Sharpshooter: Did you get a chance to look through the pictures I sent you?

Kentuckygirl: No. I told you I’m not going to help you remodel your home.

Sharpshooter: Why not? I’m doing it for you.

Kentuckygirl: We’re not going to meet.

Sharpshooter: You know, you’re breaking my heart. Why not? Because of the picture I sent of me? I can take another one. My left side is better.

Kentuckygirl: It’s nothing to do with the way you look.

Sharpshooter: Then is it because of the pictures of my house? I don’t want to move, but if you like one better, I can move.

Kentuckygirl: OMG. You’re driving me nuts. It’s me who you’re not going to like. I’m trying to keep both of us from being hurt.

Sharpshooter: Why do you think I won’t like you? I’m pretty easy-going, and it doesn’t take a lot to make me happy. Come spend the weekend with me, and if we don’t like each other, at least we’ll know.

Sharpshooter: You there?

Kentuckygirl: I don’t want to know. I don’t want to lose your friendship.

Sharpshooter: They say marriages that start as friendships make better marriages.

Kentuckygirl: I heard that, too.

Sharpshooter: Then it must be true. Come on; let’s give it a chance. What have you got to lose?

Kentuckygirl: I could lose this, Sharpshooter. I’d miss talking to you every day. I’d miss your sense of humor, and your talks about your family. I’d miss you fussing about your dog, and how you make everyone mad when you get jelly in the peanut butter jar. I may not be there in person, but when you talk to me, I become a part of it. I’m afraid to risk losing that.

Sharpshooter: I thought you said I didn’t have a sense of humor?

Kentuckygirl: Recently, you’ve been kind of funny.

Sharpshooter: Only kind of?

Kentuckygirl: Yes.

Sharpshooter: Are you going to tell me when I am?

Kentuckygirl: You’ll be the first person I tell. I promise.

* * *

“Caleb is going to be here any minute, so get your lipstick on, girl. It’s go time.”

Diamond’s yell from the office behind her had her swirling in her chair.

Using her feet, she scooted her chair toward the door. “I changed my mind.” Then she quickly rolled her chair back to her desk.

“Coward! If you don’t ask him out, I’m going to tell Greer you’re the one he’s been talking to on the Internet!”

She kicked her feet out again, sending her chair back toward the door. “You wouldn’t dare!”

Diamond’s face screwed up mutinously. “Try me.”

The sound of the doorknob turning on the front door had her careening back to her desk.

Pasting a smile on her face, she greeted Caleb with a welcoming one. “Good morning, Mr. Green. Mrs. Richards-Bates is waiting for you.”

Caleb gave her a quick smile before going into Diamond’s office.

Dammit, Holly thought. What am I supposed to do now? The day before, it seemed a good idea to expand her horizons in the small group of men who were single and available.

Most of the men who came into the office weren’t exactly what any self-respecting woman would consider a catch. However, Caleb was the exception. He was a catch. He had been working as an assistant long enough that Diamond said the next time an election came around, she expected him to run.

She hurriedly touched up her lipstick, trying to convince herself she wasn’t cheating on Greer if he didn’t know it was her he was talking to on the Internet.

She set up the coffee server then wheeled it into Diamond’s office after knocking. Handing Diamond her coffee, she then nearly spilt Caleb’s cup when he gave her a charming smile after giving Diamond a quick look.

“Diamond said she can’t eat lunch with me, but that she didn’t think you had anything planned. How about we grab a burger before I have to be in court?”

“I …”

“Anyone here?”

Holly’s stomach dropped to the floor, recognizing the voice from the other room.

“Excuse me. I’ll be right back.” She started for the doorway when Greer appeared before she could stop him.

Caleb turned in his seat, and the two men stared at each other for a minute before she could find her voice.

“I’m coming—”

“Didn’t mean to interrupt. I just want your car keys. Are they where you always keep them? If so, I can get them myself.”

Holly frowned. “Why do you need my car? Is Logan okay?” Concern for Logan had her forgetting they had an audience. He had spent the night at his house; could he have gotten sick last night?

“He’s fine. I just wanted to borrow your car for a few hours. I want to get the rest of your tires looked at and get the oil changed.”

“I can do that. Tell Tate that—”

“Holly, perhaps you and—”

“No need. Your keys in your desk? Sorry about interrupting your conversation with your client.” Greer gave Caleb a once-over.

“Yes, but …” Holly practically ran out the door of Diamond’s office, trying to grab Greer’s arm and steer him away. Greer wasn’t about to be shoved into the other room, though.

“That your car out front?” he asked Caleb.

“Yes.”

“Sweet ride.”

“Thank you. Have we met before?”

“You used Diamond as your lawyer before?” Greer leaned against the doorway, refusing to budge.

“No, I’m not a client. I’m the Assistant Commonwealth Attorney.” Caleb stood up, setting his coffee cup down on the tray. Walking toward Greer, he extended his hand. “Caleb Green.”

Greer didn’t take his hand. Instead, he shoved his hands into his pockets.

Holly wanted to peel the carpet up and roll Greer into it when neither man broke the staring contest.

Caleb dropped his hand to his side. “Are you Holly’s mechanic?”

“I ain’t no mechanic.”

“He’s a friend. Let me get my keys for you.” She moved between the two men.

When she got her keys, she lifted them up so Greer would get the hint then gritted her teeth when he didn’t take his eyes off Caleb.

“Caleb, we need to get this finished.” Diamond’s furious voice had Caleb turning toward her then back toward Greer.

“Well, it’s been nice to meet you, Mr. …?”

“Mr. Hayes. Holt Hayes.”

Holly’s eyes widened at Greer’s blatant lie.

“Is Hayes spelled with an S or an ES?” Caleb’s intimidating gaze on Greer didn’t faze him. Everyone in the room knew that Caleb would make a beeline to the sheriff’s office to run his rap sheet.

“It’s spelled with an F… U—”

“Here are my keys.” Holly practically ripped Greer’s shirt as she moved him away from the door. “Make sure it’s back before I need to pick up Logan.” She opened the front office door, shoving Greer outside. Then Holly smoothed her hair down. “I’m sorry your meeting was interrupted,” she apologized.

Caleb gave her a discerning look, the flirty attitude she had become accustomed to gone. He went back into Diamond’s office, closing the door.

She was so angry that she took out her phone to text Greer then put it back down. She was too angry. The only thing she wanted to give him was her skillet to his head.

Ten minutes later, Caleb came out of Diamond’s office without saying good-bye to her.

“If you don’t kill him, I will,” Diamond threatened when Holly was brave enough to go back into her office.

“I’m so sorry.”

“It’s not your fault Greer is a lunatic. You know there’s no way Caleb is going to ask you out now that you told him Greer is a friend of yours.”

“Technically, Caleb thinks he’s Holt.”

“Holt’s rap sheet is worse than Greer’s.” Diamond went to the small fridge where she kept her creamer and water to offer her clients, taking out a bottle of wine. Without worrying about a glass, she uncorked it and took a drink before going back to her desk. “Caleb prosecuted Greer on his drug bust. When he remembers who he is, any chance of me getting his job that he promised when he runs for office are going to be as empty as this wine bottle.” Taking another drink, she corrected herself, “When I finish it.”

“I’m so sorry, Diamond. When Mr. Green comes back, I’ll explain about Greer. I had decided not to go out with him, anyway.”

“Why not?”

“It feels like I’m cheating on Greer, even though he doesn’t know it’s me.”

Diamond’s head fell to her desk. “You’re just as crazy as he is.” Diamond lifted her head to stare at her. “If you do end up getting together with Greer—and that’s a big if, not because I don’t think he won’t forgive you, but because I think you’ll kill him when he quits acting like Mr. Nice Guy on the computer—I have only one thing I have to say …”

“What is it?” Holly braced herself to be fired.

“You’re off my island.”