Lover Beware

careful with her. Because she’s painfully shy doesn’t mean she allows it to affect her life.”
    “Why wouldn’t you just clue Harrington in?”
    “Why should he judge Hannah so harshly, just because she looks the way she does? My sister Joley is striking as well, although not in exactly the same way. Jonas would never dare torment her. All of my sisters are good-looking and he doesn’t use that sarcastic tone on them. He only does it to Hannah and in front of everyone.”
    Damon heard the fierce protective note in her voice and smiled. He drew her closer beneath his broad shoulder. His Sarah. Without warning, fear struck, deep, haunting, sharp like a knife. His breath left his lungs. “Sarah? Are we thinking the same thing? I’ve never wanted someone in my life before. Not once. I’ve only just met you and can’t imagine the rest of my life without you.” He raked his fingers through his hair, his cane nearly hitting his head. “Do you know what I sound like? An obsessed stalker. I’m not like this with women, Sarah.”
    Her eyes danced. “That leaves wide-open territory, Damon. You’re talking about a family with six sisters and a billion cousins. I have a million aunts and uncles. You can’t leave yourself open like that or they’re going to tease you unmercifully.”
    They halted in front of the grocery store. Damon faced her, catching her chin in his hand to tilt her face up to his. “I’m serious, Sarah. I know I want a future with you in it. I have to know we’re on the same page.”
    Sarah went up on her toes to press a kiss to his mouth. “Here’s a little news flash for you, Damon. I don’t compromise my jobs by getting involved with my clients. I don’t, as a rule, kiss strange men and spend the night wishing they’d make the big move.”
    “You want me to make a move on you?”
    Sarah laughed, tugged at his hand, dragging him into the store. “Of course I do.”
    “Well, this is a hell of a time to tell me.”
    Inez was at the store window with three of her customers, staring at Sarah and Damon with their mouths open. Damon scowled at them. “Is it fly-catching season?”
    Sarah squeezed his hand tightly in warning. All the while she was smiling serenely. “Inez! We just dropped in for a quick minute. Kate and Hannah and Abigail are in town for a few days and they can’t wait to see you! Joley and Elle and Libby send their love and told me to tell you they hope to get back soon.” Her voice was bright and cheerful, dispelling an air of gloom in the store. “You do know Damon, of course.”
    Inez nodded, her hawklike gaze narrowing in shock on their linked hands. Her throat worked convulsively. “Yes, of course I do. I didn’t know you two were intimate friends.”
    Damon glared at her, daring the woman to imply anything else. Sarah simply laughed. “I snagged him the minute I saw him, Inez. You always told me to settle down with a good man and, well…here he is.”
    “I never guessed, and Mr. Wilder didn’t say a single word,” Inez said.
    Damon forced a smile under the subtle pressure of Sarah’s grip. Her nails were biting into his hand. “Call me Damon, Inez. I never managed to catch you alone.” It was the best excuse he could come up with and sound plausible. It must have worked because Inez beamed at him, bestowing on him a smile she reserved for her closest friends. In spite of himself, Damon could feel a tiny glow of pleasure at the acceptance.
    “How is everything lately?” Sarah asked before Damon could warn her it was a bad idea to get Inez started.
    “Honestly, Sarah, Donna over at the gift shop is a lovely woman but she just doesn’t understand the importance of recycling. Just this morning I saw her dump her papers right in with plastic. I’ve sorted for her many times and showed her the easiest way to go about it but she just can’t get the hang of it. Be a dear and do something about it, won’t you?”
    Damon’s mouth nearly fell open at the request. What did Inez want Sarah to do? Separate the woman’s garbage for her?
    “No problem, Inez. I’ll go over there now. Damon and I are hoping some of our friends will help us with a small problem. There are some strangers who have been in town, probably for a week or two—three men. We’d like to know their whereabouts, their movements, that sort of thing. Unfortunately we don’t have a clear description but one of them has a facial injury, most likely around his jaw. I’m hoping