“Never give up. Never surrender.”

That’d been the family motto—or rather, the sisterly motto—for as long as I could recall. No amount of shitty interviews would stop me. No amount of termites, collapsing walls, or overly handsome doctors next door would get in my way.

I’d planned on starting a new life away from New York, away from the past, and away from Kieran and all the fuck-ups the past few years had held, and damn if I wouldn’t do it.

I stood out on the back porch, looking out at the river—a part of the bayou that flanked the property—and the trees that bordered it, breathing deep.

Yesterday had been a total bust.

Every interview after the one at Betsy’s had either been shut down before it started, or the position had already been filled. My savings were in jeopardy, my plans were all over the place, and if Peggy told me to come to New Orleans one more time I’d scream.

The big city was over for me. I needed the small town. I needed obscurity and privacy to rebuild my life. The last thing I wanted was a high-pressure job in a restaurant in New Orleans.

The one bright speck in the day? Kathy from the animal shelter was on her way over to assess the property and decide if I could adopt Ty, the Labrador puppy. Every cloud had a wiggly silver lining.

Maybe having a little companion would keep me from worrying. And obsessing over Mason.

“Ugh, forget it,” I whispered, and folded my arms against my chest. The warm breeze rustled tree leaves down by the water.

There wasn’t a part of me that wasn’t terrified at the prospect of developing anything other than sexual feelings for Doctor Dunn. Love was…a farce. Or a trap. Or something that hurt so bad it’d made me want to rip my own eyeballs out.

I shook it off, turned, and walked back into the house, the boards creaking beneath my feet. I entered the kitchen, switched on the coffee pot, arranged two mugs, sugar, and cream, then strolled through to the front of the house and peeked out the living room window.

Right on time, a cream Toyota pulled up outside and parked in front of the gate.

Kathy emerged from the car, hair knotted in that same gray bun atop her head. She paused, clutching a clipboard to her chest, and looked up at the house, a frown wrinkling up every wrinkle that she’d ever had.

She glanced left, down the street, then back up at my house. She walked up to the gate and tested it, swinging it back and forth, then stepped through and examined the line of fencing down the front. Thankfully, Mason had replaced the gate on Saturday right after the eaves, and the rest of the fence was definitely in good enough shape to withstand the attentions of a puppy.

Finally, Kathy straightened and picked her way across the garden to the stepping-stone path that led to the front steps.

A few seconds later, a knock sounded against the wood, followed by the sharp trill of the doorbell.

“Coming,” I called out, my nerves finally building for this meeting. Not getting a dog wouldn’t be the end of the world, but there was something about this that felt important.

Maybe it had to do with the fact that every damn person in this town—excluding Mason—had treated me like I was a leper since I’d arrived. That’s not fair. Betsy was nice. OK, so maybe it was an exaggeration. Only a few bad apples in the bushel in Stoneport, but still. I needed this.

I hurried through to the front and opened up. “Hi, Kathy. Thanks so much for coming out here today. I know it’s a bit of a drive.”

“It’s necessary,” Kathy replied, stiffly. “I have to ensure that our animals go to welcoming homes.”

“Well, my welcoming home is yours to inspect.” I stepped back to admit her, cheesy grin in place. “I’ve made some coffee. Would you like a cup?”

“I’m not sure that would be appropriate, Miss Starr. I’m here strictly to examine the home. I won’t accept any bribes.”

My jaw dropped. Jeez, lady. Rip the stick out of your ass. “I assure you, it’s not a bribe. Just practicing some Southern hospitality!”

“Oh, well,” Kathy said and perked up. “In that case, I will take a cup. Thank you, dear.” She stepped over the threshold and looked around the entrance hall and at the staircase that still needed work. “Lovely home. I remember when Ned and Irma first moved in here. Looks like they really let the place go.”

“Yes, my grandmother was in ill health for years before she passed. I guess maintenance wasn’t high on the list of priorities,” I replied. “But that’s fine. It’s all in my hands now, and I’m more than happy to fix it up. I used to love this house when I was a kid.” What I remembered of it.

“Mind if I take a look around out back?”

“Be my guest,” I said and gestured for her to make her way down the hall and through the kitchen.

Kathy set off on her own, and I hesitated, taking a second to catch my breath. It’ll be fine. You’re good. I made to shut the door, and my hand slipped on the knob.

Another car had pulled up behind Kathy’s in the interim. A big, black Dodge. And Mason was in the process of exiting it.

“Shit,” I muttered, under my breath. The last time he and Kathy had been in the same vicinity, fur had nearly flown, and that was the last thing I needed today. This had to go off easy, without a hitch. It had to be pleasant.

Mason waved from the cab. “Hey,” he said. “I’ve got the day off. Thought I’d get to work on the rest of the fence, then measure up that staircase of yours. Sound good?”

I opened my mouth to reply, but the sharp click of heels halted me. “Who’s that?” Kathy asked, stepping back into the hall. “Miss Starr?”

“Just the friendly neighborhood doctor,” I replied, cheerily. Who I have definitely not slept with. Or fantasized about repeatedly over the course of the past two days.

“Mason,” Kathy said and pursed her lips.

“Is everything all right?” I asked.

“Of course. I’m just not sure that hanging around with the doctor is what’s good for you, dear.” Kathy hugged her clipboard to her chest. “After all, he’s got a past, if you know what I mean. Not to be trusted. I would’ve expected better from an ex-military man, myself, but you never know whether—” She cut off as Mason strode up the path and onto the porch.

“Morning,” he said. “Am I interrupting something?” Why did he have to be so damn delicious? Mason wore tight-fitting jeans, a pair of clunky boots, and a steel gray shirt that tugged at his biceps. He ruffled his dirty blond hair and smiled at me.

I melted into a puddle of goo inside, yet managed to keep my expression neutral. “Kathy here was just doing the home inspection to ascertain whether I’m the right fit for Ty,” I said.

“Oh, great.” Mason gave two thumbs up. “Listen, Kathy, don’t worry too much about the fencing out here, it’s all solid, but I’m going to tug it up and replace it with all new fencing, anyway.”

Kathy nodded stiffly. “Fine,” she said. “I already tested that myself, doctor. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I’m going to go take a look at the backyard.” She shuffled off without a backward glance, though her posture had stiffened considerably in the last couple minutes.

I waited until she was out of sight, then stepped out on the front porch. “I’d better go pour her coffee. I promised her a dose of Southern hospitality.”

“I wouldn’t waste the good stuff on that old witch,” Mason replied. “She’s bitter enough already.”

“Ouch. Sounds like she’s not the only one.”

“Kathy’s…she’s part of the older group in town. The locals. She’s got some strange views on life, love, and everything else in between. I don’t buy into that viewpoint. I’m not bitter about it, just truthful.” Mason stepped closer, and it took all my willpower not to stumble back a step beneath his gaze and his heat.

His body heat. Oh god, I was in trouble here.

Yesterday at Betsy’s I’d nearly swept the table clean, crawled across it, and sat down in his lap. Just the touch of his thigh against mine…

“You there?” Mason waved a hand in front of my face.

“Yeah,” I said. “Sorry. And hello. And thanks for helping me with the fence and all the other stuff. But I’d really better get inside and take care of Kathy.”

Mason gave me one of those long, sweeping stares—the kind that started at the tips of my toes and lingered in all the right places, eventually stopping at my face. “You do that, angelface.”

I rushed through to the kitchen and fixed the coffee, taking down an extra mug for Mason as I did. I poured the cream just as Kathy stepped into the house.

“There you are,” I said and handed her a mug. “Well? What did you think? Did you like the backyard? I’m right up against the river.”

“Rivers have alligators,” Kathy said and peered into the coffee like it was a better conversationalist than me. “You know that, right?”

“Yes.”

“I’m going to need you to put up another fence between the one you have and the river before I can approve your application,” Kathy said and set down the mug without taking a sip. “Do you think that’s something you can do?”

“Absolutely,” I said. “I’ll ask Mason to help out.”

“Hmmm.” Kathy scanned the list. “Other than that, you seem to have a lovely home. I believe I was here once before when Ned hosted an anniversary party about ten years ago. Lovely people, your grandparents. A shame they passed.”

“Thank you,” I said. “So just the fence and then…?”

“Yes, you get that fence put up, call me to take another look, and after that, I’ll approve your application. Ty will be all yours. You’ll have to pay for his shots, of course, and the adoption fee, but that’s another matter.”

“No problem,” I replied, joy surging through me. This was one of the first things that’d gone right since I’d move to Stoneport. I was one fence away from my fluffy companion.

If I could soften Kathy to my cause, surely I could soften the other hardened locals in Stoneport.

“Kathy, thank you so much for coming out,” I said and extended a hand for a shake.

She took it gingerly. “It’s my job, dear. You just be careful.” She dragged me in close and lowered her voice. “There’s worse things than alligators in Stoneport.”