantic, but coming from Adam it just seemed sad.
    Grace sighed. She wanted a man who'd take
control in a wild, wonderful way. Someone who'd make her knees
knock, and fireworks explode when they kissed. She wanted a strong
man, one who was sure of himself, one not afraid to admit his love.
She wanted a man like the ones in her romance novels, one with a
broad chest, muscled arms, and a to-die-for wicked smile. She
wanted a man who'd protect her, yet respect her strength, and not
hold her past against her.
    Reluctantly, she acknowledged that Tyler
looked the part. Broad shoulders, gorgeous green eyes, even if they
might not be real. But she wouldn't let him get under her skin. Not
even if he could model for the cover of one of the romance novels
she loved.
    No way would she settle again. She'd rather
live the rest of her life single. She'd made a home here in Foxfire
with Brad, Harri, and Tiffany. Her family.
    She didn't need a man. Grace reached for her
key ring. She would rid herself of any further contact with Connor.
With a muttered curse, she left the house and started her car.
She'd hand off the key and be finished with him forever.
    Twenty minutes later, she entered his office.
Sarah, the receptionist, gaped open-mouthed at her. “Grace. I
thought…” She paused.
    Grace knew Sarah had the hots for Connor.
She'd be making a play for him soon, if she hadn't already. As far
as Grace was concerned, she was welcome to him.
    “Don't panic, I'm not coming back to work.”
Grace handed her the key. “Just give this to Connor.”
    Sarah accepted it, a frown line appearing
between her brows.
    “And tell him where I go and who I talk to