Honeysuckle Summer (The Sweet Magnolias #7)(26)

He laughed at the suggestion, which wasn’t exactly the reaction she’d been going for.

“I can’t say I have a lot of experience with women trying to get away from me,” he said. “It’s mostly been the other way around.”

Carrie and Mandy came back into the house just in time to overhear.

“It’s true,” Carrie said with an expression of sisterly tolerance. “Women chase him all the time. It’s really pitiful. They should have more pride, you know.”

“I do know,” Raylene said. “I don’t think that will be an issue with me.”

Carrie studied her, then nodded. “Good for you.” She finally spotted Sarah and realized the implication of her presence. “You’re Sarah Price, right? If you’re home, that must mean Travis is here.”

Sarah nodded. “He’s with the kids. He should be back any minute.”

Carrie stood up a little straighter. Even Mandy, who was clearly more of a tomboy, fluffed her hair in a purely feminine gesture.

“And here he is now,” Sarah announced, barely containing a grin as both girls stared at Travis with open-mouthed awe.

“Carrie and Mandy Rollins, meet Travis McDonald,” Raylene said.

Travis grinned and held out his hand, first to Carrie, then to Mandy. “Nice to meet you, girls.”

The tongue-tied girls just stared.

Carter shook his head. “Manners,” he muttered.

“Very happy to meet you,” Carrie murmured, suddenly looking everywhere except at Travis.

“Hi,” Mandy said. “You’re even hotter than I thought you’d be.”

“Amanda Rollins!” Carter scolded.

Mandy gave him a defiant look. “Well, he is.”

“Thank you,” Travis murmured, his cheeks flushed.

“On that note, I think it’s time for us to go,” Carter said, standing up. “Come on, girls. I think we’ve made enough of an impression for one afternoon.”

“Don’t worry about it,” Sarah told him, walking to the door with them. “It happens all the time to Travis.”

“And to you,” Raylene said. “You have your share of admiring fans.”

Sarah cast a pointed look at Carter. “And apparently so do you.”

“Gee, it seems as if there’s plenty of embarrassment to go around this afternoon,” Raylene commented wryly.

His eyes filled with humor, Carter leaned down and pressed a kiss to her cheek. “See you soon. I think next time I’ll leave the girls at home.”

“Don’t,” Raylene said with heartfelt urgency. Because as long as he brought chaperones along, there was no chance he’d act on that unexpected glint of desire she’d seen in his eyes.

He met her gaze, his expression knowing. “We’ll see.”

After they’d gone, Raylene had to steady herself before she could even take the few steps into the living room. No man had left her weak kneed like that in years. Sarah regarded her with amusement.

“Living with you has suddenly gotten very interesting,” she said.

“Bite me,” Raylene retorted.

Sarah merely laughed. “I hope you’ll remember to thank Tommy at the wedding.”

“Excuse me?”

“If he hadn’t tried to chase after the ice-cream truck that day, who knows how long it would have taken before the two of you crossed paths. You owe my son.”

“You actually think what’s going on here is some kind of blessing?”

“I do. You haven’t looked this rattled or this excited since you came back to town.”

“Maybe I don’t want to be rattled or excited,” Raylene grumbled.

“Doesn’t matter. Fate doesn’t always wait around until you’re ready. It’s time to start living again, sweet pea.”

“This has nothing to do with fate,” Raylene declared emphatically.

“Kismet? Destiny?”

“Insanity,” Raylene corrected. “The man thinks he’s falling for a woman who’s locked away in some emotional prison and it’s his job to save her.”

“Very romantic, if you ask me.”

“No, it’s nuts,” Raylene insisted.

And maybe, if she were being totally honest, just a little bit romantic.



Carter had been on patrol all morning on the opposite side of the county from Serenity, mostly driving up and down the streets of some of the new developments that were being built. It seemed a shame to see so much rural land being gobbled up by cookie cutter houses, but the region was growing. He supposed there was no way to stop progress.

When his cell phone rang, he was surprised to hear Mayor Lewis’s voice.

“Son, do you have time for a break?” Howard asked. “There’s something I’d like to discuss with you. It’s important.”

“It shouldn’t be a problem. Let me check in with dispatch. Where’d you want to meet?”

“Wharton’s is as good a place as any, if that’s convenient for you. I’ll go now and get us a table.”

“Can I call you back on this number if there’s a problem?” Carter asked.

“You do that. Otherwise, I’ll see you when you get here. No rush. There’s always someone around I can talk to.”