Head Over Heels by Susan Andersen

away, I always say. But I’ll introduce you, because you’ll probably run into him again. The rooms he’s renting don’t have their own kitchen, so we have to share ours with him.” Which didn’t thrill her any more than it did Lizzy.
    The alarm clock on the nightstand went off, and Veronica reached across her niece to turn it off. “Rats. I suppose we’d better get up. Do you have a robe in your room?”
    Lizzy shook her head but gave Veronica a shy smile. “It’s warmer downstairs, though.”
    â€œOkay. Grab a pair of my socks out of the top drawer for now, and after school we’ll go get you some slippers and a robe. I want you to think about what color you’d like to paint your room, too. That white is sort of boring, don’t you think?”
    Lizzy’s big brown eyes showed a spark of interest. “We’re gonna paint my room?”
    â€œI think we should. Jazz it up a little, you know?” God knew the entire house needed help if she hoped to sell it so she and Lizzy could get back to civilization anytime soon. And Lizzy’s room was the perfect place to start—it would give her niece a lift while they lived here. “Are you ready to make a run for the kitchen?” Lizzy nodded and Veronica said, “Okay, on the count of three, then, here we go. One, two, three!” She tossed back the blankets, and they scrambled off the bed. Lizzy got herself a pair of woolen socks while Veronica gathered together the clothing she’d need for the day. Their teeth chattered.
    â€œMan, oh, man!” Veronica shivered. “I’d forgotten how cold it gets up here. I’ve got to use the bathroom real quick, but you go ahead downstairs and get warm.”
    Lizzy shot her an apprehensive look. “What if Mr. Blackstock’s still down there?”
    â€œOh, sweetie, he won’t hurt you. He’s a nice man.” May lightning not strike her dead for such a bald-faced lie, but Cooper Blackstock exuded much too much sexuality for her to seriously believe it was little girls he posed a threat to, and she wouldn’t have Lizzy scared.
    â€œCouldn’t I just stay here and wait for you?”
    â€œWell, sure, if it’ll make you feel more comfortable. Put those socks on, though, before you freeze your tootsies off. I’ll be as quick as I can.”
    She didn’t bother to dress, just did her business, washed her hands in cold water because she knew it would take forever for hot to make its way up through the old pipes, and brushed her teeth. She was out again in record time. “Okay, kiddo, let’s go warm up!”
    They raced down the stairs, and Lizzy was actually giggling when they burst into the kitchen. At the sight of Coop reading a paper at the table, however, her laughter died in her throat. She skidded to a halt, drawing back against her aunt.
    Veronica curled her hands over her shoulders and looked at Coop over Lizzy’s head. He’d looked up at their arrival, and a smile that was surprisingly sweet curved his lips as his gaze settled on Lizzy. His dark eyes softened. “Hey, Little Bit.”
    Arrested by an expression she never in a gajillion years would’ve expected to see on that rabble-rouser face, Veronica had to shake herself free of its spell. “Um, Lizzy, this is Mr. Blackstock, the man I was telling you about. Coop, this is my niece, Lizzy Davis.”
    Something tightened his face for an instant, but the expression came and went before she could analyze it. “Pleased to meet you, Lizzy Davis,” was all he said. “Call me Coop.”
    â€œâ€™Kay,” Lizzy murmured, but remained firmly pressed against Veronica’s midriff.
    Veronica’s own nerves were doing an inexplicable little swing dance. “I’m surprised to see you up so early,” she said to Coop. It had been nearly noon before they’d run into each other in the kitchen