Home To Wickham Falls. Rochelle Alers

rested her left hand on Sawyer’s right. “Nice try.”

      He decided to try another approach. He didn’t want to know her family secrets as much as he wanted to know about the woman who seemingly had charmed his family. “How long have you lived here?”

      “I moved to The Falls two years ago. Before that I lived in Beckley.”

      “Beckley is less than a half hour’s drive from here.”

      “I know,” Jessica agreed, “but I got tired of renting. There were a few houses on the market but most of them were out of my price range. Then I discovered a foreclosed property over on Porterfield Lane. I negotiated with the bank to buy it, but only if they approved a home improvement loan, and as they say, the rest is history.”

      “Good for you.” Jessica did not know she had just gone up several more points with Sawyer. It was obvious she was quite the businesswoman. Not only was she beautiful, but she was also feminine and intelligent. The winning combination was something he’d found missing in some of the women he had dated. He had come back to Wickham Falls to reunite with his family, but making friends with his sister’s friend was definitely a plus. Dylan and Colin returned with dishes of lime gelatin and frozen yogurt covered with chocolate syrup and colorful sprinkles. “You said get something green,” Colin stated proudly when Sawyer stared at the shaky dessert.

      “That I did,” he said under his breath, while ignoring Jessica’s smug grin. It definitely was a gotcha moment.

      She pushed back her chair and he stood up at the same time. “I have to leave now. Thank you for brunch.”

      “Miss Calhoun, can we come see Bootsy?”

      Jessica pointed to her mouth and Colin picked up a napkin to wipe the chocolate syrup staining his. “If your uncle Sawyer wants to take you with him when he brings back the picnic hamper, then you and your brother can come and play with Bootsy.”

      Dylan popped a cube of gelatin into his mouth. “Please, Uncle Sawyer.”

      Sawyer shook his head. “Do I have a choice?”

      “No!” Jessica and the twins said in unison.

      “What day is good for you?” Sawyer asked.

      “Next Saturday.”

      Reaching for his cell phone, Sawyer programmed the event into his calendar. “What time?”

      “Come any time after noon. And because it’s a holiday weekend, I plan to cook outdoors, weather permitting. If you don’t have anything planned, then you’re welcome to join me and a few of my friends.”

      He flashed a Cheshire cat grin. “If that’s the case, then I’ll see you soon.”

      She waved to her former students. “Don’t forget to read for at least thirty minutes a day.” The brothers lowered their heads, pretending interest in their dessert.

      Crossing his arms over his chest, Sawyer stared at Jessica until she disappeared from his line of sight before retaking his seat. His sister, mother and nephews liked her, and after spending less than an hour with Jessica he also liked her—a lot. “Are you guys finished eating?”

      Colin patted his belly over his T-shirt. “I could eat some more but I don’t want a tummy ache.”

      “That means you’ve had enough. Let’s go, champs.”

      “Where are we going?” Dylan asked.

      “Home where you guys can hang out with a book.”

      He left a tip on the table for the waitress and escorted Colin and Dylan out of the restaurant. When he’d suggested eating at Ruthie’s he had not expected to see Jessica there. Waiting until both boys were seated and belted in, he started up the Jeep and maneuvered out of the crowded parking lot. He had come back to Wickham Falls to reconnect with his family, not to fall under the spell of a woman.