April 4, 1937

I watched him yesterday afternoon. He stood in the doorway of the bank and ogled every woman who walked past him. He tipped his hat as a gentleman would, but I could see the evil in his eyes. Some women returned his smile, some avoided looking at him, some stepped into the street to keep from walking close to him. I saw fear on some of the women's faces. They wouldn't be afraid of him without a reason.

I don't like the way he looks at Laura. I see that same evil in his eyes when he is around her. I've told Laura that, but my sister always tells me I am imagining things. Laura is so trusting of everyone, so sure the good in a person always outweighs the bad.

I don't think he has any good in him at all.

* * * * *

Present Day

"Yes, Mrs. Olinghouse," Rye Coleman said into the telephone receiver. "The doors were delivered about an hour ago. My crew will be out first thing in the morning to install them."

"Not before eleven o'clock. I have a breakfast meeting. Your crew may come tomorrow afternoon."

Rye was glad Bella Olinghouse couldn't see him roll his eyes. He did his best to be considerate of other people's schedules and work around them, but Mrs. Olinghouse was always a pain in the ass. The elderly widow had way too much money and thought that gave her the right to inconvenience everyone around her. "No problem, ma'am. I understand about meetings. Unfortunately, my crew won't be able to install the doors tomorrow afternoon. They're already booked."

"Oh."

He pictured Mrs. Olinghouse lifting her chin and sniffing in disdain. He'd feel sorry for her if he didn't know she loved to make people bend to her will. She took after her father that way. The ornery bastard had lorded his money and power over everyone in Lanville until the day he died.

"You aren't the only construction firm in the area, Mr. Coleman. Perhaps I should order the doors from someone else."

Since she'd paid for the doors in advance, Coleman Construction wouldn't be out any money should she decide to use another contractor. Rye doubted it would come to that. Bella had threatened to take her business elsewhere in the past when Rye didn't jump at her command. She never had. "You're welcome to do that, ma'am. They're a custom size and it took four weeks for them to arrive. It'll take at least four more weeks for another firm to get them."

"Oh."

Rye knew she wouldn't want to wait any longer. She'd already waited a month for her fancy French doors.

"When could your crew install the doors, Mr. Coleman?"

He looked toward the entrance when he heard the bell over the door jingle. His brother, Dax, came inside, dressed in a paint-spattered T-shirt and faded jeans. Rye motioned him forward. "Thursday."

"That's two days from now."

"That's the best I can do, Mrs. Olinghouse."

Dax also rolled his eyes as he slouched in the chair before Rye's desk. Rye grinned. Dax and his other brother, Griff, had dealt with Bella Olinghouse enough to know how difficult she could be.

"I suppose Thursday will be fine, if that's as soon as you can do it."

"Would you prefer morning or afternoon?"

"Two o'clock works best for me."

"Two o'clock it is. See you then."

Rye hung up the receiver to Dax's laughter. "The old biddy got you again, huh?"

"Actually, I got her. I refused to give in to her. This time, I made her play by my rules."

"Good for you. If more people in this town didn't bow down to her, she'd probably be a lot nicer."

"She's a lonely woman, Dax. She doesn't have any family here. Her children moved away a long time ago."

"That's her own fault. Who would want to be around her for longer than ten minutes? You know that feeling you get when someone scratches a chalkboard?" He shuddered. "That's how I feel around her."

Rye studied the carbon copy of himself sprawled in the chair. Dax's hair was longer and a neatly-trimmed beard and mustache covered his face. Otherwise, people wouldn't be able to tell them apart. His mother had delivered them via Caesarian section, so he was two minutes older than Dax, four minutes older than Griff. Being one of triplet brothers meant very little time to himself while growing up. Rye had resented his brothers for the lack of privacy. Now, he couldn't imagine his life without them.

He felt sorry for anyone who didn't have family close by.

"Is the courthouse done?" Rye asked.

Dax nodded. "I put the final coat on the ladies' room half an hour ago. It looks really good."

"I wouldn't expect anything less from you."

Dax shifted in his chair and rested his ankle on the opposite knee. "So, what's next?"

"Nothing until Thursday morning. That's when we start on the mayor's house."

A wide smile crossed Dax's lips. "You mean I have a whole day off? I can sleep in tomorrow?"

Rye chuckled. "You have a whole day off."

"Hot damn!" Dax clapped his hands. "Now I have to find someone to spend the night with so it'll be worth sleeping in."

"I doubt if that'll be a problem for you."

"Nope. I just have to figure out which lovely lady I'm going to grace with my presence and my body." Dax grinned wickedly. "See you later, bro."

Still chuckling, Rye watched his brother stroll to the door. Dax turned the knob at the same time as a woman's face appeared in the glass pane. He opened the door and stepped back so she could enter. She looked surprised, as if she hadn't expected anyone to be on the other side.

"Excuse me," she said in a soft, lilting voice.

"No problem. You can run into me any time."

Rye recognized the interest in Dax's eyes from across the office. Rye didn't interfere with his brother's love life, except when it came to business. He didn't approve of Dax coming on to a potential customer. "Dax," he said in his "big brother" voice.

"Yeah. Right." He shrugged one shoulder and grinned again at his brother. "You can't blame a guy for trying." He waved at Rye. "Later."

Rye slowly stood and stared at the woman who had entered his office. An oval face, big brown eyes, high cheekbones, and full lips combined to make her stunning. Wavy auburn hair fell past her shoulders to curl over full breasts. She wore a plain brown T-shirt and jeans that gently hugged her generous curves.

His heart thudded in his chest, blood rushed to his cock. It'd been a long time since he'd reacted so strongly to a woman.

You just reprimanded Dax for coming on to a customer. Business and pleasure don't mix.

She gazed at Rye, frowned, and looked back out the door's window. He assumed she was looking at Dax. People who met them for the first time often thought they were seeing double. It was even more interesting when Griff was with them.

"My brother," he said, adjusting his fly while her attention was focused on Dax.

"Apparently." She turned back to him. "The resemblance is amazing."

"We're two of triplets. Our other brother looks just like us."

Rye doubted if she'd come in here to talk about him and his brothers. Finding out what she needed would help him get his mind off his burgeoning hard-on and back to business. "How can I help you, Ms. ..."

"May. Alaina May." She approached the desk and held out her hand for him to shake. "I'm looking for Mr. Coleman."

Alaina. Not exactly a common name. A vague memory flashed through his mind of a girl named Alaina, but he couldn't associate a face with the name.

Rye jerked himself back to the present. "You found him." He took her hand. It was soft and warm, with medium-length fingernails painted a pale coral. He had the strongest urge to raise her hand to his lips and kiss the back. "Rye Coleman at your service."

She blinked. "You can't be Mr. Coleman."

Rye raised his eyebrows. He almost laughed at the shock in her wide brown eyes. "Why can't I?"

"You're too young."

"Should I be flattered or insulted?"

She released his hand and curled her fingers into her palm. He recognized that gesture of interest. She'd been as affected by their hands touching as he had. "You own Coleman Construction?"

"Yes, along with my brothers."

"I assumed you'd be older. Your reputation is outstanding."

Rye tipped his head. "Thank you." He motioned toward the chair Dax had recently used. "Please, sit down."

She did, crossing her legs and tossing her hair over one shoulder. He recognized the get-down-to-business look in her eyes. Rye returned to his chair and waited for her to speak.

"I want to purchase a house here in Lanville. I'd like to get your opinion on refurbishing it."

"You're moving to Lanville?"

She nodded, her eyes sparkling with excitement. "I'm going to turn the house into a bed-and-breakfast."

Rye thought that was an excellent idea. The small town had two bed-and-breakfasts, but a lot of tourists passed through their area in the summer to visit the state park. The park was the largest in the area and drew hundreds of people, especially in the summer. Tourists often had to go to nearby towns to find a place to stay since the two B-and-Bs filled up fast. It would be much better for Lanville's economy to keep those tourists--and their money--in town.

"I know I have to check on zoning and all that legal stuff, but there's no reason to do any of that if the house can't be repaired."

"Where is the house?"

"On County Road 311."

Rye knew every road in the area because of his business. There was only one house on that road that wasn't occupied. "You aren't talking about Stevens House, are you?" Rye sat up straighter in his chair. That house was the last place in town he wanted to refurbish. If it were up to him, it would've been demolished years ago. "Ms. May, you don't want to buy that house."

The excitement in her eyes dimmed, to be replaced by confusion. "Why not?"

"It hasn't been lived in since..." He stopped and tried to remember so he could tell her how long it'd been vacant. "I'm not sure of the exact year, but it's been decades. I don't know why it hasn't fallen down."

"It definitely hasn't fallen down. I looked at it this morning." She uncrossed her legs, leaned forward and gripped the edge of Rye's desk. "I can see so much potential there. It makes me think of the house in It's A Wonderful Life. Did you ever see that movie?"

"Only about two dozen times. It's one of my mom's favorite movies."

Alaina smiled. "Mine too. I'm a sucker for a romance."

Her smile suddenly faded. Straightening her shoulders, she sat back in her chair, once again all business. "Can it be refurbished, Mr. Coleman?"

"Rye, please. Yes, it can probably be refurbished, but I'll have to look at it to be sure."

"When can you do that?"

"Ms. May, have you contacted the owner about purchasing the house?"

"If you're Rye, I'm Alaina. I haven't talked to the owner yet. But that won't be a problem. I can be very persuasive."

Rye didn't doubt that. Self-confidence practically oozed from the young woman. However, he doubted if Alaina May had ever dealt with someone as unreasonable as the person who owned Stevens House.

For now, he'd go along with her and check out the house since it was so important to her. He looked at the large schedule on his desk that listed all his employees' names and where they were to work each day. He was supposed to have lunch with the sheriff at one o'clock, but that was pleasure, not business. Instead, he could grab a quick bite and meet Alaina at Stevens House in an hour.

He didn't want to step through the front door, but business came before his own bad feelings about that house. "How about one-thirty?"

"One-thirty will be perfect." Her smile returned when she stood. "I'll see you then."

Rye admired the gentle swing of her denim-covered ass as she walked toward the door. Alaina May had a very nice body...one he wouldn't mind taking several hours to explore.

Some men liked a woman to be model thin. Rye preferred curves, and lots of them. He'd much rather hold onto a plump bottom than be jabbed with sharp bones when he made love with a woman. He especially loved large breasts...caressing them, sucking the nipples, sliding his cock between them.

Alaina May's body would give him a lot of pleasure in bed. Or on his desk. Or up against the wall.

Something about her seemed so familiar. He knew he'd never met her before today. He would've remembered that mane of auburn hair and those big brown eyes.

Whether he knew her or not didn't matter. Rye didn't mix business with pleasure. While he loved where he lived and couldn't imagine living anywhere else, there was a downside to a small town. Everyone knew everyone and loved to talk. Dax had no problem sleeping with the local women. Rye preferred to travel to other towns to find lovers. It made things less...messy.

The Coleman family had endured one scandal seventy-five years ago, plus his own personal scandal three years ago. Rye wouldn't do anything that might cause embarrassment to his family for the third time.

* * * * *

Alaina slid behind the steering wheel of her car and blew out a deep breath. She'd been surprised to see Rye and Dax instead of their father Kenneth at Coleman Construction. She hadn't considered the fact that the father had passed the company down to his sons. It had taken some quick thinking on her part to pretend she didn't know them. She couldn't admit her true identity, not yet. If she did, the Colemans would never agree to refurbish Stevens House.

Seeing Rye Coleman had sent tingles straight to her clit. That hadn't happened in a very long time. He was even more handsome than his brother, which seemed strange since they were practically identical. Rye's dark brown hair brushed his shoulders instead of falling halfway down his back like his brother's. A thick mustache touched his upper lip. Chocolate brown eyes and a square jaw completed the masculine face.

The brothers were even more handsome than they'd been sixteen years ago. And neither of them had recognized her.

That was probably a good thing. She was here on business, not to chase after hunks, even one she'd had a crush on as a teenager. Besides, it had been so long since she'd been with a man, she wouldn't know what to do. Sex was highly overrated anyway. Making love usually left her frustrated instead of rolling around the bed in orgasmic bliss.

Alaina snickered at that last thought. It sounded like a line from a really bad book.

Her cell phone chirped as she pulled away from Coleman Construction. She pulled over to the side of the road and dug through her large tote, hunting for the phone she misplaced at least twice a week. Finally locating the electronic nightmare, she tugged it from her tote and flipped it open. She smiled when she saw her roommate Emma Keeton's name.

"Hey, you."

"Hey, you back," her friend said. "How's it going? Did you buy the house?"

Alaina laughed. Emma's enthusiasm was one of the reasons Alaina adored her. "I haven't even talked to the owner yet."

"Well, what are you waiting for? I'm ready to start my new job."

Ever since Alaina had told Emma and her other best friend and roommate, Kelcey Ewing, about her plan to open a bed-and-breakfast in Lanville, they'd hinted about working for her. Kelcey was a whiz with numbers and organization. Emma could create something delicious with little more than flour and water. Yet Alaina worried their friendship would suffer if they went to work for her. She'd rather hire complete strangers than lose the two women who meant so much to her.

"I have an appointment with a local contractor to look at the house at one-thirty to see if it can be repaired."

"What if it can't? Will you start looking at other houses?"

"No. It's that house or nothing."

"Why? What's so special about that house? There have to be other houses you can refurbish. Or think about building brand new. That might even be cheaper."

Alaina hadn't told her two best friends why Stevens House was so important to her. She hadn't wanted to say or do anything that might jinx her buying the house. "You know the cost doesn't matter."

"Yeah, I know, but you need to be reasonable too. You haven't even met this contractor and you're going to believe whatever he tells you?"

"Actually, I did meet Rye Coleman."

"Rye, huh? Sexy name."

"It fits him. I swear the gods were having an orgasm when they created him."

"Oh yeah?" Alaina clearly heard the interest in Emma's voice. Her friend's radar always picked up an attractive man. "Maybe I should drive down there and help you research that house."

"I think you'd better stay right there in Dallas and do the job you have now."

"You're no fun." Emma sighed dramatically. "If you won't let me see the sexy contractor, I guess I'll go to work. Call me the minute you know about the house. I'll give my boss notice."

Alaina winced. "No, you won't. Lanville is a lot different than Dallas, Em. There can't be twenty-five hundred people in the whole town. No nightclubs, no fancy restaurants, no--"

"I don't care. I want to help you. Kelcey and I both want to help you. That's what friends do."

A lump tightened Alaina's throat. Kelcey and Emma had been there for her for years, always available any time of day or night. She couldn't ask for better friends. "You are not going to give up your job in that beautiful restaurant. And Kelcey certainly isn't going to give up her job that pays a hundred grand a year to work for me. It's insane for you to even consider it."

"Maybe I'm sick of the job in that beautiful restaurant. Maybe I want a change, just like you."

"This would definitely be a change."

"Hey, you're talking to the gal who can always find a party. If I can't find one, I'll make my own."

Alaina chuckled. She'd always loved Emma's positive attitude.

"Go look at the house," Emma said. "Find out if it really is your dream. Then let me and Kelcey know. I'm already sorting recipes and planning menus."

"Em--"

"Stop worrying so much. It'll give you wrinkles. Go meet your hunky contractor. If he's as gorgeous as you say, you should push him into a corner of that house and attack him."

"I do not attack men."

"You need to attack more and worry less. There's no law that says you have to marry a guy just because you fuck him."

"I know that."

"Then let go and have some fun. Forget about the three or four dates you think you should have with a guy before you get naked with him."

Alaina couldn't help chuckling. When Emma got on track, there was no getting her off it. "I'll think about it."

"Great! Call me as soon as you know something."

"Deal."

Still smiling, Alaina closed her cell phone and dropped it back in her tote. She looked up in time to see Rye slowly drive by her car in a dirty pickup. He nodded his head when their eyes met. She returned the nod and continued to gaze at him as he drove past her. He watched her in his rearview mirror.

Her heart thumped heavily in her chest.

Alaina sat up straighter in her seat. She couldn't let herself become distracted by a handsome face and incredible body. She'd softened for a moment in Rye's office, when they'd talked about It's A Wonderful Life. It had been easy to imagine curling up on a couch in front of a fireplace, wrapped in Rye's arms while they watched the old movie. Once the movie was over, they'd make love on the carpet in front of the fire. She'd be willing to bet her first year's profits that Rye was an incredible lover.

It was a nice fantasy, but couldn't possibly come true. She planned to concentrate on her career and Stevens House. Nothing else mattered. If her hormones didn't like that, too bad. Men and sex were out.

Including the hunky Rye Coleman.

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