The Marine's Temptation. Jennifer Morey

do love to read. I collect them, too.”

      “Antique books?”

      “Yes. It’s a challenge finding first editions at reasonable prices. But when I do...” She raised her eyes heavenward, enough to indicate the joy she felt when she found something special.

      “What did you buy?”

      Still smiling, she parted the tissue paper the clerk had wrapped her book in before putting it into the bag. It smelled like the store. She handed him the hardcover, a novel about a young girl who ran away from home and overcame countless obstacles. An underdog story. Her favorite.

      “Not something I would have chosen but good for you.” He handed it back to her.

      “What would you have chosen? Machiavelli?”

      He chuckled. “Something Jack Reacher.”

      She tucked the book back into its nest of tissue paper as the limo stopped in front of a gourmet ice-cream shop. It was every bit as quaint as the village she’d just left. How much more of this was he going to inflict upon her? And what was he trying to do? Win her over or just prove her wrong?

      The driver opened the door. Carson got out and took her hand to help her out. She felt a little ridiculous. Not only was she unaccustomed to this, she was capable of getting out on her own. But he was going out of his way to be a gentleman. He even held the door for her as they entered the ice-cream shop.

      “Ah, Mr. Adair,” the mid-forties man behind the counter said with a big smile. “You finally came back to North Carolina for a visit?”

      The man knew Carson, which made him a regular here, which also pricked her curiosity.

      “Yes, for a few days.”

      “The Marines give you some time off?”

      “Yeah. Quite a bit.”

      Only Georgia knew the cynicism in that reply.

      “You here for your aunt’s party? She ordered dessert. Is that what brings you here?”

      His aunt? Who was his aunt?

      “That’s one reason, yes.” He glanced at Georgia. “She’s expecting us.”

      Her immediate reaction was that she did not want to go hang out with his family. Her next was incensed that Carson had planned to take her without telling her. Part of his ploy to prove she was wrong about his kind.

      “That was supposed to be a surprise,” he said, doing his best to show contrition, albeit with a hint of humor.

      That he was doing this all in fun helped, but she was beginning to think she should put the brakes on his shenanigans. “Haven’t you surprised me enough for one trip?”

      “No. Not nearly.” He faced the man behind the counter. “We’ll share a butter pecan sundae.”

      Georgia read the menu. A butter pecan sundae had four scoops of salted-butter caramel ice cream, pecans and whipped cream. Drizzled over all of that decadence was hot fudge and a caramel sauce. Oh, my...

      He put his wallet away, and they moved out of the way to allow an older man in line behind them to order something.

      “Ice cream is one thing, but a party?” she said. “What kind of party is it?”

      “It’s a fund-raiser for missing children.”

      How appropriate. He couldn’t have done it on purpose, though. Had he convinced his aunt to throw the party? She didn’t think so.

      “Didn’t she know about Jackson?” she asked.

      “Yes, but it never came up after years went by with no progress in the search. And my dad moved to San Diego, where he lost touch with his family. I kept in touch with Kate, though.”

      “You’re close to your aunt?”

      “As close as I can be.”

      She wasn’t sure what he meant by that. Close to him was his brother and sister. So maybe his aunt was sort of close. But not close enough to warrant talks about a kidnapping that happened before he was even born.

      “What is her full name?”

      He looked taken aback that she didn’t know. “Kate Winston.”

      Winston. “Former vice president of the United States Kate Winston?” She opened her mouth and let out an incredulous grunt. “You’re kidding me.”